ANBC medium yelling phone flippedCity Lights’ Another Night Before Christmas opens tonight with a gala at the downtown San Jose theater. Thankfully this doesn’t appear to be a straight ahead, red cheeks, ho-ho-ho take on holiday theater (bah humbug).

Despite their small size and budget, City Lights takes risks and often chooses interesting, non-conventional material.

I wouldn’t suggest this one looks as “out there” in terms of Christmas productions as, say, the Seafarer also opening tonight at San Jose Stage, but at least it promises to offer a unique story.

Heading home on a lonely Christmas Eve, burnt-out Karol Elliot shares her groceries with a homeless man who decides to show his thanks and rekindle her holiday cheer by breaking into her apartment later that night and insisting that he’s Santa Claus.

If I were homeless I’d pretend to be Batman. But, you know, that would be more of a Tim Burton Christmas and perhaps less of a musical delight.

0910 ANBC adAnother Night Before Christmas
City Lights Theatre Company, San Jose
A West Coast Premiere
Book and Lyrics by Sean Grennan
Music by Leah Okimoto
Directed by Daren A.C. Carollo
November 19 – December 20, 2009
Thursdays – Saturdays at 8pm
Sunday Evenings at 7pm (Sept 27 & Oct 4)
Sunday Matinees at 2pm (Oct 11 & 18)

Tickets: $25—$40
Students and Educators only $15!
Subject to availability, excludes Gala and Preview
Senior and Group discounts available, Wheelchair accessible

Click here to buy tickets now, or call the Box Office at 408-295-4200

Clinton shoots videos for Stark Insider. San Francisco Bay Area arts, Ingmar Bergman and French New Wave, and chasing the perfect home espresso shot 25 seconds at a time (and failing). Peloton: ClintTheMint. Camera: Video Gear