Local Troupes Getting Casts in Holiday Spirit

The holidays are upon us, and with them come seasonal entertainments from local theater companies. Yes, there’ll be “A Christmas Carol”--a couple of ‘em, in fact--plus a mystery, a few musical revues and a Dickens piece other than “A Christmas Carol.”

Better lay in a supply of eggnog. Here’s a taste of what’s to come.

A murder mystery set backstage at a British children’s TV show, “Who Killed Santa Claus?” opens Nov. 8 at the Elite Theatre Company in Oxnard’s Heritage Square. Call 483-5118 for information.

Two shows, also opening on Nov. 8, have little to do with Christmas, but pay a small tribute to the impending holiday. “Tomfoolery,” a musical revue of songs by satirist Tom Lehrer at the Arts Council Center in Thousand Oaks, includes his “A Christmas Carol,” a tribute to seasonal commercialism.

And the Conejo Players’ season-ending musical “Mame” features the song “We Need a Little Christmas.” Call Comedy Tonight Productions at 389-3193 for “Tomfoolery” tickets, and 495-3715 for “Mame” information.

And while it is more Easter than Christmas related, Theater League’s touring production of “Godspell,” the 1971 hippie musical retelling Jesus Christ’s last seven days, will come to Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza from Nov. 19-24. Call 449-2787 for details.

This season’s two musical revues are “Star-Crossed and Cross-Eyed Lovers” at Camarillo’s Marquie Dinner Theater and “Happy Holidays!” at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center.

Both include lots of Gershwin, Porter and Rodgers.

“Star-Crossed,” Dec. 8, 15 and 31, was conceived and directed by Rex Waggoner with musical director Kevin Parcher and choreographer Deidre Fisher. The program features romantic songs and includes dinner. Call 484-9909 for reservations.

“Happy Holidays!,” assembled by musical director Gary Poirot, features specifically holiday-themed songs and runs weekends Dec. 13-30. Call 581-9940.

The Santa Susana Repertory Company will do its traditional version of “A Christmas Carol” at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Forum Theatre starting Dec. 6. Call 449-2787 for tickets. Moorpark Melodrama will give the story a more twisted telling with “A Dickens of a Holiday” beginning Nov. 29. Call 529-1212.

Those sated with Ebenezer Scrooge and Co. can substitute the Santa Paula Theater Center’s “Cricket on the Hearth,” an adaptation by Lowell L. Munfull making its West Coast debut Dec. 6.

An added inducement for some: Director Fred Helsel promises that, though the play takes place at Christmas, there are no children in the cast. Call 525-4645 for information.

*

Casting Call: Auditions for Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” will be held at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 10 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11-12 at Conejo Players’ Theater, 351 S. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks. Those trying out are asked to prepare a monologue no longer than three minutes. The show will play Thursday through Saturday evenings from Jan. 24 to Feb. 22. For information, call Dayne Jervis at 499-3912, or Lucien Jervis at 483-0175, Ext. 122.

Auditions for Standing O Productions’ staging of Bernard Pomerance’s “The Elephant Man” will be held at the Arts Council Center, 482 Greenmeadow Ave., Thousand Oaks, from 7-11 p.m. Nov. 16, and from 1-6 p.m. Nov. 17. All roles are open except John Merrick, Mrs. Kendal and Dr. Treves. The production will run from Feb. 7-22 at the center. Call 379-1853 or 498-7939 for information.

The Conejo Afternoon Theater will hold auditions for a production of Paul Osborne’s “On Borrowed Time” Nov. 17 at the Conejo Players Theater, and Nov. 18 at the Arts Council Center, 482 Greenmeadow Ave., Thousand Oaks. The play will run for six matinee performances, Feb. 6-22. For information, call Aron at 529-5847, or Doug at 495-4560.