On the Boards is presented by the Irish Classical Theatre Company. To be considered for On the Boards, submissions must be received by 5pm on Wednesday one week prior to publication. Send notice VIA e-mail to: ontheboards@artvoice.com.

Opening

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER by Barbara Robinson, presented by Theatre of Youth, directed by Meg Quinn, starring Mary McMahon, Robert Insana, Joyce Carolyn, Annette Daniels Taylor, Jennifer Fitzery, Bill Schmidt, Adam Rath. Dec 7-16, Fri at 7, Sat at 2 & 5:30, Sun at 2. Allendale Theatre, 203 Allen St. (884.4400 x 304).

A CHRISTMAS CAROL, adapted and directed by Neal Radice, now in its 30th year, starring John Smeathers, Syndi Starr, Katy Clancy, Roger Van Dette, David C. Mitchell, J. K. Hudson, Joyce Stilson, Lily Hart, Charlie Hearn, Matthew Luraschi, Radice. Dec 6-16, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 5 & 8, Sun at 2. Alleyway Theatre, One Curtain Up Alley (852-2600).

CHRISTMAS IS COMIN’ UPTOWN, musical by Garry Sherman, Philip Rose and Peter Udel, directed by Paulette D. Harris. Dec 7-16, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 4. Paul Robeson Theatre at the African American Cultural Center, 350 Masten Ave. (884-2013).

URINETOWN, musical by Greg Kotis and Mark Hollmann, presented by Niagara University Theatre, directed by Steven Braddock. Dec 6-16, Thu at 7, Fri at 7:30, Sat at 2 & 7:30, Sun at 2. Leary Theatre within the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for Theatre, Clet Hall at NU campus (286-8685).

Ongoing

ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT, Christmas play by L. Don Swartz, starring Karla Weidenboerner, Jed Woomer, Rosemary Swartz, Jessica Kuhn, Ben Torres, Camryn Porter, Donald Swartz. Through Dec 16, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St., North Tonawanda (743-1614).

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, comedy by Barbara Robinson presented by the Lancaster Regional Players, directed by David Nuijens, starring Penny Striker, Christina Morrow, Cameron Heffler, Alex Bogart, Mitchel Guidie, Allison Gray, Aaron Boos, Jake Shapiro, Adam Misnik, Annabella Bogart. Through Dec 16, Fri at 7:30, Sat & Sun at 2:30. Lancaster Opera House, 21 Central Ave., Lancaster (683-1776).

A BROADWAY CHRISTMAS CAROL by Kathy Feininger, presented by O’Connell & Company, directed by Jeffrey Coyle, starring David Butler, Mary Kate O’Connell, Michael Starzynski. Through Dec 16, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:30. Erie Community College- North Campus, 6205 Main St., Williamsville (848-0800).

CLOUD 9, play by Caryl Churchill, directed by Kelli Bocok-Natale, starring Richard Lambert, Chris Kelly, Diane Curley, Kelly Ferguson Moore, Pamela Rose Mangus, Eric Rawski, Steve Copps. Through Dec 22, Thu-Sat at 8. The New Phoenix Theatre on the Park, 95 Johnson Park (853-1334).

GYPSY, Broadway musical presented by The Niagara Regional Theatre Guild, directed by Fran Newton, starring Kim Ehrenburg, Michael Breen, Cassandra Grizanti, Laura Jakiel. Through Dec 15, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun at 3. The Ellicott Creek Playhouse, 530 Ellicott Creek Road, Tonawanda (284-6358).

OTHER DESERT CITIES, play by Jon Robin Baitz, directed by Peter Palmisano, starring David Lamb, Barbara Link LaRou, Kristen Tripp Kelley, Lisa Ludwig, Matt Witten. Through Dec 16, Thu & Fri at 8, Sat at 4 & 8, Sun at 2. Kavinoky Theatre, 320 Porter Ave. (829-7668).

RADIO TBS (Trailer Park Broadcasting Scandals), comedy by Mark L. Smith presented by Subversive Theatre Collective and Brazen-Faced Varlets directed by Kelly M. Beuth, starring Brittany Kucala, Jenny Gembka, Lara D.Haberberger, Jane Cudmore, Diane DiBernardo, Amelia Scinta, Diane McNamara, Kerry Alsheimer, Theresa DiMuro-Wilber, Kate Olena. Through Dec 15, Thu-Sat at 8. Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave., third floor (408-0499).

Closing

BROADWAY SANTA, family Christmas musical presented by The Amherst Players. Through Dec 8, Fri at 7, Sat at 1 & 7. Harlem Road Community Center, Amherst (836-3820).

A CHRISTMAS CAROL, adapted from the play by Charles Dickens, presented by Theatre in the Mist. Through Dec 9, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2. Stella Niagara Theatre, 4421 Lower River Rd., Lewiston (1-877-856-0694).

THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES by Jeff Goode, presented by the Francis Bacon Experiment. Through Dec 9, Fri & Sat at 8. The Wasteland Theater, 700 Main St. (348-2005).

GODSPELL, musical by Stephen Schwartz presented by Footlight Productions, directed by Michele Busenlehner, starring Andrew Tarnowski, Mark Bursztyn, Alfonzo Tyson, Gavin Higgins, Ian Michalski, Katie McMahon, Kristin Gelia, Amy Lee Reusch, Molly Harding, Valerie Lohr, Kennedy Miller, Sahara Lester. Dec 7 & 8 at 7. Wick Building, Daemen College, Main St., Amherst (400-4678).

INSPECTING CAROL, holiday comedy by Daniel Sullivan, presented by the Western Door Playhouse, starring Patrick Bielecki, Sam Granieri, Sami Granieri, Leroy Lewis, Michael Lombardo, Pat LoPatriello, Nicholas Marino, Chris Mongielo, Mark Priest, Sharon Priest, Reina Roggio, Dede Secic, Tom Slaiman. Through Dec 9, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2:30. Woodbox Theatre, Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, 1201 Pine Avenue at Portage Road (297-5910).

THE IRISH CURSE, comedy by Martin Casella presented by Buffalo United Artists, directed by Drew McCabe, starring Kevin Craig, Dave Hayes, Matthew Crehan Higgins, Michael Seitz, Jonathan Shuey. Through Dec 8, Fri & Sat at 8. BUA Theater, 119 W. Chippewa St. (886-9239).

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, adapted from the Frank Capra film, presented by the Alden Christian Theatre Society, directed by Kathy Sutter, starring Ryan Morgan, Dylan Brozyna, Rachel Wach, Marc Ruffino. Thruogh Dec 9, Fri at 7:30, Sat at 7:30 & 2:30, Sun at 2:30. ACTS Beacon Cafe and Performing Arts Center, 1470 Church St., Alden (937-7770).

WHITE CHRISTMAS, touring production of the musical by Irving Berlin presented by Shea’s and Albert Nocciolino. Through Dec 9, Thu at 7:30, Fri at 8, Sat at 2 & 8, Sun at 2 & 7. Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St. (1-800-745-3000).

Special Presentations

BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE, comedy by Leonard Gershe, directed by Jay Desiderio, starring Sean Marciniak, Justyne Harris, Margo Davis, Justin Fiordaliso. Through Dec 16, Thu, Sat & Sun, dinner at 6, show at 7:30. Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre, 5827 Broadway, Lancaster (683-7767).

THE HOLIDAY GUYS IN HAPPY MERRY HANU-MAS!, musical revue starring Jeffry Denman, Marc Kudisch. Dec 6-9, Thu at 7, Fri at 8, Sat at 4 & 8, Sun at 2. MusicalFare Theatre, 4380 Main St., Amherst (839-8540).

Upcoming

SHREK THE MUSICAL, national touring production of the Broadway musical by David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori, directed by Stephen Sposito. Dec 13 & 14 at 7:30. UB Center for the Arts, North Campus (645-ARTS).