| theater opening |

Box and Cox 6pm Tues. Continues Wed 6pm. Unicorn Theatre presents the acclaimed Victorian-era drawing room comedy Box and Cox by John Maddison-Mortan. Set in a London boarding house in the 1800’s, the play features Robert Colter and Carey Crockett as inconvenienced boarding house residents. Mrs. Bouncer, the landlady, discovers a unique way of collecting double the rent for the same room, and when the ruse is discovered, an unlikely situation is revealed and hilarious comedy abounds. In addition, Unicorn will also present O. Henry’s heartwarming short, The Skylight Room. $35/person, plus tax, includes a wine reception, dinner and theatre performance. Reservations recommended. Asilomar is offering a $69 overnight room rate for both nights. 372-8016 or www.VisitAsilomar.com. Show only: $15/person. 656-9507 or www.unicorntheatreinc.org. Ends 12/22.

| theater now playing |

A Christmas Carol Fri 6pm; Sat 4pm and 6pm. This adaptation of the Christmas classic features six actors playing 35 parts on a stage dominated by a 24-foot parachute that is used as sheets, snow, and a ghost’s costume. $12/adults; $9/students and children. Studio Theater, Monterey Peninsula College, 980 Fremont, Monterey. 646-4213 or www.ticketguys.com. Ends 12/18.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Fri 7pm; Sat 2pm and 7pm. An unruly group of children collide head on with the Christmas story and discover, to their own delight, the real meaning of Christmas. $8/adults; $5/children. The Wilson Children’s Theatre, 320 Main St., Salinas. 775-0976. Ends 12/18.

Buddy: The Tribute Concert Sat 7:30pm; Sun 2pm and 7pm. PacRep’s hit returns in concert form. $35/adults; $25/seniors; $20/students, teachers, military, children. Golden Bough Playhouse, Monte Verde between 8th and 9th, Carmel. 622-0100 or www.ticketguys.com. Ends 12/31.

Into the Woods Jr. Fri-Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm. Multiple fairy-tale characters crossing paths in the woods. Designed for young performers. $25/adults, $16/seniors, juniors and military. Main Stage, Hartnell College Performing Arts Center, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. 755-6816 or www.westernstage.com. Ends 12/18.

Meadow Muffin Mafia Fri-Sat 8pm. A villain, Osama Bendover, rolls into the town of Meadow Muffin and disrupts the community. Barbary Coast Theater, 320 Hoffman Ave., Monterey. $14; $13/seniors; $8/students; $6/active military. 655-4992. Ends 12/18.

The Man Who Came To Dinner Thurs 7pm; Fri-Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm. It may be 65 years old, but cruel wit makes this thoroughly modern theater. This classic 1939 drawing room comedy by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman goes for the jugular thanks to a hilarious, tour des injures performance by Mark Shilstone-Laurent and a tremendous supporting cast. Morgan Stock Stage, Monterey Peninsula College, 980 Fremont, Monterey. 646-4213 or www.ticketguys.com. Ends 12/19.

La Virgen Del Tepeyac Fri-Sat 8pm; Sun 4pm and 8pm. Reenactment of the events that inspired the religious rebirth of the indigenous Mexico. $20; $16/seniors and students; $12/children. El Teatro Campesino Playhouse, 705 Fourth Street, San Juan Bautista. 623-2444 or www.elteatrocampesino.com. Ends 12/19.