'All Is Calm'
Dec. 16-20: Coming off his smashing success in "Sweeney Todd," director Peter Rothstein turns his attention to this little classic he helped create in 2007. For the first time, Cantus will not provide the vocal power, so Rothstein has cast 12 musical theater actors. Michael Gruber, Sean Nugent, Jim Ramlet and Max Wojtanowicz are among the actors who will read a text of journals, letters and documents telling the story of the 1914 Christmas Truce during World War I. And they will sing the carols, Scottish ballads and patriotic tunes. Rothstein has added a section of text and Flemish carol. The show will be more physical — "All Is Calm" actually debuted as a radio work — but the singing is still a cappella. Erick Lichte, the former Cantus artistic director who originally arranged the music, returns as music director. (Dec. 16-20. $18-$39. Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. 1-800-982-2787, ticketmaster.com.)
Graydon Royce
