Performances
A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN WALES
Many people's favorite Christmas story springs to life at Wallingford's Stone Soup Theatre, enacted by a mix of professional and youth actors. 4035 Stone Way N., 206-325-6500, www.stonesouptheatre.com. $12 ($8 per person for families of four or more). 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat.; 3 p.m. matinees Sat.–Sun. Through Sat., Dec. 17.
MAGICAL STRINGS
This Celtic yuletide series is back for its 27th year with harp music, Irish dancing, and energetic songs and storytelling. Locations in Shoreline, Kent, Seattle, and Bellevue. For more information, visit www.magicalstrings.com. Through Mon., Dec. 19.
FORBIDDEN XMAS
The snarky holiday revue takes on local celebs like Steve Pool, Dale Chihuly, and Sue Bird in a Seattle-ized production at Empty Space. 3509 Fremont Ave. N., 206-547-7500, www.emptyspace.org. $30 Fri.–Sat. and opening night; $25 other nights and matinees. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Thurs.; 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat. Also: 2 p.m. Dec. 18. Through Fri., Dec. 23.
BLACK NATIVITY
The annual "gospel song play" at Intiman includes euphoric voices (belonging to local pastor Patrinell Wright, the Black Nativity Gospel Choir, et al.), a live band, and modern dance. Intiman Theatre, Seattle Center, 206-269-1900, www.intiman.org. $10–$42. See Web site for times. Through Sat., Dec. 24.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
The annual staging of the Dickens story that started the whole Victorian Christmas hoo-hah in the first place. This year, R. Hamilton Wright and Sean Griffin alternate in the role of Scrooge. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 206-292-7676, www.acttheatre.org. $24–$29. Days and times vary. Through Sat., Dec. 24.
EVERYXMASSTORYEVERTOLD
Well, maybe not every one, but certainly a lot of them. Frequent Seattle Public Theater director Carol Roscoe joins with three local actors (and Wing-It Productions) to present a fast-forwarded rendition of Christmastime's many traditional tales. Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way N.E., 206-352-8291, www.wingitpresents.org. $15 ($10 students/seniors). 8 p.m. Thurs.–Fri.; 2 p.m. Sat.–Sun. Through Sat., Dec. 24.
THE SANTALAND DIARIES/THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER
Seattle Public Theater's gruesome twosome returns. The former show, based on David Sedaris' hilarious long essay of the same name, dramatizes the agony and ecstasy of working as an elf in Macy's Santaland display. The latter chronicles the misadventures of the horrible Herdman family, who somehow manage to learn the meaning of Christmas even as they desecrate creches. 7312 W. Greenlake Dr. N., 206-524-1300, www.seattlepublictheater.org. $12–$20. Santaland: 9 p.m. Thurs.–Sat.; 7:30 p.m. Sun. (and Sat., Dec. 24). Pageant: 7 p.m. Thurs.–Sat.; 2 p.m. Sat.–Sun. (2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tues., Dec. 20–Fri., Dec. 23). Through Sat., Dec. 24.
VOICES OF CHRISTMAS
ArtsWest's Christmas revue returns, promising to deliver "myth, merriment, music," and a generous helping of holiday cheer. 4711 California Ave. S.W., 206-938-0339, www.artswest.org. $28 ($24 seniors/students, $12 youth under 18). Days and times vary. Through Mon., Dec. 26.
NUTCRACKER
Pacific Northwest Ballet's annual bonbon is back, wrapped in its Maurice Sendak–designed packaging. Pacific Northwest Ballet, McCaw Hall, Seattle Center, 206-441-2424, www.pnb.org. $18–$102. Days and times vary. Through Wed., Dec. 28.
THE TRIAL OF EBENEZER SCROOGE
Everyone's favorite holiday miser gets his courtroom comeuppance in playwright Mark Brown's new riff on A Christmas Carol. Taproot Theater, 204 N. 85th St., 206-781-9707, www.taproottheatre.org. $23–$25 Tues.–Thurs. (7:30 p.m.) and Sat. matinees (2 p.m.); $27–$30 Fri.–Sat. evenings (8 p.m.). Through Fri., Dec. 30.
DINA MARTINA CHRISTMAS SHOW
Seattle's own Divine Miss M. spikes your eggnog with drag whimsy and absurdist humor at a holiday reworking of her tried-and-true diva shtick. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St., 206-448-8464. www.rebarseattle.com. $18. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sun. Through Sat., Dec. 31.
THE KLEZ KATZ
The local klezmer artistes come through with a righteous Hanukkah hookup, performing Jewish folk tunes in Yiddish—perhaps including genre favorites "Azoy Fayft Men a Shviger" and "Freylekhs Nokh Der Khupe." City Hall, 600 Fourth Ave., 206-684-7171. Free. Noon–1 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 15.
BOB RIVERS' TWISTED CHRISTMAS PARTY
The KZOK-FM host assembles high-school rockers Capitol Basement, cover band Spike and the Impalers, and charming comedienne Caroline Rhea for an irreverent holiday show at the Moore Theatre. 1932 Second Ave., 206-467-5510, www.themoore.com. $25–$30. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 15.
HANDEL'S MESSIAH
The Seattle Symphony's yearly holiday centerpiece rides again, featuring soloists Cyndia Sieden, Brian Asawa, Stanford Olsen, and Jan Opalach. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 206-215-4747, www.seattlesymphony.org. $16–$55. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 15. 8 p.m. Fri., Dec. 16. 8 p.m. Sat., Dec. 17. 2 p.m. Sun., Dec. 18.
NORTHWEST FILM FORUM HOLIDAY BASH
NWFF head Michael Seiwerath will provide the eggnog, local actor-playwright Jonah Von Spreecken will provide the world-premiere play (The Snowflake Factory, a Roald Dahl–esque fable in which the concept of cold has become passé), and DJ Mat and Comb Band will provide the tunes. All you need to do is show up. 1515 12th Ave., 206-329-2629, www.nwfilmforum.org. $13 ($10 NWFF members, $7 children). 7 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 15–Sun., Dec. 18; Wed., Dec. 21–Fri., Dec. 23.
YIDDISH EROTIKA
Local singer Sheila Fox headlines this "Jewish burlesque show," powered by jazz at Cafe Paloma (where there's a 75 percent chance of latkes) and klezmer at Chop Suey. Presumably, naughty dreidel jokes will abound at both venues. Cafe Paloma, 93 Yesler Way, 206-409-1920, www.sheilajfox.com. $10. 8 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 15, and Sat., Dec. 17. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 206-324-8000, www.chopsuey.com. $10. 9 p.m. Sat., Dec. 24.
