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

CHARLES DICKENS PRESENTS: A CHRISTMAS CAROL, solo performance conceived, written, directed by and starring Mike Randall, presented by The Niagara Regional Theatre Guild. Dec 7 at 3. Ellicott Creek Playhouse, 530 Ellicott Creek Rd., Tonawanda (260-2319).

A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens, adapted by Romulus Linney, presented by the Alden Christian Theatre Society, directed by Dylan Brozyna, starring Christopher Best, Hali Wagner, Michael Bienko, Christian Sutter, Kathy Sutter, Emma Retzlaff, Teresa Colosanti, Ryan Morgan, Michael Sheehan, Brozyna. Dec 6-14, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:30, plus Dec 13 at 2:40. ACTS Beacon Cafe, 1470 Church St., Alden (937-7770).

A COMMEDIA CHRISTMAS CAROL by Matthew R. Wilson, presented by Niagara University Theatre, directed by Robin Patterson and Terry Judd. Dec 4-14, Thu at 7, Fri at 7:30, Sat at 2 & 7:30, Sun at 2. Leary Theatre, Clet Hall at NU campus (286-8685).

THE GUNS OF CHRISTMAS, world premiere of a play by Gary Earl Ross, presented by Subversive Theatre, directed by Ross, starring Lawrence Rowswell, J. Tim Raymond, John Kennedy, Lucas Lloyd, Justin Fiordaliso, Thorin Vallentin, Jacob Sauer, Rick Vogt, Murry Galloway, Michael Mottern, Ryan Filer. Dec 4-20, Thu-Sat at 8. The Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave., third floor (408-0499).

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, adapted from the Frank Capra film by James W. Rodgers, directed by L. Don Swartz, starring Brandon A. Czerwinski, Carla Kwasniak, Carl Tamburlin, Nathan Schuh. Dec 4-14, Thu at 7, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St., North Tonawanda (743-1614).

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, presented by Theatre of Youth, directed by Meg Quinn, starring Gian Carlo Gioia, Marisa Caruso, Adam Yellen, Tammy Hayes McGovern, Tim Newell, Priscilla Young Anker. Dec 5 at 7. Dec 6-21, Sat at 10 & 2, Sun at 2 (no 10 a.m. performance Dec 6). Allendale Theatre, 203 Allen Street. (884-4400 x 304).

OPHELIA THINKS HARDER, comedy by Joan Betts and W. Shakespeare presented by Brazen-Faced Varlets, directed by Toni Smith-Wilson, starring Rosa Fernandez, Anna Luce, Jennifer Gembka, Brittany Kucala, Kelly M. Beuth, Kate Olena, Caroline Parzy-Sanders, Kerry Alsheimer, Bekki Sliwa, Ashley Evans. Dec 4-20, Thu-Sat at 8. ART in the Box, 16 Linwood Ave. (574-9139).

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING OUT, one-man show by Jeffrey Solomon presented by Buffalo United Artists, directed by Christopher Standart, starring Timothy Patrick Finnegan, Chuck Basil. Dec 5-20, Fri & Sat at 8, plus Dec 14 at 7. Main Street Cabaret, 687 Main St. (886-9239).

THE SANTALAND DIARIES, one-man show by David Sedaris & Joe Mantello, directed by Doug Weyand, starring Marc Sacco. Dec 4-14, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2. Road Less Traveled Theater, Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre, 639 Main St. (629-3069).

SCROOGE THE MUSICAL, by David Smith, directed by Christopher Parada, starring Dennis Donovan, Jack Landrigan, Kathy Dewey, Ethan Koplas, Emily Prucha. Dec 5-7, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun at 3. Historic Palace Theatre, 2 East Ave., Lockport (438-1130).

ONGOING

THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER, by Laura Eason adapted from the novel by Mark Twain, directed by Chris Kelly, starring Brandon Barry, Joseph Donohue III, Renee Landrigan, John Kaczorowski, Kevin Craig, Jose Rivera,Wendy Hall, Betsy Bittar, Anthony Alcocer, Eric Rawski. Through Dec 21, Thu-Sat at 8, Sun at 2. New Phoenix Theatre, 95 Johnson Park (853-1334).

JERRY’S GIRLS, musical revue by Jerry Herman presented by O’Connell & Company, directed by Michael Walline, starring Mary Coppola Gjurich, Pamela Rose Mangus, Mary Kate O’Connell, Shelby Bosse, Celine Keefe, Nancy Sam. Through Dec 21, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:30. The Park School, 4625 Harlem Road, Snyder. (848-0800).

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

LA LUZ DE UN CIGARRILLO, play by Marco Antonio Rodríguez presented in Spanish by Raices Theatre Company, directed by Victoria Pérez, starring Ingrid Córdova, Josué Rosario-Cáliz, Mariana Cole-Rivera, Smirna Mercedes-Pérez. Dec 4-7, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 6. Ujima TheaterLoft, 545 Elmwood Ave. (238 1522).

CLOSING

AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’, the Fats Waller musical revue directed by Michael Walline, starring Cecelia Barron, Dudney Joseph, Jr., Jetaun Louie, Raphael Santos, Cecilia Snow. Through Dec 7, Wed & Thu at 7, Fri at 8, Sat at 4 & 8, Sun at 2. MusicalFare Theatre, 4380 Main St., Amherst (839-8540).

JOURNEY’S END, drama by R.C. Sherriff, directed by Robert Waterhouse, starring Christian Brandjes, Louis Colaiacovo, Christopher Evans, Tim Joyce, Stan Klimecko, Chance MacDowell, Geoff Pictor, Norman Sham, PJ Tighe, Guy Wagner, Joseph Wright. Through Dec 7, Thu & Fri at 8, Sat at 4 & 8, Sun at 2. Kavinoky Theatre, 320 Porter Ave. (829-7668).

RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA, touring production of the Broadway musical presented by Shea’s & Albert Nocciolino. Through Dec 7, 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).

A VERY MEOWLY CHRISTMAS!, written and directed by Linda Silvestri, presented by Western Door Playhouse, starring Paul Gadawski, Tom Slaiman, Gloria McNitt, Sam Granieri, Sami Grawe, Drew Krause, NickMarino, Elaine Meranto, Bob Priest, Sharon Priest, Dede Secic, Andrea Tomala. Through Dec 7, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Su at 2:30. Woodbox Theatre, Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, 1201 Pine Ave. at Portage Rd. (297-5910).

UPCOMING

A CHRISTMAS CAROL, adapted and directed by Neal Radice, starring David C. Mitchell, Melissa Seifert Leventhal, Stephanie Bax, Roger VanDette, David Poole, Jerry Hudson, Joyce Stilson, Darryl Hart, Radice. Dec 11- 22, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 5 & 8, Sun at 2. Alleyway Theatre, One Curtain Up Alley (852-2600).

MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET, comedy by Tom Dudzick presented by Aurora Players, directed by Ken Smyntek, starring Joe Cassidy, Brooke Goergen, Erin Pataye, MaryAnn Reisdorf. Dec 11-14, Thu-Sat at 8, Sun at 2:30. RoycroftPavilion in Hamlin Park, East Aurora (687-6727).

SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS, comedy by Paul L Jacobson and Glenville Mareth, adapted for the stage and directed by Drew McCabe, presented by Buffalo Chrysalis Theatre Company, starring Christopher Andreana, Alfonso Tyson, Leanne Troutman, Eric Mowery, Jenny Marie McCabe, Dan Greer, Dan Grabowski, John Renna, Paige Ronan, Thomas Wilger, Monica Morrisey. Dec 11-27, Thu & Fri at 7, Sat at 3 & 7, Sun at 2. Grange Theatre, 22 Main St., third floor. Hamburg (903.9288).