BEFORE YOUR HOLIDAY CALENDAR GETS TOO JAMMED UP, YOU HAVE TO SAVE SOME ROOM FOR FUN. TAKING IN ONE OF THE MANY HOLIDAY THEATER OFFERINGS CAN BE JUST THE THING TO REDUCE STRESS THE SEASON. JOINING ME IS THE ARTS CALENDAR EDITOR -- EDITOR. WELCOME TO THE PRIDE -- PROGRAM. DO MANY OF THE THEATER GROUPS AROUND TOWN PRESENT A HOLIDAY SHOW IS A TRADITION? YES. IT IS THE THING. OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE, THE GLOBE DOESN'T AND LOCAL THEATERS ARE DOING IT. EVEN REGIONAL THEATERS ARE GETTING IN ON IT. LET'S START WITH THE MUSICAL THEATER. THEY HAVE TO CHRISTMAS CLASSICS. THEY DO. THEY ARE GOING TO DEBUT MIRACLE ON 34th ST. THAT IS ON A LIVE RADIO -- RADIO BROADCAST. IS STILL HAS SANTA AND SOME SONGS THROUGHOUT. THEN ALSO RETURNING IS IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS. BASED ON THE MOVIE WERE -- WHITE CHRISTMAS? YES. IS A HOLIDAY FAVORITE IN AND OF ITSELF. IT IS THE LAST YEAR THIS THEATER PLANS TO DO IT SO IF YOU LOVE IT OR YOU HAVE BEEN MEANING TO GO, THIS IS THE YEAR TO DO IT. IT HAS BIG TECH NUMBERS, AID 22 PIECE ORCHESTRA ON THE STAGE AND ALL THE LOVELY SONGS THAT WE LIKE. I LOVE THE PIANO. LET'S LISTEN. I LOVE THE PIANO FOR MY CHRISTMAS. MIRACLE ON 34th ST. IS PUT ON BY THE THEATER AND RUN IN DECEMBER. THERE ARE TWO CHRISTMAS SHOWS HAPPENING AT LAMBS PLAYERS THEATER. HOW ARE THESE UNIQUE? THE OTHER SHOWS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT OUR CHRISTMAS STORIES. THESE ARE WRITTEN BY ARTISTIC STAFF. AMERICAN CHRISTMAS IS ORIGINAL BUT IT IS CELEBRATING ITS 25th ANNIVERSARY SO PEOPLE MIGHT FORGET THAT IT IS ORIGINAL. TELL US ABOUT THAT ONE. THAT ONE IS LIKE A DINNER AND A PLAY. IT IS A FIVE COURSE CHRISTMAS FEAST. YOU SHOW UP TO THE GRAND HOTEL, THAT IS NEW. IT USED TO BE AT THE HOTEL DELLE. YOU WALK IN AND PEOPLE SAYING AND HAVE COCKTAILS AND THEN YOU GO INTO A ROOM AND HAVE DINNER. THERE IS A STAGE SHOW. IT IS VERY POPULAR. IT SOUNDS VERY IMMERSIVE. YES. AND THEN THERE IS THE LAMBS THEATER IN CORONADO. THAT IS WHERE THEY DO THE FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS. THAT HAS A NEW SHOW THAT SHOW EVERY YEAR. THIS IS ANGELS ARM. THESE PLAYS CAPTURE THE MUSIC OF THE SEASON. AN AMERICAN CHRISTMAS WILL BE STAGE THROUGH CHRISTMAS EVE. MY WRITING THINKING THAT ALL THE ONES WE TALKED ABOUT SO FAR ARE -- HAVE A LOT OF MUSIC IN THEM? YES. IS THERE ANYTHING BEING PUT OUT FOR KIDS. WE TALKED ABOUT THE GRINCH LAST WEEK THAT ONE IS THE MOST OBVIOUS. THIS YEAR THERE IS A NEW TOURING SHOW COMING TO SAN DIEGO. IT IS CALLED A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS. THIS IS DONE IN THE TRADITION OF AID BRITISH HOME. IT IS A TRADITIONAL FAIRYTALE WITH INTERACTIVE SONGS AND JOKES. THE THING TO KNOW IS THAT THIS FEATURES NEIL PATRICK HARRIS. HE IS IN THE SHOW? YES. SO WELL HE IS THE MAGIC MIRROR WHICH IS A RECORDING. YOU DO GET TO SEE HIM BUT IT IS A RECORDING. IT HAS SOME STARS FROM THE DISNEY CHANNEL. ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS HIS GIRL MEET WILL -- MEETS WORLD. THEN THE ACTRESS, IVANA MASON. IT IS THE STORY OF SNOW WHITE? THE MUSIC IS KATY PERRY, MICHAEL JACKSON, IT IS A MIX MASH AND FUN TIME. A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS IS AT THE THEATER THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. I THINK I HEAR A HOLIDAY LATE -- BALLET, THE NUTCRACKER. THERE ARE ALWAYS MANY BEING PERFORMED IN SAN DIEGO, IS THAT A PROBLEM FOR PEOPLE, HOW TO CHOOSE? YES. PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS WONDERING, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE, HOW TO LIES CHOOSE ONE? MY ANSWER IS THAT IT DEPENDS ON HOW FAR YOU WANT TO GO FROM HOME, HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO BE AND WHAT KIND OF QUALITY YOU WANT. SO CAN YOU GIVE US SOME MATCHES TO THAT? IF YOU DON'T WANT TO PAY A LOT OF MONEY OR IF YOU WANT TO SEE A REAL PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTION, HOW DO YOU MIX AND MATCH THOSE? I JUST DID A HUGE LIST OF MOST OF THE NUTCRACKERS IN TOWN. IF I MISSED ANY I WILL GO BACK. THERE IS A LOT IN NEIGHBORHOODS ESPECIALLY IN NORTH COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO COUNTY. THERE ARE LOCAL SCHOOLS PUT ON -- PUTTING ON THE NUTCRACKER. SOME ARE EXCELLENT. THAT YOU WILL PAY A LOWER PRICE. IT IS NOT AS BIG OF A PRODUCTION AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR COSTUMES AND THEATER SPACE. THOSE ARE HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND THROUGH CHRISTMAS. IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A PROFESSIONAL SHOW, THERE ARE THREE COMPANIES IN SAN DIEGO? THOSE ARE GOING ON THROUGHOUT DECEMBER. THEY HAVE PROFESSIONAL DANCERS AND THE COSTUMES AND IN SOME CASES A SYMPHONY. THOSE ARE PRICIER. YOU SAY -- AS THEY SAY, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. DO THEY SELL OUT QUICKLY? BALLET NEVER SELLS OUT BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN SHOWS THAT ARE OTHER POP -- THAT ARE MORE POPULAR THAN OTHERS. YOU SHOULD START LOOKING NOW. I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING WITH NINA GAREN. THANK YOU.
Looking for a holiday show? Here's a roundup of some of San Diego's favorite Christmas plays.
Cygnet Theatre's 'A Christmas Carol'
Theater
Cygnet Theatre celebrates a Victorian Christmas with its musical version of "A Christmas Carol." Adapted by Sean Murray, the Charles Dickens classic about hope and redemption features original new music, creative stagecraft and puppetry, and live sound effects.
Details: Running now through Dec. 24, 2016. 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St., Old Town. $42 to $62; find tickets.
Irving Berlin's 'White Christmas'
Theater
This is the final year San Diego Musical Theatre stages its popular version of Irving Berlin's "White Christmas," complete with a 22-piece orchestra and classic songs.
Following World War II, veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis have a successful song-and-dance act. En route to their Christmas show at a magical Vermont lodge, the duo find love with two beautiful singing sisters under the mistletoe.
Adapted from the film, this musical features a score of Irving Berlin favorites like "Blue Skies," "I Love A Piano," and the perennial favorite, "White Christmas."
Details: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 25 and Dec. 1; 2 p.m. Nov. 26, Nov. 27, Dec. 3 and Dec. 4; 8 p.m. Nov. 26, Dec. 2 and Dec. 3. Spreckels Theatre, 121 Broadway, downtown. $30 to $60; find tickets.
'Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'
Theater
The Old Globe's "Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" based on the classic Dr. Seuss book is back for its 19th year.
The family favorite features songs like “Fah Who Doraze,” whimsical sets and costumes, and a heartwarming tale about a very conflicted Grinch.
As in years past, "The Grinch" will be performed for children on the autism spectrum and who have special needs on Saturday, Dec. 10.
Details: Running now through Dec. 26, 2016. 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park. $24 to $99; find tickets.
Lamb's Players Festival of Christmas: ‘The Angel's Arms’
Theater
For this year's Festival of Christmas Lamb's Players Theatre presents “The Angel's Arms,” a favorite script written by Associate Artistic Director, Kerry Meads.
The musical takes place in 1860 at a pretty but deserted inn called The Angel's Arms. But there's more to the odd old inn and its eccentric caretaker than meets the eye.
Details: Runs Dec. 2 through 24, 2016. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 6 p.m. Sundays. Lamb's Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. $28 to $78; find tickets.
Lamb's Players Theatre Presents 'An American Christmas' 2016
Theater
Lamb's Players Theatre celebrates the 25th anniversary of "An American Christmas".
This five-course dinner and show returns to The US Grant Hotel for an evening that features local performers offering music, dance, story, song and laughter.
Seating is at round tables of 10. Festive attire, with sport coats or suits suggested for gentlemen. Tickets are for assigned lettered tables, not for specific seats at that table. Valet parking only at the hotel, discounted to $15 for "An American Christmas" guests.
Details: The show runs 6:30 p.m. nightly from Dec. 14 through 24. There is no performance on Monday, Dec. 19. The US Grant Hotel, 326 Broadway, downtown. $158 to $174; find tickets.
'Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play'
Theater
San Diego Musical Theatre presents "Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play," a retelling of the holiday classic done in the tradition of a live 1940s-era radio broadcast.
When a department store Santa claims he’s the real Kris Kringle, his case gets taken all the way to the Supreme Court. Watch the miracle unfold when the belief of a little girl makes all the difference in this iconic story.
Details: Runs Dec. 1 through Dec. 24. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Horton Grand Theatre, 444 Fourth Ave., downtown. $30 to $70; buy tickets.
'A Snow White Christmas'
Theater
San Diego Theatres, in collaboration with San Diego Repertory Theatre, presents "A Snow White Christmas" featuring Neil Patrick Harris as the Onscreen Magic Mirror. Also in the show is Disney star Olivia Stuck as Snow White and Yvette Cason as the Wicked Queen.
"A Snow White Christmas" is an updated version of the classic tale in the style of a traditional British family panto. (A panto is a traditional fairy tale with interactive songs, dances and jokes.) Expect family-friendly magic with a comedic twist, dancing (with "So You Think You Can Dance" alumni), and pop music from Katy Perry’s "Firework" to Michael Jackson’s "Thriller" and more.
Details: Runs Dec. 2 through 24, 2016. 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; noon, 4 and 7 p.m. Saturdays; noon and 4 p.m. Sundays. Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, downtown. $39 to $59buy tickets.
'Abuelito's Mexican Christmas Carol'
Theater
Amigos del Rep presents a whimsical, Latino version of Charles Dickens' holiday favorite, "A Christmas Carol."
It's almost Navidad, and Abuelito is woken up by his adoring grandchildren to tell the story of how the miserly Ebenifacio L. Scrooge came to love Christmas and learned to care for others.
Details: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20. San Diego Central Public Library, 330 Park Blvd., downtown. Free; additional information.
