What is your favorite way to spend free time around the holidays? If you’re anything like me, your favorite place is in front of the fireplace, wrapped in a blanket watching a classic holiday movie. Did you know that five of the six most popular holiday movies from moviefone.com’s 2009 list have spent time on the Broadway stage?
# 6 "Elf:" The 2003 comedy starring Will Ferrell is one of my personal favorites that I will watch year round when I’m in the mood for a little cheering up. Did you know that “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear?” Elf the musical has been spreading Christmas cheer for the past couple weeks on Broadway and will continue until January 2, 2011. Click here for a quick peek of the cheer being spread onstage!
# 5 "White Christmas:" Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye made this 1954 film a classic. What makes it even better is that Bing Crosby’s character plays a former Broadway entertainer. The musical production premiered onstage in San Francisco in 2004 and made its way to Broadway during the 2008 holiday season. Did you see White Christmas when it was at the Fox Cities P.A.C. in November 2007?
# 4 "Scrooged:" Even though “Scrooged” hasn’t made it to the Broadway stage, the theatrical classic A Christmas Carol has spent time on the Great White Way. The show had a brief run at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in December 1991. With over a hundred adaptations of Charles Dickens’ classic listed on Wikipedia, it’s easy to fit at least one into your holiday season. My favorite version? Definitely “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol.” It’s a cartoon musical portrayed onstage and runs less than an hour. The Fox Cities P.A.C. has been proud to host Nebraska Theatre Caravan's A Christmas Carol. What a great show to get the Fox Cities in the holiday spirit!
# 3 "Miracle on 34th Street:" For the third year running Miracle on 34th Street has returned to Broadway for the holiday season. The story’s message of hope and believing in something magical is so endearing and always makes me remember the magic of the holiday season.
# 2 "It’s a Wonderful Life:" There is no doubt that the 1946 Frank Capra film is a part of many family holiday traditions. The show was turned into a musical, A Wonderful Life, and only played on Broadway as a singular event December 12, 2005. Did you know when the film was released in 1946 it was a box office flop? Read more fun facts about the film here.
#1 "A Christmas Story:" It’s hard to skip a holiday tradition that plays 24 hours straight on television. As many times as I have seen it, it’s hard to not laugh at the pink bunny suit or cringe when Flick’s tongue gets stuck to the pole in the school yard. As the #1 holiday movie, it’s natural that “A Christmas Story” is working its way to the Broadway stage. The show premiered at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre in 2009 and will spend this holiday season at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre (home to premieres of the Broadway hits Hairspray, The Wedding Singer, Shrek: the Musical and more). Break a leg A Christmas Story - maybe we'll see you in the bright lights of Broadway one of these years.
Do you have any favorite stage productions or arts events that you won’t miss during the holidays? Tell us how the arts help your holiday season come alive!
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