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A good holiday production can hoist a theater group over the hump of breaking even -- or at least beyond the edge of a financial chasm. Years ago, Garrison Keillor even did a "Prairie Home Companion" piece about a theater group "forced to do 'A Christmas Carol' so it can afford to do real theater the rest of the year," said Fran Lautenberger, a professor, director and costume designer at the University of Alaska Anchorage. "It's sad but yet a little true."Nothing against "A Christmas Carol," mind you; in fact, two theater companies will put on the tale of Scrooge this month. With plenty of ghosts and conflicts, the story of a bitter man facing his day of reckoning endures not just because of its Christmas theme but also due to its strength of plot and character. "It's like Shakespearian plays," said Shane Mitchell, artistic director of TBA Theatre. "They have endured hundreds of years because they're relevant. The same goes for 'A Christmas Carol.'" Some people think they know the story inside and out, but "if you really look at the story and ask yourself, 'How did Scrooge get that way, how did he get so twisted?' it's compelling and fascinating and timeless." More to the point, noted Christian Heppinstall, director of Alaska Theatre of Youth, stories like "Christmas Carol" and "Sound of Music" convey "wonderful things about families and traditions. They are an inspiration with music and theme and plot." Though the UAA theater department doesn't always base programming on the holidays, it did so this year and may continue in the years to come. It performed its winter production of "Godspell" through Thanksgiving and finishes the run today."I asked for this time slot for 'Godspell' because I knew it would sell very well," said Lautenberg. "I think 'Godspell' is a good choice for this time of year, but also the show turned out very well."
SLIGHTLY AGAINST THE GRAINShows like "Godspell," "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Fiddler on the Roof" capture the spirit of the season without making the holidays the central theme."Fiddler" goes against the grain to a point, said Heppinstall, "because so much of this holiday season is associated with Christ's story. On the other hand, Tevye is a devoutly religious fellow focused on his family and universal themes, so it works."His ATY production of the play includes school shows and public performances during the first two weekends of December. The cast ranges in age from 8 to 18, making it a junior version of the original, he said. In contrast, next week's Anchorage Concert Association presentation of "Jesus Christ Superstar" features Ted Neeley, the star of the 1973 Norman Jewison movie of the same name.Though the Concert Association thinks about the holidays when setting up its season, it often chooses Broadway shows at the whim of touring schedules. "A lot has to do with availability rather than the time of the year we would like to have them," said executive director Jason Hodges. The holidays definitely put people in a certain mood and spirit, so "you want to find something that aligns with that," he continued, but only when possible.Next season's big Broadway show, "The Lion King," will come in the fall, so the Concert Association will probably select a Christmas-driven production for December, Hodges said. A dance concert like Alaska Dance Theatre's "Favorite Tales & Stories" doesn't fit the holiday theme either, but it certainly suits the season in terms of family appeal. "It's not a holiday theme per se," said artistic director Alice Sullivan, "but parents certainly support what the kids are involved in, and we knew that with a cast this size, we'll have an audience."This year's "Tales & Stories" concert involves 42 students and 15 company dancers. "The reason we initiated this story ballet was because we wanted an opportunity for our students and company to perform in tandem," Sullivan explained. "It's at the end of the fall semester, post-'Nutcracker,' and we just wanted a nice end of year feeling for students."Cyrano's Off Center Playhouse also tries to create a nice feeling during the holidays by offering family friendly plays "to establish a bonding family tradition of enjoying the performing arts," said Sandy Harper. The fluff and fun continue with flapper-era comedy, "The Boyfriend," at Cyrano's until Dec. 21. CYNICS BEWAREHoliday programming that lampoons Christmas can work, but not when it puts cynicism over hope. "Over my career, I've found that shows that have a counter-holiday feel are never financially successful," said Mitchell, "because, if you feel that way, you don't want to go be reminded of it."For him, the film "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" succeeds as a satire because it really loves the holiday spirit. "I can see doing a show like that, but anything that's cynical is not going to make you bucks." Nor will it make you brownie points, agreed most theater directors. People want what matches the season, not what clashes with it. Presenters can take more chances with coveted touring productions. Hodges knows of at least two cities in the Lower 48 that will host touring productions of "Sweeney Todd" in December. "That's hardly what I consider a holiday program, but if the product is good and it's something in high demand, I don't think the time of year has anything to do with it," Hodges said. "People will see what they want to see."True enough, but community theater companies know better than to throw caution to the wind. When balancing artistic vision and financial survival, it pays to latch onto stories of hope, love and compassion, joviality and kindness, understanding and reflection. Classics like "Cabaret" and "Death of a Salesman" work part of the year, Heppinstall said. But "holiday stories must show some kind of learning and redemption, as the Scrooge story so eloquently unveils."