Seattle’s holiday theater scene offers something for everyone — from the traditionalist to the most humbugging Scrooge. Here’s what’s on offer around town this year.
Seattle chestnuts
These are annual holiday traditions for many Seattleites.
•“A Christmas Carol,” ACT Theatre — R. Hamilton Wright and Jeff Steitzer alternate as Ebenezer Scrooge in ACT’s 37th-annual, FX-filled production. Age 5 and older.
•“Nutcracker,” Pacific Northwest Ballet — An eye-candy extravaganza featuring spectacular Maurice Sendak-designed sets and costumes,and choreography by Kent Stowell. All ages.
•“Black Nativity,” The Moore Theatre — This year, Langston Hughes’ gospel-song play features renowned gospel and R&B singer BeBe Winans. All ages.
Not strictly Christmas
…and not strictly traditional.
•“Inspecting Carol,” Seattle Repertory Theatre — A “Noises Off” for the holidays, featuring the madcap antics of a theater troupe struggling to stage its annual production of “A Christmas Carol.”
•“Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol,” Taproot Theatre — A mashup of “A Christmas Carol” and “Sherlock Holmes,” by local playwright John Longenbaugh. Age 12 and older.
•“The Winter Wonderettes,” ArtsWest Playhouse — Featuring music in the style of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. All ages.
•“Scrooge the Musical,” Seattle Musical Theatre — A musical version of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Rated PG.
Family-friendly holiday fare
Fun for children of all ages.
•“A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” Stone Soup Theatre — Revel in the lyrical language of Dylan Thomas as you visit the Christmas of his Welsh childhood. All ages.
•“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” Seattle Public Theatre — The infamous Herdman children turn the annual church Christmas pageant on its head as they challenge everyone’s notion of the meaning of Christmas. All ages.
•“Owen Meany’s Christmas Pageant,” Book-It Repertory Theatre — Adapted from John Irving’s “A Prayer for Owen Meany,” Owen is determined to play the baby Jesus in another hilarious take on the church Christmas pageant. All ages.
•“ELF–The Musical,” The 5th Avenue Theatre — Based on the 2003 Will Ferrell film about a human raised by elves at the North Pole. All ages.
Indulge your inner humbug
For non-traditionalists, Scrooges and those in search of something a little different….
•“A(n Improvised) Christmas Carol,” Unexpected Productions (at Intiman) — The improv crew uses audience suggestions to re-imagine the Dickens classic. All ages.
•“Dina Martina Christmas,” Re-bar — Drag diva Dina Martina shares her schmaltzy take on the holidays. Age 21 and older, with I.D.
•“Ham for the Holidays: Ham-Ageddon!,” Theatre Off Jackson — Sketch artists Peggy Platt and Lisa Koch serve up some of their favorite moments from past “Hams.” Advertised to have “adult humor, lots of gay/lesbian/flaming-liberal content.”
•“It’s Your Wonderful Life,” Wing-It Productions — Every night, an audience member takes over the role of George Bailey in this improvised version of “It’s A Wonderful Life.” All ages.
•“Santaland Diaries,” Seattle Public Theatre — David Sedaris’ sardonic, witty, one-person play about his experience working as an elf in Macy’s Santaland. Advertised “for mature elves only.”
•“Wisemen,” Bullitt Cabaret at ACT — Representatives from the Wiseman Law Firm hold court against an evil Santa Claus to the strains of Klezmer and hip-hop. Age 16 and older.