THE ESSENTIAL A&E PICKS FOR DEC. 19 - 25 

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David Koechner/ The Office Trivia Competition
For 30 years, David Koechner has put together a wide-ranging résumé as a comedian and actor, from his one-year stint as a Saturday Night Live cast member, to his role as blustering sports reporter Champ Kind in the Anchorman films, to his comedic partnership as The Naked Trucker and T-Bones with Salt Lake City's own Dave "Gruber" Allen. But undoubtedly, he achieved his greatest recognition with his recurring role on the beloved sitcom The Office as Todd Packer, the extremely politically-incorrect traveling salesman and pal of Michael Scott. And his behind-the-scenes knowledge from The Office will highlight a weekend of appearances by Koechner in Salt Lake City.

For four performances, Koechner will bring his stand-up act to the stage, showcasing an off-kilter sensibility that might drift back to his small-town Catholic-school upbringing. But on Saturday afternoon, Koechner will also be hosting a special 90-minute The Office trivia competition, with teams competing to prove their knowledge of the show interspersed with Koechner's own anecdotes from the show's filming. Contestants will even have to show off their best impressions of The Office characters and their acting chops while re-creating scenes for the big prizes. For fans of the show, it is sure to be a one-of-a-kind opportunity.

David Koechner performs his stand-up on Friday, Dec. 20 and Saturday, Dec. 21 at Wiseguys Gateway (190 S. 400 West) at 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m., with tickets $30. The Office trivia takes place at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, with tickets $35. Visit wiseguyscomedy.com to purchase tickets and for additional event information. (Scott Renshaw)

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The Sting & Honey Company: This Bird of Dawning
Back in 2008, Sting & Honey Company founder Javen Tanner created a Nativity-themed holiday play that he believed at the time would be a one-time fundraiser. Nearly 15 years later, This Bird of Dawning ... is still going strong—including showings of a recorded performance at Megaplex Theatres locations—in part because those who love the annual tradition don't want to let it go away, particularly the students at Waterford School, where Tanner teaches. "Some students do it all four years," Tanner told City Weekly in 2021. "And every year, the students who did it the year before, they're introducing it to students who are doing it for the first time."

Employing theatrical mask, This Bird of Dawning ... tells the Nativity story in a way that draws from theater's ancient connections to religious ritual. "I'm fascinated by how theater all over the world ... evolved out of ritual, out of religious practices," Tanner said. "One of the things that's so fascinating is how close this piece gets to that. The audience just connects to it. ... I've never been interested in it as a proselytizing piece, but I am interested in how deeply it connects with an audience, even people who are not Christian or not religious."

This Bird of Dawning plays at the Regent Street Black Box (144 Regent Street) of the Eccles Theater for three performances: Friday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 general admission; visit saltlakecountyarts.org for tickets and additional event information. (SR)

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Brick Fest Live
"Building blocks" is a common term for the essential elements that add up to good health, success, satisfaction and all the things that enable people to achieve their life's goals. It's hardly surprising, then, that Brick Fest Live has become the world's most popular building block experience, one that fosters imagination and creativity while also offering a playtime experience like no other. With over a million toy bricks on display, it's allowed youngsters to create and collaborate on designs spawned from their dreams.

It's little wonder, then, that for the past 10 years, Brick Fest Live has delighted LEGO enthusiasts of all ages with enticements that include a Guinness World Record Challenge encompassing a massive floor mosaic, a giant brick pit, life-size models from around the world, brick derby races on 35-foot tracks, a glow-in-the-dark building area, hands-on building zones with interactive stations, opportunities to meet stars of the hit TV show LEGO Masters, photo ops and rare LEGO merchandise. Presented by the Family Quest Entertainment group, a leader in touring entertainment attractions, it's an ideal offering for any future artist, architect, engineer or simply building-block enthusiast. With apologies to Pink Floyd: All in all, these are more than just bricks in the wall.

Brick Fest Live comes to the Salt Palace Convention Center Saturday, Dec. 21 (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) and Sunday, Dec. 22 (10 a.m. - 4 p.m.). Tickets for Saturday cost $24.99 - $34.99, Sunday $16.99 - $34.99; free for children two and under. For tickets and info, go to brickfestlive.com; save 30% with promo code BFL30.past. (Lee Zimmerman)