Upcoming Holiday Theater Performances

Need help getting in the Christmas spirit? Three local performing-arts organizations have your back. At Third Avenue Playworks, tune in to a radio-show reimagining of It’s a Wonderful Life; at Southern Door Community Auditorium, play bingo and answer trivia during an interactive holiday comedy show; and at Northern Sky Theater, keep the festive feelings alive between Christmas and New Year’s with a showcase of four Door County musicians.

It’s A Wonderful Life at TAP

Throughout the month of December, Third Avenue PlayWorks [TAP] will present It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. 

With the help of a musician and foley artist, an ensemble of actors will reimagine a classic Christmas story, based on the 1946 film by the same name, as a 1940s-style radio broadcast. Returning cast members Cassandra Bissell, Neil Brookshire, Elyse Edelman, Brian Grimm, Ray Jivoff, and Dan Klarer will take on multiple roles, create their own sound effects, and immerse the audience in the world of radio broadcasting.

“We are thrilled to bring this holiday classic to life in a whole new way,” said TAP artistic director Jacob Janssen. “We aim to transport the audience to a bygone era and recapture the magic of this heartwarming story.”

A pay-what-you-will preview to benefit Chop ‘n’ Shop With a Cop will be held on Dec. 13, followed by a final ticketed preview on Dec. 14 and an opening night on Dec. 15. After that, the play will run Wednesday — Saturday at 7:30 pm, with Sunday matinees at 2 pm. Additionally, a Friday matinee followed by a post-show conversation will be held on Dec. 22 at 2 pm. The play will run through Dec. 31.

To reserve tickets, visit thirdavenueplayworks.org/tickets, call 920.743.1760 or stop by the box office next door to the theater, open Monday through Friday, 12pm – 5pm. Tickets cost $38 per person, $20 for college students and free for students in high school and under.

TAP is located at 239 North 3rd Avenue in Sturgeon Bay. 

Christmas Bingo: It’s a Ho-Ho-Holy Night at Southern Door Auditorium

An interactive comedy show, Christmas Bingo: It’s a Ho-Ho-Holy Night, will be performed at the Southern Door Community Auditorium, 2073 County Road DK in Brussels, on Dec. 16, 7 pm. 

Led by the character of Mrs. Mary Margaret O’Brien, a former nun and current bingo caller,  audience members will play bingo and get quizzed on Christmas traditions, the origins of St. Nick and other holiday trivia.

Visit southerndoorauditorium.org to reserve tickets. For more information, call 920.676.1920.

Home for the Holidays at Northern Sky 

On Dec. 27-31, Northern Sky Theater will present Home for the Holidays, an annual showcase of some of Door County’s favorite musicians. This year’s show features Dennis Keith Johnson, John Rood Lewis, Cathy Grier, and Bruce Newbern.

Johnson, a bassist, songwriter and bandleader, and Lewis, a guitarist and bassist, have been familiar faces at Northern Sky in recent years, playing in the pit bands for Sunflowered, The Fisherman’s Daughters, We Like It Where? and other productions. Newbern is a Northern Sky pit band alum as well, playing percussion. Grier, a blues musician who’s new to Northern Sky, will provide the soulful vocals that underpin her own unique brand of blues.

“This quartet will be a completely new offering from Northern Sky for our annual holiday show,” said Northern Sky’s artistic director Jeff Herbst. “The musical excellence of our company has been in part largely attributable to the stellar playing of our band members, who are often never seen. This gives us the opportunity to showcase the considerable onstage talents of Dennis, Jon, and Bruce, as well. Welcoming Cathy to our stage to round out the foursome is the perfect way to introduce her to our Northern Sky audiences.”

Each show will also feature drawings for gift certificates from Northern Sky’s local business sponsors. After each show, the audience is welcome to gather outdoors around Northern Sky’s fire ring, with bakery and hot beverages available for purchase.

Performances of Home for the Holidays will take place at 4 pm, December 27 – 31 at the Gould Theater in Fish Creek, 9058 Co Rd A in Fish Creek. 

Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for students, and $15 for children 12 and under. All seats are reserved. Visit northernskytheater.com or call 920.854.6117 to purchase tickets. Office hours are 10 am – 4 pm, Monday through Friday.