Henry Godinez’s first encounter with “A Christmas Carol” was from behind the scenes, or to be more exact, from within the scenery.
It was 17 years ago, when he was an apprentice with the Actors Theatre in Louisville, which was staging a production of Dickens’ classic tale. The stage was set with an enormous book whose pages made up the setting for each scene. “One of us lucky apprentices would be inside the page with a walkie-talkie headset, and when we would get the go-ahead from the stage manager we would take little tiny steps so the page would turn,” recalls Godinez. “I’m sure the audience thought it was quite magical.”
Since that time, Godinez has taken some giant professional steps, and now he is behind the scenes of the Goodman Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol” as the show’s director, for the second time. He says that he sees the story a little bit more clearly each time.
“Last year, my main focus was on the social message manifested through the role of Christmas Present, who says that we are all responsible for the well-being of the children in our society,” says Godinez.
While that emphasis still remains, he says that the fact that Tom Mula, who has portrayed Scrooge for six seasons, will be playing the role for the last time this year has influenced his viewpoint.
“The staging seems to be more focused on Scrooge’s journey this year and his transformation and reclamation,” says Godinez. “It’s a personal and a social journey and one we all have to make individually as human beings and collectively as a society. So I have Tom digging into the darker, more disturbing sides of the journey.”
Although the beginning of the play is bleaker, it is balanced out. Says Godinez, “We have much more silliness at the end than we’ve ever had before.”
The Goodman Theatre production of “A Christmas Carol,” which is celebrating its 20th year, is only one of a number of performances of the classic in the Chicago area. The newest is being presented in Northfield by Holiday Productions. It includes the Jubilate and Red Rose Children’s Choirs, historically authentic choreography, a small shrouded ghost and one that’s 6 foot 7 inches tall.
The play’s director, Toby Nicholson, says, “We have the ghosts and the scary music, but the play isn’t threatening. We’re not trying to be scary. We’re trying for warm and friendly.”
Before this season, Nicholson performed for seven years as one of the parents in the Salt Creek Ballet’s version of another holiday favorite, “The Nutcracker.” Von Heidecke’s Chicago Festival Ballet also performs one of a number of productions in the Chicago area based on Tschaikovsky’s music.
Kenneth von Heidecke, the company’s artistic director, says the production will remain true to Tschaikovsky’s intentions. “Some productions like to get into bizarre, psychological undertones in the relationship between Clara and Drosselmeyer, which might be true of the original text written by Hoffman, but Tschaikovsky wanted it to be more pure and simple, and I wanted to approach it that way, so I emphasize the simple naivete of Clara starting to experience the first feelings of womanhood.”
Here is a sampling of holiday performances for families:
“A CHRISTMAS CAROL”
“A Christmas Carol,” Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace Theatre, Roosevelt Road and Illinois Highway 83, Oakbrook Terrace, through Dec. 27, $5; 630-530-0111.
“A Christmas Carol,” presented by the Goodman Theatre, 200 S. Columbus Drive, through Dec. 30, $15-$34; 312-443-3800. Special activities to celebrate the 20th anniversary production of “A Christmas Carol” include: Teddy Bear Teas with a Christmas story told by a member of the Goodman staff, Whitehall Hotel, 105 E. Delaware Pl., 1-3 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays through Dec. 14, $12.50, 312-944-6300; St. John’s Choir singing carols in the Goodman lobby, 6:30 p.m. Thursday prior to performance; film screening of “A Christmas Carol” starring Reginald Owen, 6:15 p.m. Thursday, Harold Washington Public Library Center, 400 S. State St.; audience sing-along after matinee performance, Dec. 13.
“A Christmas Carol,” presented by Holiday Productions featuring Gary Houston in the role of Scrooge, New Trier West Center, 7 Happ Rd., Northfield, through Dec. 21, $17.50-$22.50; 847-441-6020.
“A Christmas Carol,” CenterStage Community Theatre, Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Rd., Lake Forest, 8 p.m. Friday and Dec. 12, 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 13, 14, $5; 847-234-6062.
“A Christmas Carol,” presented by the Nebraska Theatre Caravan, Paramount Arts Center, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, 3 p.m. Sunday, $19.75; 630-896-6666.
“Dickens Old/Dickens Anew,” Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., 12:15 p.m. Dec. 16, free; 312-346-3278.
“A Christmas Carol,” performed by Chicago TheatreWorks, Thomas Hughes Children’s Library, Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St., 2 p.m. Dec. 29, free; 312-747-4200.
“THE NUTCRACKER”
“The IMAX Nutcracker,” Cineplex Odeon IMAX 3D Theatre, Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., through Jan. 15, $5.50-$8.75; 312-644-IMAX.
“Nuts & Bolts: A Jazzy Nutcracker for the ’90s,” presented by the Joel Hall Dancers, Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, $10-$20; Ticketmaster 312-902-1500.
“Nutcracker,” presented by the Von Heidecke Chicago Festival Ballet, Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago Ave., Joliet, 1:30 p.m. Saturday, $10.50-$18.50, 815-726-6600; Arts Center at the College of DuPage, 22nd Street and Lambert Road, Glen Ellyn, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20, 2:30 p.m. Dec. 21, 26, 27, $16-$17; 630-942-4000.
“Nuts & Bolts,” student dancers performing Broadway show dances and a spoof of “The Nutcracker,” Arts Center Theatre 2 at the College of DuPage, 425 22nd St., Glen Ellyn, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, $4 adults, $3 children; 630-942-4000.
“The Nutcracker,” 31st annual production presented by Chicago Tribune Charities, Arie Crown Theater, McCormick Place, 23rd Street and Lake Shore Drive, 2, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. on various dates Dec. 12-26, $5-$38.50, Ticketmaster 312-902-1500.
“Nutcracker on Ice,” starring Calla Urbanski and Rocky Marval, Star Plaza Theatre, Interstate Highway 65 and U.S. Highway 30, Merrillville, Ind., 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Dec. 12, $14-$24; 773-734-7266.
“The Magic of the Nutcracker,” presented by Dancecenter North with guest artist Justin Morris of the American Ballet Theatre, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13, 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 14, 2 p.m. Dec. 20, 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 21, Butler Auditorium, Libertyville High School, 708 W. Park Ave., $9-$18; 847-367-7970.
OTHER PERFORMANCES
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., 312-744-6630, “In the Spirit” monthlong festival, free: “When We Gather: A Merry Christmas Fair,” music, dance, storytelling and craft demonstrations, noon-2 p.m. Saturday; “Rhymes, Rhythms and Tales of High Adventures,” puppet performances of stories for the holdiay season, 2 p.m. Saturday; Chicago Children’s Choir Holiday Sing, 11 a.m. Monday and Wednesday; “Mass,” multimedia performance featuring handmade and avant-garde instruments, 12:15 p.m. Tuesday; “Holiday Harmonies,” 12:15 p.m. Thursday; “When We Gather: The Festival of Lights,” music, dance and storytelling inspired by Hanukkah, noon-4 p.m. Dec. 14; “Listen Up!,” a cappella concert of music in celebration of Hanukkah, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 18; DANK Spatwen, concert of German Christmas carols by a children’s choir, 1 p.m. Dec. 20; Rheinscher Gesang Verein, concert of German Christmas carols by an adult choir, 3 p.m. Dec. 20; on Location with the Chicago Choral Artists (formerly known as the James Chorale), 3 p.m. Dec. 21; “Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins,” 12:15 p.m. Dec. 22; H. Mark Williams and the Cultural Messengers, dramatic musical presentation that explains the history of Kwanzaa, 12:15 p.m. Dec. 26; “When We Gather: Kwanzaa Karamu,” noon Dec. 27; Chocolate Chips Theatre Company, Kwanzaa presentation, 12:15 p.m. Dec. 29; Minianka African Drum and Dance Emsemble, dance performance celebrating Kwanzaa, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 29; A Celebration of Nia (Purpose), 12:15 p.m. Dec. 30.
“The Christmas Schooner,” through Jan. 4, Bailiwick Repertory, Bailiwick Arts Center, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., $15-$25; 773-883-1090.
“Hans Brinker,” presented by the New Tuners Theatre, Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., through Jan. 4, $16-$22, $15 each for families buying from 4-9 tickets; 773-327-5252.
“A Holiday Festival on Real Ice,” Drury Lane Theatre, 2500 W. 95th St., Evergreen Park, through Jan. 11, $19-$25 show only, $31-$41 show and dinner; “The Nutcracker on Ice,” through Jan. 11, $5.50-$7.50; 708-422-0404.
“Magic of the Season,” Players Workshop Children’s Theatre, Lincoln Park Cultural Center, 2045 Lincoln Park West, 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 21, $5-$7; 773-929-6288.
“Mrs. Coney,” Studio Theatre of the Bailiwick Arts Center, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., $15-$18; 773-883-1090.
“One Magical Christmas Eve,” Classics on Stage!, Touhy Avenue and Northwest Highway, Park Ridge, through Dec. 23, $5.50-$6.50; 773-989-0532.
“The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t,” by Child’s Play Touring Company, Center for the Performing Arts, Governors State University, off Interstate Highway 57 at Sauk Trail, University Park, 11 a.m. Saturday, $7; 708-235-2222.
“Kids Fare: Holiday Harmonies,” Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 1977 S. Campus Drive on the Arts Circle, Northwestern University, Evanston, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, $2-$4; 847-467-4000.
Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Parkway; 312-431-2370. The Auditorium Theatre Council is presenting Home for the Holidays Festival: Family Sing-Along, 7 p.m. Thursday, free; MOMIX dance company, 10 a.m. Dec. 18, 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., Dec. 19, 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 20, $15-$40; The Flying Karamazov Brothers present “Sharps, Flats and Accidentals,” 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 27, $15-35; Gregory Hines, 2 p.m. Dec. 28, $25-$55.
“The Bear Who Found Christmas,” presented by The Papai Players, Cutting Hall, 150 E. Wood St., Palatine, Thursday-Dec. 30, $5.50-$6.50; 847-359-9556.
“Jamie O’Reilly in Concert: A Concert of Songs of the Season,” featuring songs for the holidays and selections from “The Snow Queen: A Fairy Tale Musical,” Friendship Hall, Kolpin and Algonquin Roads, Des Plaines, 8 p.m. Dec. 12, $12, 847-640-1000; The Lunar Cabaret, 2827 N. Lincoln Ave., 8 p.m. Dec. 13, $10; Jamie O’Reilly with special apppearance by Michael Smith, Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State St., free; 312-747-4200.
“Winter Pageant,” Redmoon Theatre, Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie Ave., 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12, 5 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13, 14, $7 includes juice and cookies, an additional $25 for for hors d’oeuvres and beverages after 7:30 p.m. show Dec. 13; 773-388-9031.
“Do-It-Yourself Hanukkah,” presented by the Old Town School of Folk Music and featuring host Peter Yarrow, Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16, $15-$22; Ticketmaster 312-559-1212.
“A Child’s Christmas,” presented by the New Classic Singers, Arts Center at the College of DuPage, 22nd Street and Lambert Road, Glen Ellyn, 1 p.m. Dec. 13, $6; 630-942-4000.
Sweet Honey in the Rock Family Concert, 3 and 5 p.m. Dec. 20, Art Institute of Chicago, 230 S. Columbus Drive, $10 adults, $1 children; 630-268-1111.
“Do-It-Yourself-Messiah,” Norris Theatre, 1040 Dunham Rd., St. Charles, 3 p.m. Dec. 21, $10; 630-584-7200.
“Tricia Butchers the Classics,” seasonal songs with Tricia Alexander, The Bog Theatre, 620 Lee St., Des Plaines, 3 p.m. Dec. 21, $10; 847-296-0622.
