Gifts, office parties, and traveling are stressful aspects of December, but the season has one fixture that is pure joy: holiday theater. And of course, Queens has some great options this month.
For the third year in a row, A Christmas Carol will run at The Secret Theatre in Woodside from Thursday, Dec. 12, to Sunday, Dec. 22.
Produced by the venue’s owner, Richard Mazda, this classic tale follows Ebenezer Scrooge on his spiritual journey from rude miser to altruistic lover of humanity…with a little help from three ghosts.
Prices run from $18 to $30, and there are five 7 pm shows with three matinees at 3 pm. The performance space is at 38-02 61st St..
Head a few miles east to Queens Theatre, where Titan Theatre Company is presenting It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play from Friday, Dec. 13, to Sunday, Dec. 22.
Released in 1946, Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life is generally considered to be the best Christmas movie of all time. James Stewart plays small town banker George Bailey, who goes from suicidal to full of spirit, thanks to his guardian angel, who’s played by Clarence Odbody.
Titan presents the script via a radio play, just like the ones that were popular in the 1940s, when the film was released.
Tickets cost $27, and five shows begin at 7:30 pm, while two shows start at 3 pm. Queens Theatre is at 14 United Nations Ave. S. inside Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Head a few more miles further east to Queens County Farm Museum, where The Gift of the Magi hits an outdoor stage in a three-acre pasture on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 1 pm.
Queens native Kevin R. Free, an actor who’s been an audiobook narrator for more than 20 years, will lead a one-man reading in a three-acre pasture for the fifth year in a row. (Yes, a three-acre pasture.) Feel free to bring blankets, coats, fleeces, gloves, hats, lawn chairs, scarves, winter boots, and woolies.
Set in NYC a bit before Christmas, O. Henry’s classic 1905 short story follows struggling newlyweds Jim and Della Young who are eager to give each other a fantastic Christmas gift. Della cuts her beautiful, below-the-knees hair and sells it to buy a chain for Jim, whose only valuable worldly possession is a watch. Meanwhile, Jim sells his watch so he can buy combs for Della’s exquisite locks. At the exchange, they realize that their material gifts are useless, but their shared love is priceless.
To add to the fun, Santa Claus will make a cameo. Hot chocolate and cookies will be available, too.
Admission is free with a $5 suggested donation and reservations are recommended. Queens Farm is at 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy. in Glen Oaks.
Top photo: The Secret Theatre; bottom photo: Queens County Farm Museum