South Bay theaters stage family-friendly holiday shows

Holiday theater productions are usually intended to draw in families for a night out together, and December’s offerings do just that.

Hillbarn Theatre’s holiday offering is “Elf the Musical,” based on the Will Ferrell film that came out in 2003. It features a score by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, and a book adapted by Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan. Dave J. Abrams stars as Buddy, heading a cast of 24. “Elf” runs Dec. 1-18. Tickets are $32-$62 at www.hillbarntheatre.org or 650-349-6111, ext. 2.

Coincidentally, “Elf Jr.” will run Dec. 1-12 at Milpitas Community Theatre. Performances will be held in the Milpitas Community Center auditorium. For more information, contact Vince Collantes at 408-586-3204.

An annual part of the Peninsula’s holiday schedule includes Smuin performing “The Christmas Ballet.” Dancers will take the stage Dec. 1-4 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Smuin’s program features a first act of classical ballet set to Christmas music and a second act of contemporary numbers set to pop favorites. Tickets are $25-$99 at www.smuinballet.org or 650-903-6000.

“The Secret Garden” is Los Altos Stage Company’s holiday offering. Performances run Dec. 2-23. This musical tells the story of an 11-year-old orphan who returns to England from India to live with her reclusive uncle. LASC Artistic Director Gary Landis directs the show. Tickets are $20-$32 at www.losaltosstage.org or 650-941-0541.

Decidedly not a holiday show, the Pear Theatre in Mountain View is staging “Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune” by Terrence McNally Dec. 2-18. Director Troy Johnson has double-cast the show, which has only two characters. Performing on alternating nights are Kristin Walters and Sean Purcell, and Kelly Rinehart and Fred Pitts. Tickets are $35-$38 at www.thepear.com or 650-254-1148.

The Ragazzi Boys Chorus brings its “Magnificent Wonders” holiday concert to First United Methodist Church, 625 Hamilton Ave. in Palo Alto, on Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. Ragazzi will be joined by special guests from the Cal Arte Ensemble for an evening of yuletide favorites. Tickets are $25-$45 at Ragazzi.org or 650-362-4425.

City Lights Theater Company in San Jose is hosting the eighth annual “Ren’s Winter Wonderland” Dec. 4 at 7 p.m., featuring singer-songwriter Ren Geisick and her band. The music will run the gamut from jazz, blues, country, originals and reimagined classics. Tickets are $34.

City Lights’ current production of “The Thanksgiving Play” runs through Dec. 18. Tickets are $28-$51 at  www.cltc.org or 408-295-4200.

At San Jose Stage Company, “Frank Capra’s Meet John Doe” is running through Dec. 18. Adapted and directed by Kenneth Kelleher from Capra’s film, the play is about a reporter’s fake news and covers media exploitation, an individual’s distrust of politics and the American Dream, which means it’s as relevant now as ever. Tickets are $34-$74 at www.thestage.org or 408-283-7142.