You could point out to fans of 'A Christmas Story' that cherished holiday films almost never work onstage. You might also tell a kid who dreams of owning a Red Ryder carbine-action, 200-shot Range Model air rifle that he'll shoot his eye out. Some warnings are destined to fall on deaf ears. So expect full houses this month at Covedale Center for the Performing Arts.  

The moral of the 1936 comedy 'You Can't Take It With You' is pretty simple: Don't work too hard, and life is for living. Paint, write, manufacture illegal fireworks in the basement — do whatever makes you happy. Not all the actors on the Showboat Majestic, however, embrace this message.  

One hundred people and productions were nominated for the 2009 Cincinnati Entertainment Awards in theater, which were bestowed Aug. 30 at Below Zero Lounge before a big, happy, socializing crowd. Let's say that again: 100 nominations. No single company dominated the 13th annual CEAs, as 11 different organizations received awards for work on 15 separate productions. In the big categories voted by critics, the Cincinnati Playhouse's production of the powerful 'Blackbird,' directed by Michael Evan Haney (pictured), was the year's outstanding drama. New Stage Collective's final production, the bittersweet Sondheim musical 'A Little Night Music,' was named outstanding musical.  

For creating and sustaining Cincinnati Young People's Theatre Festival for nearly 30 years, for keeping the Showboat Majestic afloat (literally and artistically) and for turning a deteriorating West Side movie theater into a popular performing arts venue, the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts, Tim and Jennifer Perrino and Denny Reed are being honored by the League of Cincinnati Theatres with the 2009 "Continuing Achievement Award." On Sunday evening at Below Zero Lounge in Over-the-Rhine, they'll be inducted into the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards Hall of Fame.  

'Godspell' is typically a musical that uses a small cast and charms audiences because of its intimate storytelling of parables from St. Matthew's Gospel, Stephen Schwartz's tuneful score and other inventive, often amusing twists. But with 80 or so kids of high school age onstage for Cincinnati Young People’s Theatre, this production is more like 'Godspell' on steroids.