FAST FORWARD Salem with these shows The Christmas Wish by Mathieu Voisine — A preteen unloads her frustrations to Santa about her lame Dad. How many more awful dad jokes can a kid handle and at Christmas time to boot?! The War on Christmas by Kate Danley — In a world that’s beginning to look like Christmas, only one man can save us. One man. A snowman. The True Meaning of Christmas by Kate Danley — Christmas is just around the corner, and the Mall creative team is looking for a new angle on the holiday: no more Christmas trees and paper chain decorations. No, they are looking for something to really shake things up! Perfect Christmas 1957 by Nora Douglass — Imo is coming to grips with Christmas and the loss of her mother when a book that belonged to her mother comes alive to help make the holidays a little brighter. ON STAGE: 7 p.m. Dec 8-9 & 13-15 and 2 p.m. Dec 9-10 in M. Lee Pelton Theatre at Willamette University, 900 State St. Tickets are $12-$18 | theatre33.org
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December 8-17 Enlightened Theatrics presents James and the Giant Peach — When James is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion that results in a tremendous peach... and launches a journey of enormous proportions. Suddenly, James finds himself in the center of the gigantic peach, among human-sized insects with equally oversized personalities, but after it falls from the tree and rolls into the ocean, the group faces hunger, sharks and plenty of disagreements. Thanks to James' quick wit and creative thinking, the residents learn to live and work together as a family. Based on the book James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. Words and Music by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul. Book by Timothy Allen McDonald. ON STAGE: 7:30 p.m. Dec 8-9, 14-16 and 2 p.m. Dec 10, 17 at Salem’s Historic Grand Theatre, 191 High St NE. Tickets are $10-$22.5 | enlightenedtheatrics.org
January 12 to February 3 Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs — Dreaming of baseball and girls, Eugene must cope with the mundane existence of his family life in Brooklyn: formidable mother, overworked father, and his worldly older brother Stanley. Throw into the mix his widowed Aunt Blanche and her two young (but rapidly aging) daughters and you have a recipe for hilarity, served up Simon-style. (Concord Theatricals) Directed by Jo Dodge. ON STAGE: January 12 to February 3 at Pentacle Theatre, 324 52nd Ave NW. Get tickets at pentacletheatre.org. Info: 503-485-4300
PNW Community Coral Reef Project
Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind Willamette University Theatre presents Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, an ever-changing menu of 30 short plays, chosen by the audience. The show is an ensemble experiment of two-minute plays performed in random order with an interactive audience becoming something reflective of the lives and experiences of the ensemble. Directed by Jonathan Cole. February 15 to 25, 2024 Pelton Theatre | wutheatre.com
Community Coral Reef Project The PNW Community Coral Reef Project is a traveling, room-sized, walk through exhibition — a life sized coral reef – made by a community of fiber artists around the world. The exhibit emphasizes both health bleached corals along with marine animals and showcases the beauty and diversity of the undersea world while engaging in a conversation about climate change and ocean pollutants. March 22 through June 22, 2024 Willamette Heritage Center | coralknitfiberarts.com
Mid Valley Comic Art Expo is two days of fun, interactive pop culture and comic book inspired experiences including artists, vendors, special guests, photo opportunities, panels, stage shows and more. April 20 & 21, 2024 Oregon State Fairgrounds | mvcae.com winter 2023 | pressplaysalem.com | 27
