Once again, it’s that most wonderful time of the year for many regional local theaters to focus their sights — and sites — on holiday fare. Sixteen Southern California narrative options this season range from serious, reflective themes to whimsical malarkey. And how’s this for programming range: almost a quarter of these shows daringly don’t even include the word “Christmas” in the title! Organized geographically by country and title, here’s a survey of what’s seasonably seeable:
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
“A Christmas Carol” at A Noise Within
This 90-minute rendition, the 11th anniversary production of the hallowed tale, stars co-director Geoff Elliot as Scrooge. In past seasons touches have included many mobile sets to a pillow fight of snow feathers and handbell interludes, with the action in this intimate theater occasionally taking place in the aisles. Dec 1-Dec 24. A Noise Within, 3352 E Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. $34-79. 626-356-3100; Anoisewithin.org
“A Christmas Story, The Musical” at the Ahmanson Theatre
Perhaps the most logical Christmas non-musical movie ever deserving of being adapted into a live stage musical is the legendary 1983 seasonal flick “A Christmas Story.” A decade ago, delivering a winner, the uber-talented songwriting duo of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“Dear Evan Hansen” and “La La Land” just two of their lovely ornaments), came up with a fun score to supplement the 1940s tale of Yuletide blue collar Cleveland complete with comedy mishaps and indelible props (an infamous leg lamp, anyone?). Dec. 5-31. Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave. $40-8169. 213.972.4400; centertheatregroup.org
“A Very Die Hard Christmas” at The Reuben Cordova Memorial Theatre on the Beverly Hills High School campus
A spoof on the late Bruce Willis’ hit film “Die Hard” working off the 35th anniversary of that action flick’s release. Take-no-prisoners New York cop John McClane is here in LA to see Holly — seasonal kismet: that was his estranged wife’s name — for Christmas. But arriving at her office work party, terrorists, as they often seem to in this movie series, have taken over the building and guess who is going to have to save the day and throw in hijinks while doing so? Dec. 10, 17 and 20. The Reuben Cordova Memorial Theatre, 241 Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills. $38. 310-364-0535; www.Theatre40.org
”Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical” at Hollywood Pantages Theatre
This mouthful of a title is the musicalized version of the Dr. Seuss Christmas fantasy parable of how holiday-loving Whoville had Christmas snatched by the Grinch, the fanciful Scrooge-y baddie with a heart “two sizes too small.” With a cast of 25 plus, this is the descendant of the highly successful production that debuted to big crowds and critical kudos on Broadway in 2007. Dec. 6-17. 6233 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles. $45-$99. 323-468-1700; BroadwayinHollywood.com
“Love Actually Live” at the Wallis
A perennial at the Wallis, this installment of the film music-based theatrical series For the Record is a mash up of a bit of almost everything, from a big, on-stage tree to arrangements of 30 songs to live performance with musical accompaniment to clips from the real film which was set in London just before Christmas. Nov. 24-Dec. 30. Bram Goldsmith Theater, Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. $89-119. 310-746-4000; TheWallis.org
“Madame Scrooge: A Christmas Carol Musical” at the Nocturne Theatre
The newly reopened and renamed venue (formerly the Glendale Centre Theatre) presents a different take on a holiday classic. In this version, Madame Eleanore Scrooge, a miserly spinster, is visited by the ghost of her former business partner and three other apparitions. The production promises over-the-top costumes, unique choreography and immersive elements that include a snowball fight. Dec. 1-23, The Nocturne Theatre, 324 N. Orange St., Glendale. $11.50-$62.50. nocturnetheater.com
“White (Album) Christmas,” at the Colony Theatre
The Troubadour Theater Company world premieres its — 28th season — musical comedy blenderization of a familiar Christmas story narrative with a classic pop music recorded album. This time out it’s the storyline from the 1954 movie “White Christmas” meets music from the Beatles’ eponymous 1968 double album, knows as “The White Album.” The Troubies, their formal aka, are a dozen or so zanies who in the past have done “It’s the Stevie Wonder-ful Life” and, last year, “Die Hard — Die Heart,” the songs from the band Heart. Performances here have tended to sell out in advance so you could be singing “Yer Blues” if you don’t move quickly. Dec. 8-23. The Colony Theatre, 555 N. Third St., Burbank. $50-65. 818-558-7000; Troubie.com
ORANGE COUNTY
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” at Camino Real Playhouse
Tapping characters from the Peanuts comic strip, the classic 1965 animated TV special has been adapted in umpteen live, seasonal productions in Decembers ever since. As usual, Charlie Brown is in a dour mood at the season’s start, but the other familiar characters and a fanciful tree help turn things around. A highlight of the work as always is Vince Guaraldi’s indelible piano-driven jazz score. Nov. 25-Dec. 17. Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. $30-$40. 949-489-8082; caminorealplayhouse.org
“A Christmas Carol” at South Coast Repertory
SCR continues its longest running production, annually filling the mainstage each December since 1980 (excepting the extremely Scroogey pandemic year). Scrooge is now firmly in actor Richard Doyle’s effective grasp and the trappings of this handsome production are as period throwback-ish as any Dickens’ acolyte or Christmas traditionalist could ask for, but never musty or stale. Nov. 25-Dec. 24. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. $36-94. 714-708-5555; scr.org
“A Cinderella Christmas!” at Laguna Playhouse
Each December, Laguna Playhouse gifts the key to theater door to Lythgoe Productions for one of its seasonal adaptations of an otherwise non-Christmas-y tale. This time around it’s “Cinderella”; will the heroine be sweeping out pine needles from her chimney and before heading off to a ball that has mistletoe? Points for novelty: Among the musical numbers being folded in (a few sing-alongs) as part of the interactive festivities are decidedly non-Yuletide staples like Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” and Whitney Houston’s “When You Believe.” Dec. 8-30. Adults $56-76, children $41-56. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach. 949-497-2787; lagunaplayhouse.com
“Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical” at Segerstrom Center for the Arts
The touring production transfers from the Pantages; see description in the Los Angeles County list above. Dec. 19-24. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. $29-149. 949-556-2787; scfta.org
“Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas” at Chance Theater
Chance is bringing back this seasonal child-centric (aimed at ages 4 and up, plus the theater does have a rather endearing reminder of “no babes in arms”) show for a second straight year with 31 stagings, on Saturday four performances daily beginning as early as 10 a.m. The 75-minute musical, with an intermission, is adapted from Jane O’Connor’s book series. Expect fancy prancing and swirling out in the lobby by many of the younger attendees after seeing this one. Dec. 1-23. Chance Theater, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim. $17-23. 888-455-4212; chancetheater.com
“Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” at Maverick Theater
The Fullerton theater’s annual riff on the delightfully dreadful 1964 movie of the same title has supplemental music, plenty of laughs for the 17th annual camp production. Lamentably at this writing, with tickets now officially sold out for all 25 performances, the theater’s box office recording accepts recorded messages so leaving a plea for cancellations on an individual date may be the best shot for getting in. Ages 10 and up. Nov. 18-Dec. 23. Maverick Theater, 110 E. Walnut Ave., Fullerton. $25 for kids, $30 adults. 714-526-7070; mavericktheater.com
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
“The Million Dollar Quartet Christmas” at Fox Performing Arts Center
From the same creative group that put together the original Broadway “Million Dollar Quartet” musical, this one-act, 90-minute follow-up is long on songs and lighter on storyline. It basically taps into the holiday timing of the fabled Dec. 4, 1956, summit at Sun Studios in Memphis of Elvis Presley/Carl Perkins/Johnny Cash/Jerry Lee Lewis. This show features many Christmas songs and energetically runs on a jam session vibe. Fox Performing Arts Center. Fox Performing Arts Center. 3801 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside. $49-104. 951-779-9800; Livenation.com
“A Christmas Carol” at Old Town Temecula Community Theater
This Temecula Valley Players’ annual telling of the seasonal staple promises “an infuriated Bah! Humbug! Scrooge.” This rendering taps a version of the tale built in part on songs from a last century live New York production. Certainly, the pedigree of music in this rendering has not timed out; the numbers were written for it by high-profile talents, Tony-winners composer Alan Menken and lyricist Lynn Ahrens. Nov. 30.-Dec. 10. Old Town Temecula Community Theater, 42051 Main St., Temecula. $22-$30. 866-653-8696; tickets.temeculatheater.org
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
“Scrooge!” at LIfeHouse Theater
Music and comedy have been added to variations of Dickens’ classic novel, which has been repurposed repeatedly to fit audience needs over the decades on live stages. LifeHouse is seemingly less focused on the title figure’s less pleasant tendencies, describing its version as “a powerful family friendly production…” focused on “…the powerful redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge combining with the sights and sounds of the season for an unforgettable presentation of the true Christmas Spirit.” LifeHouse Theater, 1135 N. Church St., Redlands. Nov. 24-Dec. 18. LifeHouse Theater, 1135 N. Church St., Redlands. $24-28 for adults, $12-14 for children 3-11. 909-335-3037; lifehousetheater.com
VENTURA COUNTY
“It’s a Wonderful Life ON AIR” at the Simi Valley Cultural Center
An energetic spin on an old chestnut. The setting is a radio broadcast in New York City of the eternal “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Seasonally bad weather keeps big name period stars from getting to the station so anyone who happens in the building is drafted in to the studio to perform. If this sounds like an “anything that can go wrong,” that’s where the fun comes from. Nov. 24-Dec. 23. Simi Valley Cultural Center. 3050 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. $35 for adults, $22 for 12 and under. 805-583-7905; Svvac.org
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