Sam's Best Bets for upcoming entertainment

Some suggestions for this weekend and next couple of weeks around Carson City and elsewhere. Check entries in the daily Nevada Appeal for more details, but this should be enough for planning this weekend and the next couple. Also, see nevadaappeal.com for updates of video games, movie news, musical events and reviews.

Sam Bauman, entertainment editor

STRUGGLES FOR LAUGHS

Meet a theater troupe whose Christmas spirit sparkles more than their acting talent as they struggle to put on the annual holiday show. "The Nick of Time Christmas Show" appears Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 15 and 16 at 2 p.m. at the Brewery Arts Center Donald W. Reynolds Theatre.

Tickets are $8 for general admission and $5 for children, students and seniors at boxoffice@carson.k12.nv.us. Directed by Karen Chandler, this comedy of errors begins with the preparation of a Christmas Eve production at the Community Center, where nothing is working right. A joyous ending is assured in this show as the closing scene involves the audience in a Christmas carol sing-along.

MONEKY KING SHOW

"Monkey King Creates Havoc in Heaven," a nonstop kung fu-style show, will make its premiere performance in North America with a limited engagement run in Sammy's Showroom at Harrah's Reno. The show, adapted from a legendary Chinese novel "Journey to the West" tells a story of justice, friendship and sincerity through a series of kung fu feats.

The story tells the tale of the Monkey King, who learns he has been betrayed by his ruler and vows to seek revenge against him. Through his journey, the Monkey King realizes his true talents and learns invaluable lessons of wisdom, bravery and forgiveness.

Presented by Shengda Cultural Communications Co. and the Beijing Shaolin Martial Arts School, "Monkey King Creates Havoc in Heaven" has a limited engagement run through Saturday. Ticket prices are $29.95 and $34.95 for VIP seating. Call 788-2900 or visit harrahsreno.com.

"A Filipino Christmas in Reno" plays at the Silver Legacy Dec. 22 Tickets are $48 to $68. Call 325-7401.

Blue Traveler with Jesse Malin is at the Crystal Bay Casino Friday with tickets $30. Call 831-0512.

MontBleu Casino in Stateline has booked "The Magic of Rick Thomas" for Dec. 27-31. Tickets are $17.50. Call 588-3515.

'Ebenezer' comes to town with a cast of 55

You don't stage a Christmas ballet show on the spur of the moment.

"We held tryouts in June and started rehearsals in August, every Saturday except for holidays," said danceSpirit president Darin Tedford a few days before the Carson City opening of 2007's "Ebenizer Scrooge " Jazz'd up Like the Dickens." "Everyone who tried out got a role."

That means 55 youths and adults are in the ballet. And that's a lot of people to move around the stage on time. That's the job of artistic director Sandi Scheer, who has done this before and enjoys it.

The ballet has already played in Virginia City, but Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Carson City Community Center is opening here. The show will be repeated Sunday at 1 p.m. Tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for children and seniors. Call 884-1066.

Don't worry about having to sit through the same old Christmas carols. The music ranges from the Rolling Stones to Pink Floyd and lots in between.

Dancer Julie Tedford, who has two children in the snow and a third in the wings, explained what the show is all about:

"Anyone who has lived through a Christmas season probably has encountered Ebenezer Scrooge " that miser from Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol,' she explained. "We start with Scrooge looking back on his past, now that he has been changed for the better by the visits of three ghosts. Then he looks back and we work forward to the present."

Scheer, of danceSpirit Performing Arts, decided to give Ebenezer a modern look and created "Ebenezer Scrooge " Jazz'd Up Like the Dickens."

Any show danceSpirit produces, says Scheer, always involves "a full spectrum of dance techniques, plus all ages, male and female, dancers and actors."

This year's show touches the Christmas spirit, about compassion and redemption, said Scheer. It's based on the Dickens story, of course, and offers both narration and dance.

Scrooge will be played by Malcolm Hunt as an adult, by Bill Bray as middle-aged Scrooge and by Zachary White as the young Scrooge. Tiny Tim will become Tiny Tina, performed by Astrid Espinoza of Carson City. Children leads are Jessica Mottram, Heather Hall, Kayla Kennison and Lilly Ezell. In "Prayer of the Children," ChyAnn Campbell, Summer Steel and Sarah Stenger take the honors.

Belle, young Scrooge's fiancee, is Karenza Strode. And tireless Bob Cratchet is Darin Tedford. Mrs. Cratchet is Lucy Hunt and Jacob Marley is Skip Canfield. Ghosts are Bethany White, Chyenne Kiser and Allie Ezell. Angles of Mercy are played by Brittany Campbell, Kaytlain Densford, Jordan Van Worth and Hayley Canfield.

And then there's the rest of the 55-person cast, all involved and talented. Don't worry about keeping them straight; the program will help.

Choreographers are Scheer, Staci Dunlap, Kathleen Barton and Robin Kato.

"The show is just one more step for me," said Scheer, "and because the story is so real and appropriate for this day and age, I hope people will come and see what the true meaning of Christmas is."

Tickets are $17 for adults, $10 for ages 8 and under and seniors. Seats are reserved only. Call 884-1066 of stop by danceSpirit at 951 Stewart St., Suite C for tickets.

There's an intermission, allowing both the cast and the audiences to catch a breath. The ballet ends with all 55 cast members on stage for "Brand New Day."

On your toes, everybody.

Here's a roundup of Christmas entertainment around town:

"The PeanutCracker " The Story In A Nutshell" ballet will be performed by the Sierra Nevada Ballet and students from Western Nevada Performing Arts Center and In Motion Studio Saturday Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center. This is a condensed one hour and narrated version of the beloved "Nutcracker," designed to appeal to audience members from 2 to 92 years old. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and children. Call Pam at 851-0808 or Rosine Bena at 783-3223.

"Monkey King Creates Havoc in Heaven," a non-stop kung fu-style show, will make its premiere appearnce in North America with a limited engagement run in Sammy's Showroom at Harrah's Reno. The show, adapted from a legendary Chinese novel "Journey to the West," tells a story of justice, friendship and sincerity through a series of kung fu feats. The story tells the tale of the Monkey King, who learns he has been betrayed by his ruler and vows to seek revenge against him. Through his journey, the Monkey King realizes his true talents and learns invaluable lessons of wisdom, bravery and forgiveness. Presented by Shengda Cultural Communications Co. and the Beijing Shaolin Martial Arts School, "Monkey King Creates Havoc in Heaven" Christmas show appears Dec. 16. Ticket prices are $29.95 and $34.95 for VIP seating. Call 788-2900 or visit harrahsreno.com.

The Reno Chamber Orchestra presents the fourth annual Nevada Chamber Christmas Music Festival Dec. 28-31, seven concerts featuring renowned musicians from around the world performing the masterworks of chamber music. The Festival will be at South Reno United Methodist Church and the University of Nevada, Reno's Nightingale Concert Hall. Tickets are available at the Reno Chamber Orchestra office, 348-9413, or at RenoChamberOrchestra.org/ncmf.

"The Nick of Time Christmas Show" Sunday at 2 p.m., Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall, 511 W. King St. By Carson Performing Arts. Tickets are $8 general, $5 for children, students (with student ID) and seniors. E-mail for tickets boxoffice@carson.k12.nv.us Call 219-3577.

"A Spectacular Holiday Concert on the Comstock" at 3 p.m.,Sunday Piper's Opera House, B and Union streets. A special performance of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" suite in an arrangement. Call 847-0433, (866) 422-1956.

Santa Train Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nevada State Railroad Museum, 2180 S. Carson St. Ride the rails with Santa. $2 per seat. Call 687-6953.

Carson AT&T Pioneers Christmas party Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Gold Dust West, Highway 50 East at Lompa Lane. Dinner is $18 per person, gift exchange gender-free, $10 per person (wrap gift). Call 882-5205.

"Artemis and the Christmas Treasure" Thursday at 8 p.m., Gold Hill Hotel, 1540 Main St. Presented by Gold Hill Theater Troupe. Cost is for $30 dinner and theater; $10 for theater only. Reservations recommended. Call 847-0111.

"A Filipino Christmas in Reno" plays at the Silver Legacy Dec. 22 Tickets are $48 to $68. Call 325-7401.

Grand Sierra Casino Theatre, Reno, presents the Moscow Ballet's "Great Russian Nutcracker" Saturday Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $71.50 to $33. Call 789-2000 or visit www.grandsierraresort.com.

"The Nutcracker" ballet, a holiday classic, comes to Harrah's Lake Tahoe's South Shore Room for two special shows Saturday Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. and Sunday Dec. 23 at 3 p.m. Featuring is the talented Reno Dance Company. Tickets are $36.75 and $26.76; seniors and children are $21.75. Call (800) 786-8208.