"A Nice Family Christmas" at Lyric Arts

I'm starting my 2025 #TCTheater holiday* season on the naughty side. There's plenty of nice fare out there (e.g., Guthrie's 51st production of A Christmas Carol or Chanhassen Dinner Theatre's remount of White Christmas), but if you're looking a holiday treat that's more salty than sweet, A Nice Family Christmas at Lyric Arts is a great choice. Despite the title, this family is not so nice, as they reluctantly gather for a Christmas Eve full of family dysfunction, sibling rivalry, breakups, secrets revealed, misunderstandings, arguments, and eventual reconciliation. Written by Phil Olson of the Don't Hug Me franchise, this show has a similar tone of broad comedy and Minnesota references (it's not a #TCTheater holiday season without lutefisk jokes!). And it also has a bit of a DalekoArts wacky holiday comedy feel; this show reunites the director and writer of the now closed New Prague theater's original holiday comedies and two of their regular cast members. The result is fun and wild and outrageous. Maybe don't bring anyone who's easily offended, but anyone who's ready to laugh at the antics of this wacky dysfunctional family will have a great time. The fun continues through December 21 on Lyric Arts Main Street Anoka stage.

"Holiday Show! the holiday show" at DalekoArts

A local theater fan arranges for all of their favorite actors to come to their home under false pretenses, locks them in, and orders them to create and perform a new holiday* show. No, I'm not describing my pandemic fantasy, this is the plot of DalekoArts' return to the stage after a 21-month extended intermission (during which time they produced an all-virtual subscription box season called "Daleko Home Invasion"). The new original comedy Holiday Show! the holiday show is a ridiculous and loving ode to theater, the holidays, and being together. In other words, it's perfect for this odd and lovely season we're living in. Holiday Show plays weekends through December 19 in charming historic downtown New Prague, just a quick jaunt over the river and through the woods (and farm fields). Their programming is always worth the drive, and their 10th season looks to be a great one, continuing with the "hilarious and heart-breaking" play Lone Star Spirits, and the second regional production of the eight-time Tony-winning musical Once. If you've not been to New Prague lately, now is a good time for a visit (click here for info on the season).

"Ghost Tour" at Daleko Arts

DalekoArts is opening their eighth season in New Prague (that's pray-g not prah-g to us Minnesotans), the southernmost city in the seven-county metro area, with a new original play Ghost Tour. Written by Ben Thietje, who also co-directs with Amanda White (Daleko's co-founding Artistic Directors), Ghost Tour takes its audience of a dozen people at a time on a walk around historic downtown New Prague. This fun and hilarious spoof of a ghost tour is chock full of local references (prune kolaches for the win!), and maybe one or two true facts of the area, but mostly it's an excuse to get outside, walk around, and experience theater in a non-traditional setting. Which this frequent theater-goer who tires of sitting for endless hours in uncomfortable seats loves. The show opened last weekend and runs through October 12, with three shows a night Wednesday through Saturday.

"Deer Camp: The Musical" at New Century Theatre

Deer Camp: The Musical is exactly what you think it is. Full of bad jokes and lame puns that frequently make you groan before you laugh, it's almost "so bad it's good." But the good news is it doesn't take itself seriously or try to be anything more than it is, with lots of winks and nods to the audience. It's meant to appeal to a certain segment of the theater-going (or non-theater-going) audience, to which I don't think I belong (I'm an animal lover, a vegetarian, and I've never touched a gun in my life). Still, as a child of 80's TV sitcoms, I couldn't resist the opportunity to see the Brothers Darryl from Newhart. While the lone speaking brother Larry (William Sanderson) has gone on to create memorable characters in HBO shows Deadwood and True Blood, first brother Darryl, Minnesota native Tony Papenfuss, has returned to his Minnesota theater roots (including The Birthday Party at the Jungle this spring). Other brother Darryl, John Voldstad, joins him for this show about four deer hunting buddies whose wives have threatened that this will be their last year unless they bring home a deer. This sets them off on a desperate quest to somehow get a deer, despite the fact that none of them has brought a functioning gun. Most deer hunters I know are able to actually hunt successfully in addition to sitting around the cabin drinking beer and telling stories, but not these guys.

A few other things to note about Deer Camp: The Musical, playing now through the end of September at Hennepin Theatre Trust's newest addition, the New Century Theatre.

• The set is so realistic I wouldn't want to set foot in that cabin.
• The music is kind of catchy and clever, with more success on the country-tinged numbers which feature occasional nice harmonies.
• Transitions in and out of the musical numbers are less than seamless, and sadly they use canned music instead of live musicians to accompany the singers.
• Local actors Anthony Zadra and Ross Young join the Darryls in the cast. All four actors throw themselves completely into the material, which makes it more entertaining. They are all very enjoyable to watch.
• I do love Minnesota humor, and there is lots of it in this show.

If you are a deer hunter, or know someone who is, you will probably relate to and enjoy this show, like the guy behind me who guffawed at every one-liner. If you're not a deer hunter (or a fan of 80s sitcoms), I can give you a few other recommendations of shows to see around town this weekend.

John Voldstad and Tony Pappenfuss are the brothers Darryl,
with William Sanderson as Larry on Newhart