Holiday plays and musicals on Sacramento-area theater stages
Theater companies large and small around the region get into the holiday spirit with special productions. Here’s a listing of most of the shows with seasonal themes.
Now playing
A Christmas Carol
What: City Theatre at Sacramento City College presents a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ perennial written and directed by Luther Hanson with musical direction by Daniel Paulson.
When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 14 and one Saturday 2 p.m. matinee on Dec. 13
Where: Performing Arts Center at Sacramento City College, 3835 Freeport Blvd.
Tickets: $10-$18
Information: citytheatre.net
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
What: More than 30 cast members including 20 children help make up Barbara Robinson’s “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” staged by the Winters Theatre Company.
Where: Winter Community Center, 201 Railroad Ave., Winters
When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 7.
Tickets: $6-$12
Information: (530) 795-4014 or Winterstheatre.org
Chicken Little’s Christmas Party
What: Chicken Little and her friends celebrate Christmas. A play for kids.
Where: Theatre One, 2425 Sierra Blvd., Sacramento
When: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 6
Tickets: $5
Information: (916) 524-1032 or www.theaterone.org
Opening today
A Christmas Carol, the Musical
What: The Woodland Opera House presents a musical version of the classic Christmas fable directed by Bob Cooner with music direction by Dan Pool and choreography by Tim Stewart.
Where: 340 Second St., Woodland
When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 21
Tickets: $7-$25
Information: (530) 666-9617 or Woodlandoperahouse.org
Opening Sunday
Spinning Into Light
What: B Street Theatre’s Buck Busfield writes and directs a new holiday musical with composer Noah Agruss. The cast includes Melinda Parrett, Greg Alexander, Jason Kuykendall and Tara Sissom.
When: Previews 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Opens 7 p.m. Sunday; continues 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays through Jan. 4.
Where: B Street Theatre Mainstage, 2711 B St., Sacramento
Tickets: $23-$35, $5 student rush. $15 previews
Information: (916) 443-5300, or www.bstreettheatre.org
Opening Dec. 5
Santaland Diaries
What: Aaron Wilton returns as Crumpet, the cynical dissatisfied Elf in Macy’s Santaland display. Peter Mohrmann directs David Sedaris’ biting sendup of all that is sacred during the holidays.
Where: Capital Stage Company, 2215 J St., Sacramento
When: Previews 7 p.m. Wednesday and 8 p.m. Thursday; opens 8 p.m. Dec. 5; continues. 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays; 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 27. Also 7 p.m. Monday Dec. 22 and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 23-24.
Tickets: $18-$38
Information: (916) 995-5464, www.capstage.org
A Christmas Story – The Musical
What: They’ll be singing “You’ll shoot your eye out!” in Rocklin thanks to the musical of the classic holiday movie. Presented by Rocklin Community Theatre.
Where: Finnish Temperance Hall, 4090 Rocklin Road, Rocklin
When: 7:30 p.m Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays; Dec. 5–21; also 2 p.m. Dec. 13 and 20.
Tickets: $10-$15
Information: (916) 740-6229 or rocklintheatre.org
A Charlie Brown Christmas
What: Free Fall Stage presents its fourth annual production of the thoughtful play where Charlie Brown tries to find the real meaning of Christmas.
Where: Victory Life Church, 800 Reading St., Folsom
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 5; noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Dec. 6; noon Dec. 13; and 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Dec. 20.
Tickets: $8 - $12.
Information: (916) 207-4420 or www.freefallstage.com
The Gift of the Magi
What: Freefall Stage presents seven performances of O. Henry’s classic holiday fable.
When: 8 p.m. Dec. 5, continues 7 p.m. Dec. 6, 12, 13 and 19 and 4 p.m. Dec. 7 and 21.
Where: Victory Life Church, 800 Reading St., Folsom
Tickets: $8-$12
Information: (916) 207-4420 or www.freefallstage.com
Opening Dec. 6
It’s a Wonderful Life: The Musical
What: Sacramento Theatre Company brings back for a second time the classic film turned into a musical play. Michael Laun directs Jerry Lee as George Bailey, Tyler Wipfli as Mary Bailey, and Gary S. Martinez as Mr. Potter.
Where: Main Stage, Sacramento Theatre Company, 1419 H St., Sacramento
When: Previews 7 p.m. Wednesday-Dec. 5; opens 7 p.m. Dec. 6; continues 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; and 12:30 p.m. Thursdays through Dec. 28.
Tickets: $20-$40.
Information: (916) 443-6722; www.sactheatre.org
Scrooge
What: Rodger Hoopman’s long-running original musical production of “A Christmas Carol.”
When: 8 p.m Fridays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays Dec. 6-23 and 8 p.m. Dec. 22-23
Where: Chautauqua Playhouse, 5235 Engle Road, Carmichael.
Tickets: $10-$15
Information: (916) 489-7529, www.cplayhouse.org
A New Song for Christmas
What: Celebration Arts presents a new drama with music by James Wheatley about a small church choir who wants to change its annual holiday program.
Where: Celebration Arts Theatre, 4469 D St., Sacramento
When: 8 p.m. Dec. 6, at 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays through Dec. 20 and 2 p.m. Dec. 13-14 and 21.
Tickets: $13-$15
Information: (916) 455-2787 or celebrationarts.net
Holiday in the Hills
What: Mike Jimena and Connie Mockenhaupt’s annual holiday celebration presents a story set in Folsom’s Historic District with characters who either lived in or visited there in the late 1800s.
When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays Dec. 6-23; also 7 p.m. Dec. 18 and 22-23
Where: Sutter Street Theatre, 717 Sutter St., Folsom
Tickets: $15-$23
Information: (916) 353-1001 or sutterstreettheatre.com
A Charlie Brown Christmas
What: The Roseville Theatre Arts Academy presents Charlie, Snoopy and, of course, Linus breaking down the real meaning of Christmas.
Where: The Roseville Theater, 241 Vernon St., Roseville
When: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays Dec. 6-20.
Information: (916) 772-2777 or Rosevilletheatreartsacademy.com
Opening Dec. 7
Sonja Weissman and the Miracle Play
What: In 1946 young Sonja Weissman, a Polish refugee, arrives at a Canadian boarding school where the rehearsal for the annual nativity play is taking place.
Where: The Center of the Arts, Off Center Stage, 315 Richardson St., Grass Valley
When: Previews 7 p.m. Dec. 5-6, opens 7 p.m. Dec. 7, continues 7 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 20.
Tickets: $20 adults, $15 children; $10 previews; $25 Gala opening.
Information: (530) 274-8384 or thecenterforthearts.org
Opens Dec. 17
The Quiltmaker’s Gift
What: Sutter Street Theater’s Family Series presents a musical with a book by Alan J. Prewitt, music by Craig Bohmler and lyrics by Steven Mark Kohn tells the story of a mysterious and her beautiful quilts.
When: 1 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays Dec. 13-28 and 1 p.m. Dec. 22-24 anad Dec. 27-28; also 4 p.m. Dec. 18-19
Where: Sutter Street Theatre, 717 Sutter St., Folsom
Tickets: $13-$17
Information: (916) 353-1001 or Sutterstreettheatre.com
Call The Bee’s Marcus Crowder, (916) 321-1120.
This story was originally published November 27, 2014 at 2:00 AM with the headline "Holiday plays and musicals on Sacramento-area theater stages."