Sacramento area theaters are embracing this particular holiday season with a cautious optimism. Putting on a show has always been a risky way to make a living, and tough times simply up the ante. But hope lives that audiences will want an honest live performance unique to the time and place it happens, which engages the imagination and spirit as only theater can.

As usual, the entertainment quotient is high among the area offerings, with Sacramento Theatre Company staging the popular holiday panto "Cinderella." City College puts a similar spin on another well-known tale with Christine Nicholson's new panto adaptation of "Snow White." For more cross- dressing fun, there's Woodland Opera House's "Tuna Christmas" and Capital Stage's "Every Christmas Story Ever Told" tries to make you laugh as much as possible.

B Street has more circumspect productions, including Buck Busfield's original "Hear the Grass Grow" and Conor McPherson's adult Irish fable "The Seafarer."

Up in Nevada City, where the town itself transforms for the holidays, Foothill Theater Company has two complementary but different productions with David Sedaris' satiric "Santaland Diaries" and Sands Hall's reflective and moving adaptation of "Little Women."

Across the region there's holiday cheer to be found on all sorts of stages – so enjoy.

The picks

CINDERELLA

Sacramento Theatre Company (Mainstage)

1419 H St., Sacramento

This rollicking holiday spectacle done in the English panto tradition – lots of cross-dressing and audience participation – is always a delight. Peggy Shannon directs, with William Elsman as the wicked stepmother, Mrs. Baden-Rotten, and Hilary Wells (pictured) and Morgan Cook alternating as Cinderella.

Performances: 7 p.m. Wednesdays- Saturdays, 12:30 p.m. Thursdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Also 12:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23. No performance Christmas Day. Previews begin Wednesday and the production opens Dec. 6 and continues through Jan. 4.

Tickets: $40-$20.

Information, (916) 446-7501 or www.sactheatre.org

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

B Street Theatre

(Family Series)

2711 B St., Sacramento

Buck Busfield and Dave Pierini have adapted Charles Dickens' holiday classic, putting the writer and his other works at the center of his oft-told tale. The wry humor of Greg Alexander (pictured) as Dickens, plus the solid ensemble, makes this as much fun for adults as for the kids. Jerry Montoya and Erin Island direct.

Performances: 1 and 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 4. Also numerous special holiday performances.

Tickets: $25 and $18.

Information (916) 443-5300 or www.bstreettheatre.org

LITTLE WOMEN

The Foothill Theatre Company

401 Broad St., Nevada City

Novelist and playwright Sands Hall has created a moving adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's well-loved novel. FTC first premiered the work in 1999, and Hall has revised the script for this production. Inventive director Nancy Carlin guides Matt K. Miller and Megan Smith (pictured), who lead the cast.

Performances: 7 p.m. Thursdays,

8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Dec. 28

Tickets: $31-$12

Information (530) 265-8587 or www.foothilltheatre.org

EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME!)

Where: Capital Stage

Aboard the Delta King

1000 Front St., Sacramento

Performances: 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 7 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 28. Tickets: $13-$30

For information: (916) 995-5464 or www. capstage.org

FOREVER PLAID

Where: California Musical Theatre (The Cosmopolitan Cabaret)

10th and K streets, Sacramento.

Performances: The open-ended run continues at 8 p.m. Tuesdays- Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and 7:30 p.m. Sundays. Except Dec. 24, 25 and 31.

Tickets: $32-$57

For information: (916) 557-1999 or www.CosmopolitanCabaret.com

SNOW WHITE

Where: Sacramento City College (City Theatre)

The Art Court Theatre at 3835 Freeport Blvd.

Performances: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 14. Also 2 p.m. Dec. 13.