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Look Ahead: Local events and things to do this week, Dec. 17-23

The Christmas bird count is back; ‘Mamma Mia!’ is back at the Eccles; and Utah Symphony plays along to ‘Love Actually’ and ‘Frozen.’

(Disney) Elsa, the snow queen (voiced by Idina Menzel), is one of the main characters in Disney's 2013 movie "Frozen." Screenings of the movie, with the score performed live by the Utah Symphony, is scheduled for Dec. 21-23, 2023, at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City.

  | Dec. 17, 2023, 1:00 p.m.

Dec. 14-Jan 5

Counting birds

The 124th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count is underway in locations across America, now through Jan. 5. It’s a massive exercise in citizen science, with bird watchers volunteering to drive and hike through an area on a specific route, counting every bird they see or hear. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is hosting some counts in the state, and recommends people RSVP with organizers in advance. There are counts planned Sunday at Bears Ears and Park City (at the Swaner EcoCenter), Tuesday in Boulder and Morgan, Friday in St. George, and Saturday in Payson and Silver Reef. Go to utahbirds.org/cbc/cbc.html for details on how to take part.

Dec. 19-24

‘Mamma Mia!,’ here we go again

Nothing says “Christmas,” I suppose, like the story of a woman on a sunny Greek island trying to remember which of her three former boyfriends is the father of her soon-to-marry daughter — while everyone sings pop songs from a band from Sweden. Yes, “Mamma Mia!,” the touring production of the jukebox musical featuring the songs of ABBA, returns to Eccles Theater, 131 S. Main, Salt Lake City, for a short run, Tuesday through Sunday. The show will feature eight performances: Tuesday-Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday — Christmas Eve — at 1 p.m. Tickets are available at saltlakecity.broadway.org.

(Broadway at the Eccles) Performers in the London 2021-2022 production of "Mamma Mia!," a mother-daughter story set to the music of ABBA. A touring production is scheduled to be performed at Salt Lake City's Eccles Theater, Dec. 19-24, 2023.

Dec. 19

‘Love Actually’ at Abravanel Hall

There are two types of people: People who think the 2003 movie “Love Actually” is a charming holiday romance, and people who think it’s a terrible movie with romantic subplots that range from sad to creepy. People in that first group will be in attendance at Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City, Tuesday at 7 p.m. to watch the movie, on its 20th anniversary, with the Utah Symphony playing the score live. Tickets are available at utahsymphony.org.

Dec. 21-23

‘Frozen’ with the Utah Symphony

On the other hand, Disney’s “Frozen,” marking its 10th year, has few detractors — except maybe parents who got sick of hearing “Let It Go” on repeat for a solid year after the movie’s 2013 release. The Utah Symphony will be performing the score live to screenings of “Frozen,” Thursday through Saturday, 7 p.m. each night, at Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple. Tickets are available at utahsymphony.org.