'The Nick of Time for Christmas'

It was a little like controlled chaos at the Monday rehearsal for "The Nick of Time for Christmas," with Carson High School drama maven Karen Chandler serene as she ran the first rehearsal in the Donald W. Reynolds Theatre at the Brewery Arts Center.

"Can't hear you," she called to one actress. "Shout to a kid in the 12th row, 'Kid you've got a spider on you.'"

The response was a satisfactory shout.

As the 32 intermediate drama class actors milled about doing their 32 scenes, the only island of calm was Audrey, Chandler's 2-year-old dog, who plays Tim in the show.

"She loves acting," said Chandler, as the pooch nuzzled cast members.

From the confusion, you might not believe it but the show was written by Sam Havens and is popular on the high-school circuit. It's a chocolate box of scenes that includes every cast member - everyone gets a scene.

The show runs 7:30 p.m. Friday and Dec. 14, 2 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Dec. 15-16 at the Brewery Arts Center Donald W. Reynolds Theatre. Tickets are $8 general admission, $5 children, students with a student body card and seniors - all at the door.

Monday was the first time the cast had the chance to get accustomed to the actual theater setting.

"It's different when we come here after rehearsing at the high school - it's all changed, exits and entrances, stage depth," said Chandler, noting hopefully that the city powers have made a slight mention of building a theater at the school - in 2012.

"Best hopeful sign yet," she said.

Meanwhile, striped socks were on almost everyone and red and black T-shirts were combined with sweat pants as costumes.

"We'll be able to use them again in the spring when we do 'Copacabana,'" said Chandler.

The stage was decorated with tall, gift-wrapped packages, a decorated Christmas tree stood in one corner and a gold backdrop hung stage rear.

"I just love the tech theater crew, all 12 of them. They put everything together for the move here, built everything, including the stage truck."

The run through was done to cast members chanting the beat - 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 - as Chandler "just forgot the musical tapes."

Didn't matter; everything was in flux, lines were being forgotten.

The plot goes like this: The show begins with the preparation of a Christmas Eve production at the community center, nothing goes right. Jordan, who demands fresh flowers in his dressing room (the broom closet); Nicky whose Christmas monologue is "enhanced" with all the wrong sound effects; and Red who's more than a little worried that Marley's ghost haunts the backstage. Boss, the director, is about to lose his mind.

"And it doesn't help that Lee and CJ, who were sent out to get a Christmas tree for the stage, haven't returned because they've met a skunk and their truck ended up in a creek. A joyous ending is assured in this show as the closing scene involves the audience in a Christmas carol singalong," Chandler said.

Looks like it will come, just in the nick of time.

• Contact Sam Bauman at sbauman@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1236.

If you go

What: "The Nick of Time for Christmas"

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Dec. 14; 2 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Dec. 15-16

Where: Brewery Arts Center, Donald W. Reynolds Theatre, 449 W. King St.

tickets: $8 general admission, $5 children, students with a student body card and seniors - all at the door

The Cast

Boss - Christopher Wortman

Red - Jacob Linstrom

Dusty - Nicolette Panteleo

Lee - Amanda Wong

CJ - Brittney Kinsey

Pat - Isabel Meza

Jem - Jamie Snoddy

Nicky - Brian Lester

Shelley - Miryah Howell

Dr. Psycho-babble - Max Greb

Jordan - Brynn Garrett

Cassidy - Megan Craugh

Darby - Andria Love

Jesse - Stephanie Lauder

Dale - Michael Smith

Prof. Prescott - Erin Etcheverria

Smitty - Andria Love

Rudolph - Megan Craugh

Lindsey - Megan Nelson

Billy - Chelsea Perkins

Holly - Lindsey Case

Noel - Amber Girodano

Candy - Erin Etcheverria

Merry - Miryah Howell

Charlie Elf - Christopher Wortman

Lennie Elf - Brian Lester

Elevator Operator - Stephanie Lauder

Jesse - Lindsey Case

Frosty - Chelsey Perkins

Ghost - Max Greb

Tim - Oddrie Louise Egelston-Chandler

Santa - Cam Shrey