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Utah Shakespearean Festival opens "A Christmas Carol: On the Air," a 1940s-era play that twists the Christmas classic through the story of two Wright brothers, Stu and Chick, who travel the country producing holiday radio shows. USF's third production of the original play features new songs, "glorious lighting" and special effects to dramatize the visits of Christmas ghosts, says festival founder Fred Adams, who plays Scrooge. The new "Carol" was written - and has been continually tweaked - by actor Peter Sham and director Brad Carroll, who say it's an homage to Dickens' original Christmas fable, while adding contemporary layers of storytelling.

Nine performances are scheduled in the play's run, which opens Friday and continues on Dec. 9, 11, 14-16 and 18. The show plays at 7:30 p.m. with additional 2 p.m. matinees on Dec. 9 and 16. Tickets are $16, available by calling (800) PLAYTIX or visiting http://www.bard.org.

Belle and her beau: Provo's Center Street Musical Theatre's production of "Beauty and the Beast" plays nightly (except Sundays) through Dec. 23.

The show, directed by Joel Tobey, is based on a fable about how love transcends physical attraction, a "tale as old as time," as its lyrics proclaim.

Tickets are $10 ($8 students/seniors), and family passes are available for selected weeknight shows and Saturday matinees. A special "Breakfast with Belle" event is at 10 a.m. on Dec. 16. To make reservations or for show tickets, call 801-764-0535 or visit http://www.http.csmtc.com.

Curtain is at 7:30 p.m., with dinner available for an additional fee at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. The theater is at 177 W. Center St., Provo.

Love, actually: Jason Robert Brown's "The Last Five Years," a benefit staged by In The Now Productions, will open at Layton High School on Thursday and run through Dec. 16.

The show will raise money for the high school's fine-arts department, and is directed by William Richardson, artistic director of the new theater company. In The Now plans to work with college-level performers to produce shows that will benefit public-education arts programs.

Morgan Brady and Caleb Parry star in Brown's catchy, heartbreaking musical that plays around with time and storytelling techniques while unraveling the story of a failed relationship between a twentysomething novelist and his actor spouse. "The Last Five Years" has gained a cult following among young audiences across the country, although it hasn't often been performed in Utah.

Curtain is at 8 p.m. for Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows at the high school, 440 Wasatch Drive, Layton. Tickets are $10 ($8 students/seniors), available at the door or by calling 801-402-4888.

Holiday rentals: Norman and Yvonne Ahearn's family comedy "The Rented Christmas" opens at Magna's renovated Empress Theatre Friday, continuing through Dec. 30.

The play centers on lessons learned when John Dale, a lonely businessman, hires Anne Weston, a tender-hearted storekeeper, to provide rented children and all the holiday trimmings for a Christmas celebration.

"The Rented Christmas" is directed by Eva Barnett, with musical direction by Becky Fish. Keith Buys and Nolan Mitchell alternate in the role of John Dale, and Melanie Schwendiman and Jocelyn Dickison trade off in the role of Anne Weston.

Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. for shows on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (except for Dec. 24 and 25) at the theater, 9104 W. 2700 South, Magna. Tickets are $11 ($10 students/seniors, with a $6 special for Monday shows), available by calling (801) 347-7373.

Ice and snow queen: The Academy Theatre Company's production of "The Snow Queen" continues through Dec. 23.

The original comedy, directed by Collin Kreuzer, is based on the beloved Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale.

Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Dec. 16. Tickets are $12 ($10 seniors/children), available by calling 801-486-2728 or visiting http://www.academyofpa.org. The theater is at 3188 S. 400 East, South Salt Lake.