INVASION: CHRISTMAS CAROL Returns To Dad's Garage Stage This December

Every year you hear the same Christmas songs on the radio and sit through another (uneventful) screening of "It's a Wonderful Life." If you need a reprieve from all of those same-old-same-old holiday traditions, then you'll want to catch the return of Dad's Garage outrageous and irreverent "Invasion: Christmas Carol," a unique performance that combines scripted theatre and improv comedy into an outrageous helping of yuletide hilarity. This show has become one of our fan-favorites, having been voted "Best Show" by the readers of Creative Loafing, expect sold-out audiences and lots of laughs.

Here's how this strange and wonderful show works: a cast of Dad's Garage improvisers have rehearsed a straight-up scripted adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic Christmas tale. BUT, every night a new improvised character shows up at the beginning of the performance to wreak havoc on the plot. This character could be anyone-Mr. T, Elmo, Martha Stewart, even Jesus-no one in the audience or the cast will know until he or she (or Stephen King's It) steps on stage.

The result is a new show every evening, with story twists that surprise both audiences and performers alike. In past performances, Mrs. Claus has showed up to reunite with her long lost love-Scrooge. We once even surprised the performers with an improviser in a Tyrannosaurus Rex costume, bringing cretaceous-period hijinks to Christmas. Suffice it to say, you never know what's going to happen in "Invasion: Christmas Carol." Watch our cast of actors try to perform the traditional Christmas Carol while still trying to deal with the one improviser running around stage causing havoc. It is a beautiful disaster that you're not going to want to miss.

This show is for anyone looking for a break from the traditional holiday fare at other theatres. Get the kids a babysitter, because this show is way more risqué than when the Muppets took on Scrooge. If you're looking to feel the joy of the season, but laugh along at the goofy cheer, then "Invasion: Christmas Carol" is the show for you.

Closing weekend (December 28 and 29) for the show will feature internationally-known improviser Colin Mochrie as the guest invader. We have no idea what he has planned for his performances, but we are pretty sure it's going to be weird.

As part of our mission to transforming communities, a portion of proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Midtown Assistance Center.

VITALS:

"Invasion: Christmas Carol"

Dates: November 30 - December 29

Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m.

Prices: All tickets start at $25.50, but are subject to change with inventory. Delta First Class Seats (Reserved, best-seats-in-the-house) available for a surcharge.

About Dad's Garage Theatre Company:

Founded in 1995, Dad's Garage Theatre Company has grown from a small volunteer led organization to a thriving mid-size theatre led by professional artistic and administrative staff that includes over 300 volunteers and performers. We now entertain more than 33,000 people each year in Atlanta, at public events across the state, and at improv festivals across the continent. In addition to outrageous original productions, Dad's Garage produces improv shows year-round, educates young improvisers in a high school outreach program, and facilitates classes and workshops for the general public.