'Things get weird sometimes' at Lansing Unionized Vaudeville Spectacle's holiday show

LANSING -- If you're a fan of sketch comedy, puppeteers, music and other elements of a variety show, you won't want to miss The Lansing Unionized Vaudeville Spectacle's 5th annual holiday show.

This year's production is loosely based on the Charles Dickens 1843 classic, "A Christmas Carol," so there might be a few encounters with ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.

And there may or may not be a special appearance from Dr. Dan, a "vaguely Eastern European mad scientist with a few tricks up his sleeve," said Dylan Rogers, frontman for The Lansing Unionized Vaudeville Spectacle, also known as The LUVS, and owner of The Robin Theatre.

"Things get weird sometimes," Rogers joked.

Expect to hear classic holiday tunes here and there, but the vast majority of the show's material will be original, and it's all family-friendly.

The group will perform a total of four shows between Dec. 15 and 17 at The Robin Theatre. Our suggestion? Score tickets now before they sell out, which happens every year.

LUVS performs vaudeville, a form of variety theater that had its heyday from 1880s until the early 1930s.

So why do vaudeville in the 21st century?

"This type of entertainment hasn't disappeared because I think we all have that desire to connect to people a little more around the holidays," Rogers said.

But will you see a monkey playing the violin? Or a dog that can spin on its head? Probably not.

Three years ago, the troupe released a sophomore album titled, "Dream Machine." They're currently in the studio polishing up new tunes for another album due out in 2018.

For more information about The Lansing Unionized Vaudeville Spectacle, go to www.517luvs.com.

How to go

The Lansing Unionized Vaudeville Spectacle's 5th annual holiday show, 7 p.m. Dec. 15, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 16 and 3 p.m. Dec. 17. Doors open 30 minutes before showtimes. The Robin Theatre, 1105 S. Washington Ave. in Lansing. $12 advance, $15 at the door. To purchase tickets, go to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3095416.

Contact reporter Princess Gabbara at pgabbara@lsj.com or (517) 377-1006. Follow her on Twitter at @PrincessGabbara.