November 21
‘The Forgotten Carols’ on tour
For many in Utah, seeing Michael McLean’s “The Forgotten Carols” is a Christmas tradition. McLean wrote this holiday play of a nurse who cares for a man, Uncle John, who sings songs telling of Jesus’ birth from never-heard perspectives — such as the innkeeper who turned away Mary and Joseph, or one of the shepherds who followed the star to Bethlehem. Usually, McLean plays Uncle John, but on this tour, Michael Young will play the role. The tour begins Monday, at 7 p.m., at Wasatch High School in Heber City. After a week in Idaho, there will be a show in Tooele on Dec. 1, two shows in Logan on Dec. 3, then a short run in Arizona, followed by shows in Ogden (Dec. 12), Murray (Dec. 14-17), Orem (Dec. 19) and St. George (two on Dec. 21), Go to forgottencarols.com for tickets.
November 21-22
‘Bloody Cabaret’ in SLC
If you think it’s too early for Christmas music, maybe your taste would run toward “Bloody Cabaret,” a 90-minute music project written by composer Kagan Breitenbach and singer-songwriter Megan Joy (who was a finalist on “American Idol” back in 2009). The piece is described as “an immersive journey through love, death, heartbreak and the macabre.” Performances are Monday and Tuesday, at 7:30 p.m. at the Clubhouse on South Temple, 850 E. South Temple. For tickets and information, go to bloodycabaret.com/live.
November 25
David Archuleta sings Christmas songs
Speaking of “American Idol,” David Archuleta — who came in second on the show in 2008 — is on his “The More the Merrier Christmas” tour, which starts Friday at the Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City. For tickets and information, go to davidarchuleta.com.