Broadway Stars Love a Parade, A Christmas Carol Says Cheers, & Barbra Comes Home in This Week's Datebook

Ready for the holidays? You will be after chowing down on turkey, cranberry sauce and all the great happenings we've rounded up for you. This week's Datebook goodies include the opening of A Christmas Carol, a stage-centric Dancing with the Stars finale and Broadway faves galore on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. All in all, there are plenty of helpings of Broadway cheer to go around!


MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25
GET SCROOGED
Merry Christmas! OK, so it’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but there is no reason you can’t get into the holiday spirit (er, spirits in this case) a little early. Jingle on over to the Theatre at St. Clements, where a clever, minimalist production of A Christmas Carol, adapted by Patrick Barlow (The 39 Steps), opens. Five actors bring all of Dickens' beloved characters to life in this family-friendly production. 

ALSO: Bette Midler stops by Late Night with Jay Leno.


TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26
PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE DANCE
It’s down to the final four couples on Dancing with the Stars, and we’re pulling for In the Heights cutie and High School Musical star Corbin Bleu or Glee’s sassy Amber Riley to take home the Mirror Ball Trophy. We’re praying to Godspell, because we want these two to duet on Broadway, or join a hit like Chicago, which loves DTWS alums! 

ALSO: Meet John Doe gets a studio cast recording event at 54 Below; Tony winner Christine Ebersole releases the solo CD Strings Attached; Billy Crystal talks 700 Sundays on Live with Kelly & Michael.


WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27
SOMETHING GOOD
If you can’t catch them on the parade tomorrow, see Carrie Underwood, Stephen Moyer and the cast of The Sound of Music Live! on NBC with behind-the-scenes footage in The Making of The Sound of Music Live! You’ll get to see rehearsals, the making of the CD and a rare glimpse into the casting process. Get out your bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens and learn how casting directors solved a problem like Maria.

ALSO: Laura Bell Bundy talks about being a Kentucky girl the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28
MATILDA, PIPPIN, KINKY BOOTS & MOTOWN ON PARADE
Before carving the giant bird, get up early to see Broadway's finest in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! With performances from Matilda, Pippin, Motown: The Musical, Kinky Boots, the Radio City Rockettes, Smash alum Megan Hilty and a special appearance by Carrie Underwood and the cast of NBC’s The Sound of Music Live!, this is a must-see. We're starting to feel grateful already! 


FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29
FUNNY GIRL FRIDAY
Hello, Babs! Watch the one and only Barbra Streisand get back to her roots as the recording of her concert at NYC’s Barclay Center (entitled Barbra Streisand: Back to Brooklyn) premieres on PBS tonight at 9PM. See Streisand hit the high notes with such songs as "The Way We Were," "Smile," “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered” and more. You could get verklempt just thinking about it.

ALSO: Tickets are on sale for The Rascals jukebox musical Once Upon a Dream at the Marquis Theatre.


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30
LONELY LADDIE
Making its way across the pond from the West End, two-time Tony-nominated playwright Conor McPherson’s newest play, The Night Alive, follows the story of lonely bachelor and explores the innate human need for attention and affection. You’re not alone if you’re in an audience, so check out this new drama as it begins performances at the Atlantic Theater Company.

ALSO: Last chance to catch Ann Hampton Callaway’s silky soprano voice at 54 Below.


SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1
ON THE FIRST DAY OF XMAS
Happy December! Who needs a partridge in a pear tree when you’ve got so much theater to keep you jolly? The list of holiday-themed shows are abundant and include: The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, A Christmas Story, A Christmas Carol, Katie Thompson: Christmas with a K, Stars of David,The Graff Family Holiday Special and James Barbour:The Holiday Concert. Naughty or nice, the New York stage is definitely ready for Santa! Get in the spirit by seeing one tonight!

ALSO: Wallace Shawn, Jennifer Tilly and the cast of Grasses of a Thousand Colors play their final performance at the Public.