Arts & Entertainment

Magical Christmas

This holiday season, the Long Beach Shakespeare Company welcomes audiences into a festive, heartfelt re-imagining of the beloved fairytale with “Cinderella Magical Christmas,” written and directed by Terry Hill and produced by Holly Leveque.

Featuring a rich musical score drawn from the timeless catalogues of Irving Berlin, George & Ira Gershwin and Jerome Kern, this joyous production blends familiarity with fresh perspective – because in this version, the story we love gets a few new twists.

In Cinderella Magical Christmas, the stepmother is not the stereotypical villain, but a woman wrestling with misplaced anger, and the stepsisters are not grotesque caricatures, but teenagers finding their way. The production retains the magic of the pumpkin carriage, the stroke of midnight, and the glass slipper – but it also invites us to reconsider family dynamics, identity and forgiveness in a gently modern light.

Audiences will be treated to beloved songs from the Great American Songbook – underscoring joyful, tender and comedic moments alike – while a playful and heartfelt story unfolds, one that feels at home for families yet resonates for anyone seeking warmth, hope and a little theatrical sparkle this season.

Performances run at the Helen Borgers Theatre, 4250 Atlantic Avenue, through Dec. 7, with showtimes including evenings at 8 p.m. and matinees at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for students, $25 for general admission and can be purchased at www.lbshakespeare.org.

‘Mrs Christmas’

Created in the mind behind last year’s winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Play (Crevasse), Mrs Christmas lights up the holidays in Southern California with another dazzling world premiere from Tom Jacobson. This brand-new take on holiday traditions delivers some savory entertainment for adults.

Directed by SoCal’s multi-award-winning musical theatre notable, Karole Foreman (Richard Rodgers and Ovation Awards, Jonathan Larson, and Edgerton Foundation Grants), this heartwarmingly irreverent, laugh-out-loud musical offers a relatable holiday experience for adults seeking fresh, festive entertainment – just don’t bring the whole family!

“In high school I was recruited to the choir by a very clever choir mistress, who understood that teens could be lured by food,” recalls playwright Tom Jacobson. “I learned a lot from her, including the story of ‘Mrs Christmas.’ After Harriet went to choir heaven and I felt responsible for keeping the memory of ‘Mrs Christmas’ alive.

“My family’s crafting queen was aunt Caryl. Our holiday gift from her was the newest craft she’d learned, from decoupage to soft boxes to Swedish straw Christmas ornaments. Now that she’s in craft heaven (down the hall from choir heaven), Caryl’s crafts are our cherished memories. ‘Mrs Christmas’ is my tribute to these two indomitable women and to all the mothers and daughters who struggle to love each other. Maybe some of ‘Mrs Christmas’ previously undiscovered carols will help.”

“I have been wanting to collaborate with Tom Jacobson for decades,” admits director Karole Foreman, “having been captivated by the scope of his imagination and the breadth of his intellect since we first met.

“Mrs. Christmas” is a wonderfully rich exploration of relationships between parents and children and the legacy of family holidays. It’s the perfect holiday play for me as I have to confess, I had become jaded about Christmas over the years. I think this play is a kind of redemption, and an opportunity to recapture some of the holiday spirit. I am looking forward to sharing this funny, irreverent and heartfelt story with everyone.”

“Mrs Christmas” opens at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5 and runs 7 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays (added performance at 7 p.m. on Mondays, Dec. 1, 15) through Dec. 21 at the Aurora Theatre, 4412 East Village Rd.

Tickets are $37.50, students $20, seniors/military $30 and Mondays $20. Groups are $25 for 10 or more. Reservations: https://buytickets.at/signalhillsandboxinc.