Deck the stage

Three things are for sure: Thanksgiving is over, it's December and holiday entertainment has begun. Here's a roundup of this month's stage performances:

"A Christmas Carol"

The University of Idaho Theatre Department and the Idaho Repertory Theatre will present Charles Dickens' classic tale in a production that includes puppets and special effects.

• 7:30 p.m. tonight through Saturday and Wednesday through Dec. 14; 2 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 14-15 at the UI Hartung Theater, Stadium Drive, Moscow.
• $8 adults, $6 youth, free for UI students with ID. Tickets are available at the UI Kibbie Dome Ticket Office, (208) 885-7212, or at the door.

"Cool Yule"

The Hot Club of San Francisco will perform holiday-themed gypsy jazz. The festive gathering includes a visit from Santa Butch, free light hors d'oeuvres from Banyans on the Ridge and a cash bar.

• 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jones Theatre at Daggy Hall, Southeast Idaho and East College streets, Washington State University, Pullman.
• $20 adults, $16 seniors 60 and older, $10 students and youth. Tickets can be purchased online at TicketsWest.com or by calling (800) 325-SEAT. Tickets can also be purchased at the Beasley Coliseum ticket office, open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday, or at the Daggy Hall box office beginning two hours before the performance.

"River City Dance Christmas"

Lewiston's River City Dance will perform its Christmas program. More information can be obtained by emailing Lawrence Norris at lnorris@lcsc.edu.

• 6:30 p.m. Friday, Silverthorne Theatre, Administration Building, Lewis-Clark State College.
• $1 at the door.

"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever"

Turn to Pages 10-11 to read about the separate performances at the Pullman and Lewiston civic theaters.

"'Twas the Night Before Christmas"

A Christmas show with music of the season and a selection of songs sung in four-part barbershop style. The concert will follow the Clarkston Lighted Christmas Parade at Clarkston High School and is presented by Inland Harmony Chorus and Sweet Adelines.

• 7 p.m. Saturday at Clarkston High School, 401 Chestnut St., Clarkston.
• $8 at the door, $5 for seniors 55 and older and children 13-18, free for children 12 and younger.

"Joy to the World"

The Festival Dance and Performing Arts Association will hold a program of traditional holiday music and dance. The third annual event features Sandy and Jay Mauchley, the Vandaleer Concert Choir, Gefilte Trout, Festival Dance performers, and more. A holiday silent auction during intermission benefits the Festival Dance Scholarship Fund. More information is available at festivaldance.org.

• 7 p.m. Saturday at the University of Idaho Administration Building auditorium, Campus Drive, Moscow.
• $10-$16 at Paradise Ridge CDs or at the door.

"Madeline the Musical"

Staged by the Regional Theatre of the Palouse, this Christmas musical follows Madeline and other girls at a Catholic boarding school in Paris.

• 7 p.m. Saturday at the Regional Theatre of the Palouse, 122 N. Grand Ave., Pullman.
• $5 children younger than 12, $8 adults.

"Ultimate Christmas Concert"

The second annual concert, to benefit Interlink, will include the Grace Notes from Lewiston High School, the Tri-Tones jazz trio, bluegrass band Wanigan and soprano Frances Hasenoehrl.

• 4 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Clarkston High School Auditorium.
• $15 at His Story Christian Gift and Rosauers in Lewiston, Schurman's Hardware and Wasem's Drug in Clarkston. The ticket includes a coupon from Red Lion Hotels.

"Noel!"

The Palouse Choral Society, led by Ken Grubbs and Michael Murphy, will present the sights and sounds of Christmas.

• 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Uniontown; 4 p.m. Dec. 15 at Clarkston High School auditorium.
• Free

"A Family Candlelight Christmas"

The Washington Idaho Symphony will play a selection of classical Christmas music along with a holiday carol sing-along. The symphony will be joined by the New Saint Andrews Collegium Musicum Choir, the First United Methodist Church of Moscow Alpine Carillons Bell Choir and the Palouse Harmony Chorus.

• 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at Jones Theatre in Daggy Hall, Southeast Idaho and East College streets, WSU campus, Pullman; 3 p.m. Dec. 15 at Lewis-Clark State College activities center.
• $10-25. Tickets are available at TicketsWest.com, (800) 325-SEAT (7328), or at any TicketsWest outlet, including Beasley Coliseum and the Lewiston Rosauers.

"Christmas Musical Fireside"

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will present vocal, instrumental and choral musical selections performed by Lewiston musicians.

• 7-9 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 836 Preston Ave., Lewiston.
• Free.

"The Game's Afoot or Holmes for the Holidays"

This play follows Broadway star William Gillette in 1936 as he gets caught in a comical Christmas murder mystery. Hosted as a dinner theater at the Clarkston Quality Inn and Suites, the menu will include salads, beef Wellington, smoked gouda and bacon mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables and tiramisu.

• 6 p.m. Dec. 27, 28, Jan. 2-4 and a special New Year's Eve performance on Dec. 31 at the Quality Inn and Suites, 700 Port Drive, Clarkston.
• $50 plus tax for a standard dinner performance; $60 plus tax for the special New Year's Eve performance. Tables sit six.