Local Troupes Getting Casts in Holiday Spirit

The holidays are upon us, and with them come seasonal entertainments from local theater companies. Yes, there’ll be “A Christmas Carol�--a couple of ‘em, in fact--plus a mystery, a few musical revues and a Dickens piece other than “A Christmas Carol.�

Better lay in a supply of eggnog. Here’s a taste of what’s to come.

A murder mystery set backstage at a British children’s TV show, “Who Killed Santa Claus?� opens Nov. 8 at the Elite Theatre Company in Oxnard’s Heritage Square. Call 483-5118 for information.

Two shows, also opening on Nov. 8, have little to do with Christmas, but pay a small tribute to the impending holiday. “Tomfoolery,� a musical revue of songs by satirist Tom Lehrer at the Arts Council Center in Thousand Oaks, includes his “A Christmas Carol,� a tribute to seasonal commercialism.

And the Conejo Players’ season-ending musical “Mame� features the song “We Need a Little Christmas.� Call Comedy Tonight Productions at 389-3193 for “Tomfoolery� tickets, and 495-3715 for “Mame� information.

And while it is more Easter than Christmas related, Theater League’s touring production of “Godspell,� the 1971 hippie musical retelling Jesus Christ’s last seven days, will come to Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza from Nov. 19-24. Call 449-2787 for details.

This season’s two musical revues are “Star-Crossed and Cross-Eyed Lovers� at Camarillo’s Marquie Dinner Theater and “Happy Holidays!� at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center.

Both include lots of Gershwin, Porter and Rodgers.

“Star-Crossed,� Dec. 8, 15 and 31, was conceived and directed by Rex Waggoner with musical director Kevin Parcher and choreographer Deidre Fisher. The program features romantic songs and includes dinner. Call 484-9909 for reservations.

“Happy Holidays!,� assembled by musical director Gary Poirot, features specifically holiday-themed songs and runs weekends Dec. 13-30. Call 581-9940.

The Santa Susana Repertory Company will do its traditional version of “A Christmas Carol� at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Forum Theatre starting Dec. 6. Call 449-2787 for tickets. Moorpark Melodrama will give the story a more twisted telling with “A Dickens of a Holiday� beginning Nov. 29. Call 529-1212.

Those sated with Ebenezer Scrooge and Co. can substitute the Santa Paula Theater Center’s “Cricket on the Hearth,� an adaptation by Lowell L. Munfull making its West Coast debut Dec. 6.

An added inducement for some: Director Fred Helsel promises that, though the play takes place at Christmas, there are no children in the cast. Call 525-4645 for information.

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Casting Call: Auditions for Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons� will be held at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 10 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11-12 at Conejo Players’ Theater, 351 S. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks. Those trying out are asked to prepare a monologue no longer than three minutes. The show will play Thursday through Saturday evenings from Jan. 24 to Feb. 22. For information, call Dayne Jervis at 499-3912, or Lucien Jervis at 483-0175, Ext. 122.

Auditions for Standing O Productions’ staging of Bernard Pomerance’s “The Elephant Man� will be held at the Arts Council Center, 482 Greenmeadow Ave., Thousand Oaks, from 7-11 p.m. Nov. 16, and from 1-6 p.m. Nov. 17. All roles are open except John Merrick, Mrs. Kendal and Dr. Treves. The production will run from Feb. 7-22 at the center. Call 379-1853 or 498-7939 for information.

The Conejo Afternoon Theater will hold auditions for a production of Paul Osborne’s “On Borrowed Time� Nov. 17 at the Conejo Players Theater, and Nov. 18 at the Arts Council Center, 482 Greenmeadow Ave., Thousand Oaks. The play will run for six matinee performances, Feb. 6-22. For information, call Aron at 529-5847, or Doug at 495-4560.