Arts Briefs: Christmas shows of a wide variety and a sprinkling of other events

From the producers of “Project 2069,” the puppet/drag show parodying Project 2025, comes “A Christmas Karen: A Dragged-Out Holiday Tale,” a “Christmas Carol” retelling at Goldenrod Country Inn in Worthington on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

From the producers of “Project 2069,” the puppet/drag show parodying Project 2025, comes “A Christmas Karen: A Dragged-Out Holiday Tale,” a “Christmas Carol” retelling at Goldenrod Country Inn in Worthington on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. ​​​​​CONTRIBUTED

Easthampton Theater Company will hold appointment-only auditions for its June 2025 production of the classic musical “Guys and Dolls” on Sunday, Jan. 5, and Monday, Jan. 6, from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

Easthampton Theater Company will hold appointment-only auditions for its June 2025 production of the classic musical “Guys and Dolls” on Sunday, Jan. 5, and Monday, Jan. 6, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. CONTRIBUTED

Christmas is joyous for children, but sitting through a long Christmas Eve church service might not be. Florence Congregational Church will host a “Short Attention Span” service at Bombyx on Tuesday, Dec. 24, from 5 to 6 p.m.

Christmas is joyous for children, but sitting through a long Christmas Eve church service might not be. Florence Congregational Church will host a “Short Attention Span” service at Bombyx on Tuesday, Dec. 24, from 5 to 6 p.m. CONTRIBUTED

The Academy of Music will host The Sweetback Sisters’ Country Christmas Sing-Along Spectacular on Sunday, Dec. 22, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The show, this year hosted by vocalist Zara Bode, features “classic carols, quirky original tunes, and hilariously engaging trivia.”

The Academy of Music will host The Sweetback Sisters’ Country Christmas Sing-Along Spectacular on Sunday, Dec. 22, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The show, this year hosted by vocalist Zara Bode, features “classic carols, quirky original tunes, and hilariously engaging trivia.” CONTRIBUTED

A film still from “Rusty Nail – New Year’s Eve ’84 with NRBQ & The Whole Wheat Horns,” a concert movie that will screen at the Academy of Music on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 8 p.m.

A film still from “Rusty Nail – New Year’s Eve ’84 with NRBQ & The Whole Wheat Horns,” a concert movie that will screen at the Academy of Music on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 8 p.m. ​​​​​​CONTRIBUTED

Ja’Duke Theater in Turners Falls will present its production of “Beauty and the Beast” on Friday, Dec. 20, at 2 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 22, at 2 p.m.

Ja’Duke Theater in Turners Falls will present its production of “Beauty and the Beast” on Friday, Dec. 20, at 2 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 22, at 2 p.m. CONTRIBUTED

From left: Arianne Abela, Paige Graham, Noah Horn, Shiba Nemat-Nasser, and Rozime Lindsey, featured soloists in Arcadia Players’ Handel concert at Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 7:30 p.m.

From left: Arianne Abela, Paige Graham, Noah Horn, Shiba Nemat-Nasser, and Rozime Lindsey, featured soloists in Arcadia Players’ Handel concert at Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 7:30 p.m. CONTRIBUTED

Published: 12-18-2024 1:58 PM

A ‘Country Christmas Singalong Spectacular’

The Academy of Music will host “The Country Christmas Singalong Spectacular with Zara Bode” on Sunday, Dec. 22, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Bode, one half of the country duo The Sweetback Sisters, is a powerhouse vocalist based in Brattleboro, Vermont. In previous years, this show was performed by Bode and her fellow Sweetback Sister, Emily Miller, but this year, with Miller unable to make it, the responsibility falls on Bode to guide the sleigh alone. Her show will feature “classic carols, quirky original tunes, and hilariously engaging trivia,” according to a press release, and will be “an evening of music and laughter with you, making for an annual gathering that feels more like a family reunion gone delightfully awry than your typical holiday performance.” Check out the Sweetback Sisters’ music at youtube.com/@thesweetbacksisters.

Tickets are $25 to $30 for adults or $10 for kids, not including fees, at aomtheatre.com.

‘A Christmas Carol’ with puppets and drag

From the producers of “Project 2069,” the puppet/drag show parodying Project 2025, comes “A Christmas Karen: A Dragged-Out Holiday Tale,” a “Christmas Carol” retelling at Goldenrod Country Inn in Worthington on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

The two-hour show follows the miserly “Karen Scrooge” as she’s visited by three ghosts who try to get her to change her ways.

Goldenrod Country Inn co-owner Eric Frary said that this production is somewhat like “A Muppet Christmas Carol” in that it integrates puppet and human characters and uses some of the text from the original Dickens story. This version, however, is very adults-only.

The ghost of Jacob Marley, for instance, does not wear chains in this show as the original did — rather, he wears “an ever-goofier variety of S&M gear,” Frary said. Scrooge, likewise, doesn’t hoard money — she hoards poppers. (The character Tiny Twink needs them to get ready for his date with another puppet, but he can’t afford them, thanks to Scrooge.) Scrooge and the ghosts who visit her are all played by drag queens.

Tickets are $24 via goldenrodcountryinn.com/events.

‘Guys and Dolls’ auditions

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Easthampton Theater Company will hold appointment-only auditions for its June 2025 production of the classic musical “Guys and Dolls” on Sunday, Jan. 5, and Monday, Jan. 6, from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

The musical, best-known for songs include “Luck Be a Lady” and “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ The Boat,” is about a gambler who falls in love with a missionary woman.

To schedule your audition or to learn more about the show, characters, and rehearsal schedule, visit easthamptontheater.com/current-auditions.

Callbacks will be on Monday, Jan. 13, at 6:30 p.m.

A ‘Messiah’ concert

The Northampton historical performance group Arcadia Players will perform a concert of works by Handel to celebrate the Christmas season at Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 7:30 p.m.

The show will include Part I of Handel’s “Messiah,” which tells the story of Jesus’ birth, as well as the “Hallelujah” chorus from Part II and the Chandos Anthem no.7, “My song shall be alway [sic] of the Loving-kindness of the Lord.”

The concert will include featured soloists Arianne Abela, Paige Graham, Shiba Nemat-Nasser, Noah Horn, and Rozime Lindsey.

Tickets are $35 at the door or online at arcadiaplayers.org, or $10 through the Card to Culture program.

‘Short Attention Span’ Christmas service

Christmas is joyous for children, but sitting through a long Christmas Eve church service might not be. Florence Congregational Church will host a “Short Attention Span” service at Bombyx on Tuesday, Dec. 24, from 5 to 6 p.m.

The service will include carol-singing, craft-making, candle-lighting, movement, and other elements that will allow all guests to be part of telling the Christmas story. Guests also do not have to dress up.

“Bring your wiggliest and your weirdest,” says the event description. “Sitting still not required, participation encouraged!”

‘Beauty and the Beast’

Ja’Duke Theater in Turners Falls will present its production of “Beauty and the Beast” on Friday, Dec. 20, at 2 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 22, at 2 p.m.

The beloved Disney musical is about a book lover named Belle who dreams of escaping her small village for something greater and the Beast who imprisons her father in his castle. The two develop an unlikely romance, but will it be enough to break the Beast’s curse?

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for children (12 and under), and $12 for seniors (65 and older) at eventtickets2u.com/jaduke-theater/beauty-and-the-beast.

Concert movie remembers a beloved local venue

If you missed our story a few weeks ago about the upcoming screening of “Rusty Nail – New Year’s Eve ‘84 with NRBQ & The Whole Wheat Horns,” here’s the short version: the Rusty Nail was a music venue in the tobacco fields of Sunderland. Despite its very out-of-the-way location, it drew big-name acts like James Brown, B.B. King, Tom Waits, Joan Jett, The Ramones, Billy Idol and George Carlin, among others.

A concert film shot by a devoted fan will showcase the band NRBQ’s New Year’s Eve ‘84 concert. It’ll be screened at the Academy of Music on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $20 in advance via aomtheatre.com or $25 at the door, not including fees.