There are some stories that you can’t even remember when you first encountered them — they just seem to have always been around. For countless families, the immortal film “A Christmas Story” is a perfect example of this phenomenon.
While most of us are familiar with it on the screen, Miners Alley Playhouse, 1224 Washington Ave. in Golden, has brought “A Christmas Story” to the stage and will be running it through Friday, Dec. 23. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. The Dec. 22 is a special benefit performance for the children’s theater program that will feature a visit from Santa, special beverages and more.
We spoke to director Rory Pierce about the show, bringing a classic to the stage and more.
Interview edited for clarity and brevity.
Tell me about the show:
People have grown up listening to the stories of Ralphie Parker’s childhood and now know them almost as well as they know their own. It is a classic tale of Christmas, filled with best friends, budding romances and the longing for the best Christmas gift.
Why did you select this as this year’s holiday show?
“A Christmas Story” hits so many of the notes that people look for during the holidays: family, friendship, humor, tenderness and nostalgia for a time long gone but never forgotten.
What are the challenges of bringing a well-known story to the stage in such a different form?
Doing a show that so many people already know does bring its own set of challenges. We know that the characters on the stage will not look like the people in the film. The house cannot be recreated on the stage and we certainly cannot bring the winters on the shores of Lake Michigan in Indiana to the stage either.
But we can bring back memories of our childhood. The days when snowbanks towered over our heads. When the problems we needed to solve seemed almost insurmountable. When moms and dads were our true heroes and bullies were not unbeatable.
What has the audience reaction been like so far?
I couldn’t be happier with the way the audience has embraced this show. From people who know the movies so well they watch it multiple times every year, to the people that have never heard of it before, they have all left the theater with smiles on their faces and warmth in their hearts. And they have shared their feelings about the show with us both at intermission and on their way out.
If people aren’t familiar with the story, what do you want them to know about what they can expect?
If you know nothing about this story, get ready for a Christmas adventure that will remind you of your youth and make you glad you came.
What do you hope audiences come away with?
As people leave, I just hope they think of the holidays as a time for family, fun, and unforgettable memories.
For information and tickets, visit minersalley.com.
Miracle bars offer holiday atmosphere galore
Sometimes around the holidays, you just need a drink. Whatever the reason for this is (no judgment here), there are several more festive options to add some holiday cheer to your libation atmosphere.
Sponsored by Miracle, a “Christmas-themed pop-up cocktail bar that serves holiday cocktails in a festive setting,” drinkers can visit the Miracle at The Eddy Hotel, 1640 8th St. in Golden, Miracle at Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop in Denver, Miracle at The Rouge, 7939 E. Arapahoe Road in Greenwood Village and Sippin’ Santa at The Arvada Tavern, 5707 Olde Wadsworth Blvd. in Arvada.
Each of these locations offer special drinks, merchandise and atmosphere that will really get you in the holiday spirit. Visit www.miracledenver.com to see all the locations, links to make reservations and more.
Walk through some of the world’s best-known paintings
The work created by the Impressionist movement of artists, which was established in the late 19th century, remains some of the most moving and well-known works ever created. Artists like Monet, Renoir and Degas remain firmly etched in our cultural history and visitors to the Immersive Monet and The Impressionists exhibit can see why up close and personal.
The exhibit is open at the Lighthouse Artspace Denver, 3900 Elati St. in Denver. Get tickets at immersivemonet.com/Denver.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — The Smile at Mission Ballroom
Who knows if we’ll ever get a proper Radiohead album again. It is certainly not something we can rule out, but in the meantime, we’ve got The Smile, which features almost half Radiohead’s members - Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, as well as producer Nigel Godrich - and drummer Tom Skinner.
The group released their debut album, “A Light for Attracting Attention,” this year and it’s one of 2022’s best releases. In support of the album, The Smile will be performing at the Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. in Denver, at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 and Sunday, Dec. 11. They’ll be joined by opener Robert Stillman.
Get tickets at www.axs.com.
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.
