By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

In December the National Theater will co-produce with the Espressivo Theater to present “A Christmas Carol Musical”.

"The beautiful story of the old miser Ebenezer Scrooge, which for seven seasons was at Teatro Espressivo, this year changes the stage in order to share the spirit of Christmas with a wider audience," said the National Theater in its statement.

“A Christmas Carol in Prose Being a Ghost Story of Christmas,” commonly known as “A Christmas Carol,” is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London in 1843.

Dickens' novel is a classic of British literature of the Victorian times, and in the modern era, it has become a story that represents Christmas holidays around the world.

According to Claire Tomalin, Dickens's biographer, “Christmas Carol” recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.

According to the National Theater, the play this year has new choreographs designed by the choreographer Yessenia Reyes and the musical compositions of Jaime Gamboa and Bernardo Quesada.

"In addition to the introduction of mobile stage effects and renovation of screenings, this year we count with more actors and musicians," said the National Theater in its statement.

The play will be on stage from Dec. 5 to 15. Tickets are between $20 and $50, depending on the seat location. Children under 2 enter free. Tickets can be purchased at the National Theater box office or at the Espressivo Theater site.



Another traditional Holiday activity is the “The Nutcracker,” which is at a Melico Salazar Theater in San José.

This year the main dancers will be from the Prague National Ballet. Nicola Marova and Adam Zvonar will star in the classic Christmas ballet from Dec. 6 to 15.

The Czech dancers will be accompanied by more than 40 Costa Ricans dancers.

“The Nutcracker” is an 1892 ballet, adapted from German composer, music critic and artist Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King."

“The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” story tells how a young Marie Stahlbaum's favorite Christmas toy, the Nutcracker, comes alive and, after defeating the evil Mouse King in battle, whisks her away to a magical kingdom populated by dolls.

Ticket prices vary between $25 and $65, depending on the seating. Tickets can be purchased at the theater ticket office, or through the Eticket.com site.

For more information on facilities for people with disabilities or reservation of tickets, the theater has set up lines 2295-6000 or 2295-6032.



In Costa Rica, one of the first Christmas activities is traditionally the Christmas Festival at the Children’s Museum. This year it will be held on Nov. 30.

The Christmas Festival at the museum starts at 2 p.m. with games, dances, and children's concerts and continues through the evening when the museum will be lighted up for Christmas, followed by a fireworks display. It is expected that thousands of families will attend the festival.

Police will close roads near the museum at 2 p.m. to ensure safety for pedestrians.

To avoid serious traffic problems and accidents, the police announced that Fourth Street from the east side of the Bank of Costa Rica on Second Avenue to the Children's Museum will be closed to vehicle traffic in the early afternoon.

German Marín, director of the traffic police, confirmed that there will be regulated passage on Avenues 1, 3, 5 and 7 and that Avenue 9, the closest to the museum, will be closed in mid-afternoon due to the crowd.

“The avenues will have to be closed due to the possible presence of a large number of people,” said Marín, and drivers should remember the festival crowds when planning their route.

According to Marín, the impact on vehicle traffic should be slightly less than in previous years because the festival will be on a Saturday when traffic is usually lower in the capital than it is on weekdays.

The police asked parents not to neglect their children and walk only on the sidewalks because, when the roads are closed to cars, pedestrians  tends to walk in the streets.

Other recommendations of the police are: not running, wear reflective clothing, cross at the corners, do not cross with the red light in the corners and do not ignore the instructions of traffic officials. Those attending are being told not to arrive by car and seek another option, such as travel by taxi, train or bus. Those who park in unauthorized spaces will be fined, police said.

The traditional illumination of the Children's Museum building marks the beginning of Christmas in San José.



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What holiday traditions from your country you also continue living in Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com

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