Seasonal shows open this week

Seasonal stage productions opening this week in the area include one new, original musical, plus versions of "A Christmas Carol" and "The Rented Christmas."

• "CHRISTMAS IN THE HEART OF EVERY CHILD," an original production comprised of six "mini-musicals" based on Christmas tales, will premiere Thursday and continue through Dec. 18 in the Draper Historic Theatre, 12366 S. 900 East.

Collaborators Kevin McClellan, Rhonda Neiswender and composer Carrie Maxwell Wrigley have adapted "The Gift of the Magi," "The Nutcracker," "The Little Match Girl," "The Littlest Angel," "The Little Drummer Boy" and "Santa and the Gimme Gimme" into brief vignettes.

Curtain is 7:30 p.m. nightly except Sundays and Wednesdays, with matinees at 2 p.m. on Dec. 11 and 18. Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for students and senior citizens and $6 for children (572-4144 or www.drapertheatre.org).

• "MERRY CHRISTMAS, AMELIA BEDELIA," a stage adaptation of the popular book, will play Friday through Dec. 18 in the Children's Theatre of Salt Lake, 638 S. State, with nine public performances — Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. (These are in addition to the many weekday performances scheduled for school field trips, Dec. 1-22.) Amy Richardson will be featured in the title role.

Based on Peggy Parish's popular series of books, this Christmas version has Amelia, the nanny, giving the household duties her own unexpected spin. She takes such tasks as "trim the tree" and "stuff the stocking" far too literally. All tickets are $9; a discounted 10-ticket package is $75 (523-6000).

• "THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER," the classic Kaufman-Hart comedy, features Mike Law as Sheridon Whitesides, a famous radio personality who shows up for Christmas dinner at the home of a Midwestern family — then ends up convalescing for six tumultuous weeks after he slips on their ice-covered porch. While he's marooned at the house, he wreaks chaos in the family's domestic tranquility. Beth Bruner is directing.

The StageRight TheaterCompany production runs Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. from Saturday through Dec. 18 at 5001 S. Highland Drive (immediately south of Cottonwood Mall). Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and senior citizens (272-3445).

• CHARLES DICKENS' classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge is opening at four Wasatch Front theaters this week.

— Hale Centre Theatre's 20th annual production of "A Christmas Carol" runs Friday through Dec. 27 in West Valley City.