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

A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens, starring L. Don Swartz, Mark Woomer, Joann Mis, Camryn Porter, Carl Tamburlin, DJ Swartz,Dan Zerpa. Dec 2 at 7. Dec 3-18, Fri & Sat at 8, plus Dec 19 at 2. Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St., North Tonawanda (743-1614).

FOR THE LOVE OF JULIET!, comedy by Luigi Jannuzzi presented by Canisius College Little Theatre, directed by Erika Hawley. Dec 2 at 8, Dec 4 at 2 & 8. Marie Maday Theatre, Lyons Hall, Canisius campus (888-3795).

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, world premiere of a play with music by Jason R. Bek, presented by Theatre in the Mist, directed by Bek, starring Sara Jo Kukulka, Jerry Mosey, Jean Speck, Alessandro Renzi, Susan Laxton, Lisa Marie Leone, Bill Kennedy, Molly Harding, Deanne Lester, Kelly Bancroft Billings, Todd Bancroft Billings. Dec 3-12, Fri-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2, plus Dec 4 at 2 (no performance Dec 10). Stella Niagara Theater, Pletcher and Lower River Roads, Lewiston (1-877-856-0694)

SCROOGE THE MUSICAL, Dec 3-5, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun at 3. Palace Theatre, Two East Ave., Lockport (436-1130).

Ongoing

CABARET, musical by Kander and Ebb, directed by Randall Kramer, starring John Fredo, Kelly Jakiel, Steve Copps, Nicole Benoit, Sheila Connors, Philip Farugia, Robert Insana, Tara Kaczorowski, Adrienne Lewis, Jessica Stuber, Jonathan Young. Through Dec 12, Wed & Thu at 7, Fri at 8, Sat at 4 & 8, Sun at 2. MusicalFare Theatre, 4380 Main St., Amherst (839-8540).

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS: The Music Of Vince Guaraldi, concert presentation directed by Doug Weyand, starring Bonnie Jean Taylor. Through Dec 19, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 4:30 & 7:30, Sun at 2. Road Less Traveled Theater, Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre, 639 Main St. (629-3069).

MURDER SQUARED, world premiere of a play by Gary Earl Ross presented by Ujima Theatre Company, directed by Gary Earl Ross & Robert Ball, starring Darryl Hart, Tilke Hill, Hugh Davis, Alexis Koetting, Arron Krygier, Samantha Sherwood, Rich Kraemer, Mary Moebius, Donald Capers. Through Dec 19, Thu-Sat at 8, Sun at 6. Theaterloft, 545 Elmwood Ave. (883-0380).

OUR SONG, American premiere of a play by Keith Waterhouse, directed by Robert Waterhouse, starring Richard Lambert, Kelly Meg Brennan, Christian Brandjes, Jeffrey Coyle, Guy De Federicis, Pamela Rose Mangus, Bethany Sparacio. Through Dec 18, Thu-Sat at 8. New Phoenix Theatre on the Park, 95 Johnson Park (853-1334).

Closing

EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (and then some), comedy by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald, and John K. Alvarez presented by Creative Allusions Productions, starring Peter D’Angelo, Peter Maier, Scot Kaitanowski. Through Dec 5, Fri at 7:30, Sat at 2:30 & 7:30, Sun at 2:30. Lancaster Opera House, 21 Central Ave. Lancaster (683-1776).

JAMES JOYCE’S THE DEAD, play with music by Richard Nelson and Shaun Davey, presented by Irish Classical Theatre Company, directed by Derek Campbell, lyrics conceived and adapted by Richard Nelson and Shaun Davey, starring Brian Riggs, Cassie Gorniewicz, Sharon Strait, Emily Elkin, John Kaczorowski, Sheila McCarthy, Matt Witten, Ellen Horst, Debbie Pappas, Doug Crane, Valerie Yawien, Wendy Hall, Lou Colaiacovo, Emily Tworek-Helenbrook, Jason Bravo, Mary Ramsey. Through Dec 5, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 3 & 7:30, Sun at 2. Andrews Theatre, 625 Main St. (853-ICTC).

MRS. BOB CRATCHIT’S WILD CHRISTMAS BINGE, comedy by Christopher Durang, presented by the Western Door Playhouse directed by Linda Silvestri, starring Sam Fadel, Patrick “Gus” Posey, Dede Secic, Samika Sullivan, Troy Burkett, Jordyn Giambra, Dave Karb, Lynda LaGreca, Brandon Minicucci, Bob Priest, Andrea Tomala, Tom Turici. Through Dec 5, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2:30. Woodbox Theatre, Niagara Arts and Cultural Center,1201 Pine Ave. at Portage Road (297-5910).

PRESENT LAUGHTER, comedy by Noel coward directed by Anne Gayley, starring David Lamb, Eileen Dugan, Josephine Hogan, Robert Rutland, Kathleen Betsko Yale, Lisa Vitrano, Michele Marie Roberts, Joseph Demerly, Gerry Maher, David Lundy, Tess Spangler. Through Dec 5, Thu & Fri at 8, Sat at 4 & 8, Sun at 2. Kavinoky Theatre, 320 Porter Ave. (829-7668).

THE TEMPERAMENTALS, play by Jon Marans presented by Buffalo United Artists, directed by Chris Kelly, starring Ryan F Cupello, Christopher LaBanca, Adam Rath, Marc Sacco, Michael Seitz. Through Dec 4, Fri & Sat at 8. BUA Theater, 119 Chippewa St. (886-9239).

Special Presentations

SPOKEN CAROLS ON A STARRY NIGHT, staged play reading of Mark C. LLoyd’s A Coffee House, starring Andrea Zysk, George Georgakis. Proceeded by an open poetry reading and holiday songs. Dec 4 at 7. Rust Belt Books, 202 Allen St. (471-2839).

Upcoming

A CHRISTMAS CAROL, adapted and directed by Neal Radice, starring John Smeathers, Syndi Starr, Katy Clancy, Roger Van Dette, Christopher S. Parada, David C. Mitchell, Joyce Stilson. Dec 9-19, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 5 & 8, Sun at 2. Alleyway Theatre, One Curtain Up Alley (852-2600).

DREAMGIRLS, touring production of the Broadway musical presented by Shea’s and Albert Nocciolino. Dec 14-19, Tue-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).

THE PIPES ARE CALLING: An Elegy to Dan Higgins, Sr., written and performed by Matthew Crehan Higgins, presented by Buffalo United Artists, directed by Javier Bustillos. Dec 10-19, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 7. BUA Theater, 119 Chippewa St. (886-9239).