Merry Christmas Darling: Carpenters’ Christmas

Not necessarily a tribute to the finely honed pop masterpieces Karen and Richard Carpenter were known for, the tour is a theatrical production where the songs play center stage.

The show stars singer Michelle Berting Brett, who also starred in “We’ve Only Just Begun: Carpenters Remembered.”  That production grew out of an idea Brett had after being told repeatedly that she sang like Karen Carpenter.  Her now-husband Mark Brett encouraged her to create a one-woman show around the music.  That led to her playing a small club in Toronto where she was accompanied by only a pianist and eventually evolved into the touring production that has played to sellout shows in Las Vegas.  In August, the production sold out the Downey Theatre, located in the Carpenters’ hometown of Downey, Calif.

The seasonal tour is based on two Carpenters holiday albums, 1978’s Christmas Portrait and 1984’s An Old Fashioned Christmas, the latter issued after the 1983 death of Karen Carpenter.  The show also includes Carpenters classics like “We’ve Only Just Begun,” and “Yesterday Once More” as well as a melody of the duo’s hits.

The holiday run doesn’t replace the Bretts’ original Carpenters presentation.  “We’ve Only Just Begun: Carpenters Remembered” has a five-night run at Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort in Laughlin, Nev., in Early November.  Other stops include Clayton, N.C.; Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Easton, Pa.  Click here for the schedule.

Here are your “Merry Christmas Darling: Carpenters’ Christmas” dates:

Nov. 17 – Robinson, Ill., Zwermann Arts Center Theater
Dec. 2 – Beverly, Mass., Larcom Theatre
Dec. 3 – Norwood, Mass., Norwood Theatre
Dec. 4 – Lebanon, Pa., Cedar Crest High School Auditorium
Dec. 8 – Evans, Ga., Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center
Dec. 11 – Uncasville, Conn., Wolf Den
Dec. 15 – Pocatello, Idaho, Stephens Performing Arts Center
Dec. 17 – Scranton, Pa., Theater At North
Dec. 23 – McAllen, Texas, McAllen Convention Center

Some shows are already on sale.  Follow this link for more information.