December 11-17, 2003

theater & auditions

ARTHUR'S STONE MERLIN'S FIRE: THE MAKING OF A KING, Classic swords & sorcery story retold. Runs Nov. 19-28, call for times, $25-40, People's Light & Theatre Company, 39 Conestoga Rd., Malvern, 610-644-3500.

BLACK NATIVITY, By poet/playwright Langston Hughes. Runs Dec. 18-28, $20-25, call 973-624-1584 for ticket information, Newark Symphony Hall, 1020 Broad St., Newark.

BLACK NATIVITY, Freedom Theatre's retelling of the Christmas story. Runs through Jan. 11, $35, call for times, New Freedom Theatre, 1346 N. Broad St., 215-765-2793.

CHARLIE BROWN & FRIENDS, A musical adventure including footage of the Peanuts gang! Dec. 14, 3pm, $25-$42, Patriots Theater at the war Memorial, Memorial Drive, Trenton, 800-955-5566.

CHEKHOV ONE-ACTS & SANTALAND DIARIES, Including: The Proposal, The Bear, The Night Before the Trial, The Jubilee, The Tragedian in Spite of Himself, and On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco. Runs Dec. 4-28, call for prices and tickets, Triangle Theater, 1220 N. Lawrence St., 215-763-0110.

A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN WALES, Fri. Dec., 12, 7:30pm at the Spruce Hill Community Center, 257 S. 45th St., and Sat., Dec. 13, 1pm at Book Corner, 311 N. 20th St., free, call 215-427-2822 for more info.

A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN WALES S, Runs through Dec. 28, $33-53, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, 36 Madison Ave., Madison, NJ, 973-408-5600.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Tues., Dec. 9, runs through Jan. 3, 2004, $1-$25. Call for more info., Mum Puppettheatre, 115 Arch St., 215-925-7686.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale. Runs Nov. 21-Dec. 31, call for times, $10-22, Hedgerow Theatre, 164 W. Rose Valley Rd., Rose Valley, 610-565-4211.

CHRISTMASTIME IN IRELAND, A festival of stories and music, feat. Tony Kenny, Mac & 'O, Al Banim, Catherine Coates & more. Dec. 17, 8pm, $26, Keswick Theatre, Easton Rd. & Keswick Ave., Glenside, 215-572-7650.

CORDUROY, Lonely teddy's very own musical, set in Harlem. Runs Dec. 15-16, $4.50-5, The Playhouse Theatre, Du Pont Building, Wilmington, DE, 302-656-4401.

EMBARRASSMENTS, World premiere musical pays homage to novelist Henry James. Runs Nov. 26-Jan 4, $9-50, Wilma Theater, Broad & Spruce Sts, 215-546-STAGE.

ETIQUETTE & VITRIOL: MONOLOGUES OF NICKY SILVER, A benefit for Snowday Productions. Dec. 15, 7:30pm, $20, The Playground @ the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., Philadelphia PA.

AN EXTREMELY MERRY CHRISTMAS, w/ Jodi Letizia and Ron Seykell. 8pm, $20, Silk City, Fifth & Spring Garden Sts., 215-922-8157.

THE FANTASTICKS, Tongue-in-cheek musical love story. Runs through Dec. 14, call for times, $25-40, People's Light & Theatre Company, 39 Conestoga Rd., Malvern, 610-644-3500.

FOR THE PLEASURE OF SEEING HER AGAIN, By Michael Tremblay. Runs Nov. 14-Dec.14, $19-28, Act II Playhouse, 56 E. Butler Av., Ambler, 215-654-0200.

HAIR, "The American Tribal Love Rock Musical." Runs Dec. 11-13, 8pm, $5-10, 16+, Walt Whitman Cultural Arts Center, 2nd & Cooper Sts., Camden, NJ, 856-964-8300.

HARMONY, Musical with all-new work by Barry Manilow. Runs Dec. 17-Jan 4, call for prices and tickets, Forrest Theater, 1114 Walnut St., 215-923-1515.

HOLIDAY TALES, directed by Ed Shockley. Runs Dec. 12-13, 8pm, Dec. 14, 3pm, call for prices and tickets, Community Education Center, 3500 Lancaster Ave., 215-387-1911.

LOUD SPEAKERS SERIES, Multimedia including music, visual arts, and film. Thu., Dec. 18, 7-11pm, $8, African Globe Studios, 1028 Broad St., Newark, NJ, 973-624-1584.

THE LOVE OF THE NIGHTINGALE, A retelling of the myth of Philomele and Treus, by Timberlake Wertenbaker. Runs Tue-Sat, 8pm, & Sun., 2pm, Dec. 5-Dec. 13, $10-$20, Philip J. Levin Theater.

MONDO MANGIA, Presented by Jilline Ringle. Mon., Dec. 15, 7 p.m., $50, Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St., 215-592-9560. See Artspicks on p. 27 & 29.

MY COUSIN'S WEDDING, Two-person romantic comedy, Second City-style. Runs Dec. 17-21, $22.50-37.50, Perelman Theater, The Kimmel Center, 260 S. Broad St., 215-790-5800.

NUTS & BOLTS, Dinner theater. Every Fri., 7pm, $24.95 for dinner and show. Ongoing., Spaghetti Warehouse, 1026 Spring Garden St., 215-787-0784.

PETER PAN, Broadway musical. Runs Dec. 3-28, call for tickets or more info, Media Theater for the Performing Arts, 300 W. State St., Media, 610-566-4020.

SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN AND ABRAHAM MOUSE AND THE MAGICAL DREIDEL, Sat., Dec. 13, 1pm and 3pm, respectively, $5 for one, $8 for both, call for reservations and tickets (required), Cheltenham Center for the Arts, 439 Ashbourne Rd., Cheltenham, 215-379-4027.

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING OUT, A mockumentary about the secret life of Santa Claus, runs through Jan. 4, 2004. Call 215-563-4330 for more info., 2nd Stage @ the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street, Philadelphia.

SCROOGE, THE MUSICAL, runs through Dec. 21. Call for times and prices, Puttin' on the Ritz Theatre, 915 White Horse Pike, Oaklyn, NJ, 856-858-5230.

SHE LOVES ME, Good, old-fashioned love story. Runs Nov. 28-Dec. 20, $10-20, The Players Club of Swarthmore, Fairview Rd., off Rt. 320, 610-328-4271.

THE SNOW QUEEN, Runs Dec. 4-21, call for times&prices, Mandell Theater, Drexel University, 33rd & Chestnut Sts., 215-895-ARTS.

SOMETHING WONDERFUL RIGHT AWAY: IMPROV FOR THE HOLIDAYS, Previews Dec. 5-9, 8pm, opens Dec. 10 and runs through Jan. 1, 2004. Call 215-592-9560 for times and prices, Adrienne Theatre, 2030 Sansom St.

STONES IN HIS POCKETS, Irish lads serve as extras in movie, and maintain hope and optimism despite tragedy. Runs Dec. 11-21, call for times, prices, and tickets, The Theatre in Brooks, Keystone College, Rts. 6 & 11, La Plume, 570-945-6976.

THREE STORIES FOR WINTER, by Anton Chekhov. Runs Dec. 11-21, call for times and prices, The Theatre in Brooks, Keystone College, Rts. 6 & 11, La Plume, 570-945-6976.

TINY TIM'S CHRISTMAS,Children's performance,, ages 6-12, $8, Hedgerow Theatre, 164 W. Rose Valley Rd., Rose Valley, 610-565-4211.

TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT, Previews Fri., Dec. 5. 8pm, runs through Jan. 4, 2004. Call 215-829-9002 for more info., St. Stephen's Theater, 10th and Ludlow Streets.

"TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, Play about the writing of the poem,Dec. 13, 1 & 3pm, $6-9, Stockton Performing Arts Center, Jim Leeds Rd., Pomona, NJ, 609-652-9000.

TWO PIANOS, FOUR HANDS, Musical ranging from Mozart to Billy Joel. Runs Dec. 3-28, $23-43, call for tickets, Delaware Theatre Company, 200 Water St., Wilmington, DE, 302-594-1100.

VANQUI, Opera by Philadelphian composer, Leslie Burrs, the tale of two slaves. Dec. 14 only, 8pm, $40, Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St., 215-569-9700.

VOICES, Exploration of the "feminine experience." Runs Dec. 11-14, $20, call 610-337-1415 for tickets, Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5, 9th & Walnut Sts.

A WALK IN THE WOODS, Cold War-era diplomat drama. Runs Nov. 18-Dec. 14, $15-52, George Street Playhouse, 9 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, 732-246-7717.

THE WOMB, Spoken word performance. Sun., Dec. 14, 6:30pm, Owl Cove, Temple University, 1913 Broad St.