After feeding frenzy, take in a show

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Updated: December 26, 2011 8:38AM

After all the effort involved in gathering for Thanksgiving, it’s nice to sit back, relax and be entertained. But it can be hard to find one thing to do that someone in the family won’t think is a turkey.

These are a few theater offerings this weekend that audiences of all ages might enjoy.

† The delightful Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, Mich., has made a Thanksgiving weekend tradition of offering shows for the whole family. It has two very different programs this weekend: “TV and Me” at 7 p.m. (CST) Friday, and magician Sean Masterson, plus the Village Puppeteers, at 1 p.m. Saturday.

“TV and Me” blends clips and photos from 1960s and ’70s television shows and commercials with the comedy of Mike Toomey, who has performed in the Chicago area and opened for national acts since the 1980s. According to his website, Toomey grew up watching “Batman,” “Gilligan’s Island” and “Count Chocula” commercials and, after being told by a grade-school principal that “no one ever made a career out of watching television,” he set out to prove the principal wrong. You can sample his comedy online at www.miketoomeytv.com.

Masterson has been wowing audiences with his magic since he was a quite young.

“My whole show is filled with audience participation across the whole age spectrum, starting with 5- to 7-year-olds, when I tell the story of a coin I got from my grandfather when I was 7 — and magic happens with that coin,” he said. “My show is called ‘Vaudeville Magic,’ which is a throwback to that entertainment style.

“I tell stories and weave characters into the show. I’ve seen that people of all ages like to take the ride and enjoy the wonder of it.”

The Village Puppeteers will appear with Masterson. Their engaging interactive program brings fairy tales to life with puppets.

Tickets to “TV and Me” are $20; for Masterson and the Village Puppeteers, they are $15 for adults and $10 for ages 11 and younger. The Acorn Theater is at 107 Generations Drive, north of U.S. 12 on Elm Street, and just behind the Post Office. Call (269) 756-3879 for more information.

† Those who enjoy the TV show “Glee” might also enjoy two of this weekend’s musical theater offerings: “A Fabulous ’50s Christmas” at the Towle Theater in Hammond, and the “Sing-Along Sound of Music” at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre. 

Returning for its ninth year, “A Fabulous ’50s Christmas” is a nostalgic musical in the spirit of the old Perry Como and Andy Williams Christmas specials, complete with commercials.  The show has some new material each year, and it has multigenerational appeal.

Shows are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 17, with Sunday matinees (times vary) through Dec. 18. Tickets are $15, must be purchased in advance, and can be ordered by calling 937-8780 or online at www.towletheater.com. 

The Towle Theater is at 5205 Hohman Ave. in downtown Hammond.   

Finally, if just singing along with “The Sound of Music” (with subtitle lyrics added) isn’t enough, audience members are encouraged to come in attire related to something in the film and come on stage for the fancy-dress competition.

So, get back into that old habit, adjust the suspenders on your lederhosen, find a white dress with a blue satin sash, or be even more creative and come up with some other film-inspired costume. 

Audience members will receive a “magic moments pack” of film-related items (like edelweiss, perhaps) along with instructions as how to use them at the appropriate moment in the film. 

Show times are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Advance tickets ($12.50 adults, and $8 ages 12 and younger) are suggested and can be purchased online at
www.musicboxtheater.com.

The Music Box Theatre is at 3733 N. Southport Ave. Call (773) 871-6607 for more information.