Yule productions to open this week

Five Christmas-oriented productions are opening this week along the Wasatch Front.

• "A DICKENS CHRISTMAS," produced by ARTS High, the high school division of Emerson-Smith College, is a fund-raiser for preservation and restoration of the historic John Hafen house, 1002 S. Main, Springville.

According to Pam Lockwood of Emerson-Smith College, the Springville landmark is being considered as the site for an arts center. The house was built in 1900 by John Hafen, who was co-founder of the Springville Art Museum. Hafen is considered one of Utah's finest landscape artists.

Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" will be staged as an intimate dinner-theater presentation in the parlor of the Springville house Monday-Saturday and Dec. 19-22, all at 7 p.m. The cast includes Eric Blood, Matt Hogan and Katie Young.

Entertainment and appetizers begin at 7 p.m., followed by dinner and the performance (in front of the fireplace). Due to the size of the room, seating is limited and advance reservations are suggested. Tickets are $25 per person or $45 per couple, with special group rates for 20 or more; reservations required (801-489-5057).

• TWO PRODUCTIONS, "Santa's Workshop" at Utah Valley State College and the interactive "Dickens Feast at the Master's Inn" at the Utah State Fairpark, are opening with performances that are already pre-sold to groups. But both have limited open-to-the-general-public performances.

— "The Dickens Feast," which opened last weekend, will have one public performance, open only to individuals and small parties (not large groups) on Friday in the Dickens Building at the Utah State Fairpark. Tickets are $25 and include a seven-course Victorian meal and audience participation with the master of the house (Hugh Hanson), his wife (Camille Van Wagoner) and the inn's butcher, who is also the master's brother (Tyler Hanson). For reservations contact Red Onion Catering at 521-7585.

— "Santa's Workshop," written by James and Lisa Arrington, is premiering in the Ragan Theatre at UVSC, Orem. The 55-minute play is set at the North Pole, where elves have to save Christmas when Santa decides it's time to retire. Sixteen of the production's 18 scheduled performances have already been booked by groups of elementary-school children; two public performances are set for Dec. 19-20 at 7 p.m. Admission is $5. Following the performances, children in the audience may be photographed with various characters from the production for $10.