A ‘Nutcracker’ where one actor plays everyone, and a news comedy

1812 Productions’s annual This is the Week That Is — a comedic look at the news — began its rehearsal process last month. “We talked about what it feels like to be alive and living in this world,” said Jennifer Childs, co-founder of 1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s theater company strictly devoted to comedy.

“One of the things that has made the show honest and keeps people connected is that we acknowledge where we are as a people and a country,” she said.

Speaking of which, it’s been a pretty bleak time, with the pandemic, the elections, climate change, and war. What’s so funny about all that?

“We’re asking ourselves, ‘How do we find our way to joy and how do we find our way to laughter?’” Childs answered.

One way, and it’s probably the most important, is the togetherness inherent in the theater experience. “There is something about sitting in a room with a group of people, sharing laughter about things that feel dire,” that is restorative, Childs said.

Are they including Donald Trump? After all, the former president did figure in the news once or twice in the last year. “There will be some references to him,” Childs said. “But we decided not to show him on stage. It just stopped being funny.”

For the diverse cast and crew, creating This is the Week That Is does have its emotional hazards. “During the rest of the year, I can moderate how much news I can take in, but at this time, I have to be plugged in every day,” Childs said. Different news triggers different stresses among the members of the cast and crew.

“We have to take care of ourselves, because it’s hard being plugged in,” she said.

The show includes a news section and some material about the holidays, including remakes of famous holiday songs. “We’re leaning into the holidays, trying to get to the joy that the holiday brings,” she said.

Directed by Tanaquil Márquez, the cast includes Childs as well as Sean Close, Pax Resslar, Jackie Soro, Lexi Thammavong, Brenson Thomas, and Robyn Unger.

(Through Dec. 31, “This is the Week That Is,” 1812 Productions at Plays and Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, Phila., 215-592-9560 or 1812productions.org)

Love was actor Chris Davis’ inspiration for his production of One-Man Nutcracker. It started as love for the ballet dancer he was dating, and as part of that, he attended her performances of The Nutcracker at the State Theatre in New Brunswick.

If it hadn’t been for her, he would have never bought a ticket. “I fell in love with the story, the costumes, the dancing, and the imagination,” said Davis, which led him to imagine creating a solo version of the ballet. Davis as everybody — from mice to Nutcracker, from the Fairy Princess to Marie.

Davis is no stranger to one-man shows; he has created several, all starring him. But this one posed a problem. Davis didn’t know how to dance.

So, at 37, he started taking adult ballet classes.

“Part of the show is about me and learning how much I like ballet,” Davis said, crediting his ballet teacher, Amy Novinski, with making him and many others comfortable with this beautiful and difficult form of movement.

Davis’ 50-minute version references, in part, some of the racist portrayals in the Nutcracker story. It also incorporates elements of both the original E.T.A. Hoffmann tale and the classic Tchaikovsky ballet.

“I like the Nutcracker story because of the sense of adventure, the magic of the world — a world where mice can start a huge war with a Nutcracker. It’s a place where children’s imagination can take over,” he said.

Davis, who plays about 20 characters, makes use of shadows to create the world. At one point, he creates the illusion of a Christmas tree magically growing larger and more magnificent behind a white sheet.

“We use shadows in the play to create a sense of a big world,” he said. “The kids definitely love the shadows. Shadows are so magical. You can do so much with very little. It’s one of the key parts of the show.”

For Davis, his show is “celebrating the magic of theater and the story of The Nutcracker — and also challenging yourself to try new things that make you uncomfortable.”

Davis and the ballet dancer are no longer together but remain friends. What does she think of his technique in tutu and tights?

“I think she thinks I have a lot of enthusiasm,” he said.

(Dec. 20 to Jan. 2, “One-Man Nutcracker,” Theatre Exile, 1340 S. 13th St., Phila. Tickets on Eventbrite.)

Cole, as in Cole Porter. Act II Playhouse promises a swanky, jazzy evening of Porter’s ballads and toe-tapping standards, all linked by a comedic commentary in its world premiere of Cole for Your Stocking. The show was written by the cast with Dan Matarazzo, the musical director for the production.

“The catchy tunes of Cole Porter are all enjoyable earworms,” Tony Braithwaite, Act II’s artistic director, said in a statement. “They recall an era and style of music that provide an escape into the golden age of entertainment.”

(Through Jan. 1, “Cole for Your Stocking,” Act II Playhouse, 56 E. Butler Ave., Ambler, 215-654-0200 or act2.org)

All is well with the world. Ebenezer Scrooge, once a miserable miser, has found a sense of joy and community. What better way to celebrate than to partner with his nephew, Fred, to throw a holiday party. But other, surprise, guests arrive. Instead of enjoying the festivities, Scrooge, Fred, and the others end up searching for clues to solve the mystery of an unexpected death. That’s the story line for Murder Under the Mistletoe, an interactive murder mystery by Without A Cue Productions. Drinks and snacks available for purchase during the show.

(Dec. 16-18, “Murder Under the Mistletoe,” Without A Cue Productions, at Counter Culture, 514 South St., Phila. 267-994-1056 or withoutacue.com)

The Christmas holidays come just once a year, but there’s no one season for the classic lifelong dilemmas of fulfillment versus obligation, passion versus career, and identity versus community. These are all explored in The Red Drops by Sigbjørn Obstfelder, a Norwegian playwright, in a production by Sewer Rats Productions. Directed by Sarah Billings.

(Dec. 16-18, “The Red Drops,” Sewer Rats Productions at Skinner Studio, Plays and Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St., Phila. Sewer-rats.com)

Check with individual venues for COVID-19 protocols.