Storytelling tinsel is in short supply this season at SoCal’s largest theaters. For the first time in recent memory, there are no narrative Christmas offerings at the Pantages, Dolby, Ahmanson, or being staged at the Soraya in Northridge, the Segerstrom Center in Orange County or the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside.
A lack of touring productions is the reason, but a positive byproduct is that those yearning for live holiday theater have an open calendar to explore the area’s homegrown productions on smaller stages — my goodness, Old Town Temecula Community Theater, how you are bringing it this year! — which are presenting a fine array of tis-the-season shows.
Here are the regional goods.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
‘All About Santa’ at Santa Monica Playhouse
A kids-centric show, with matinees only at the Santa Monica Playhouse features a six-member cast of actor/singers. Bad news up north: Santa has gone missing. Where exactly is he? Worse news is that on the scene arrive the Suits — described as “the Mad Men from Badison Avenue” — are quite willing to “solve” the problem with a host of plans to make the holidays even more commercial than ever. Will they? Dec. 6-7, and Dec. 13-14. 1211 4th St., Santa Monica. Adults, $19.50, children under 12, $17.50. 310.394.9779; showclix.com
‘Bob’s Holiday Office Party’ at Odyssey Theater
For 28 years, Odyssey Theater has been presenting Bob and his not-for-kids’-ears party. Set in Neuterburg, Iowa (pop. 382), the play follows insurance salesman Bob Finhead as he throws a lampshades-on-everyone’s-heads Xmas bash filled with recognizable types, who invariably have that one-drink-too-many and irreverence takes hold. Dec. 5-21. Odyssey Theater, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. $25-$30. 310-477-2055; odysseytheatre.com
‘A Charlie Brown Christmas Live’
This live touring production taps into the famed Christmas cartoon TV movie from 1965, powered by the famous, indelible jazz piano score from Vince Guaraldi. Taken from the original 1965 animated film of 30 minutes for television, this goes for 90 minutes, no intermission, at two L.A. venues. In this version, Charlie Brown does not say “oh, rats” (but he does say “rats”), Lucy is feisty as always, her younger brother Linus explains the meaning of Christmas and Snoopy attempts to swipe Linus’ blanket.
Dec.18: 7:30 p.m. Pomona College, Bridges Auditorium Claremont, 450 N. College Way, Claremont. $68-$155. 909-607-1189; ci.ovationtix.com/36744/performance/11666359
Dec. 19: 3 and 6 p.m. $53-131. The Novo at LA Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-765-7000; www.los-angeles-theatre.com/shows/the-novo/charlie-brown-christmas/tickets/calendar
‘A Christmas Carol’ at A Noise Within
In its 13th annual season, this rigorously faithful version of the classic tale sees a casting wrinkle. Theater mainstay Geoff Elliot, who co-directs the show and who has traditionally played Scrooge, is rotating as the crackpot miser with actor Henry Lubatti at some performances. Staged on the theater’s thrust stage, in an intimate 324-seat setting, proximity to all the actors is always part of the lure. Saturday, Nov. 29-Dec. 24. 3325 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. $65.75-$101.75. 626-356-2100; anoisewithin.org
‘Die Heart’ at Colony Theater
Celebrating its 30th anniversary of comic mash-ups, Troubadour Theater Company — known to one and all as the ‘Troubies’ — are bringing back their seasonal pretzel-izing of the ‘80s Bruce Willis action flick “Die Hard” (it was set at Christmas for those of short memories) with a mash-up of rock numbers from the ‘70s band “Heart.” The result is “Die Heart: The Director’s Cut.” As usual with the group, which has a hardcore following, it’s wiser to get in on tickets sooner than later. Dec. 4-27. Colony Theatre, 555 N. Third Street, Burbank. $55.99-$60.99. 888-558-8700; troubie.com
‘Madame Scrooge: A Christmas Carol Musical’ at the Nocturne
So, here’s a twist (and we don’t mean a holly-draped “Oliver Twist,” either). In this version, miserly Madame Eleanor is visited by the ghost former business partner Jacob Marley as well as a few other apparitions. There are reports that an on-stage snowball fight has been known to take place in this version, which features an original musical score and some striking design touches. Saturday, Nov. 29-Dec. 17. 324 N. Orange St., Glendale. $34.50-$73. 818-839-0984; thenocturnetheater.com
‘White Christmas’ at El Portal Theatre
The annual long weekend holiday production here this year is the stage version of the timeless holiday movie “White Christmas.” Actors Theatre of Simi are presenting the adaptation, which features 17 songs from the cherished Irving Berlin score, performed by a live orchestra. Dec. 18-21. El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. $40-$85. 818-508-4200; elportaltheatre.com
‘Winter Wonderland’ by Bob Baker Marionette Theater
Traditional performances of “Nutcracker” from Bob Baker Marionette Theater at Sierra Madre Theater are now just on weekends, but the longtime San Gabriel Valley company’s also is featuring an expanded schedule of a second production called “Winter Wonderland.” This snowy themed show, which features about 100 marionettes, includes sledding slopes, caroling penguins and Santa’s workshop. Performances run for about an hour and there’s free ice cream for everyone afterwards. Friday, Nov. 28-Jan. 18. More than 60 performances so check the website for multiple showings daily, some of which are already sold out. 4949 York Blvd, Los Angeles. $28. 213-250-9995; bobbakermarionettetheater.com
ORANGE COUNTY
‘A Christmas Carol’ at South Coast Repertory
Forty-five years and counting finds this eternal production perhaps winding down (a mid-December announcement by theater management is likely to detail the commission of a newly written iteration). SCR acting mainstay Richard Doyle is Scrooge for a fifth year, marking his 40th season playing different characters in the show. His turn in the lead role captures a reinvigorated crank-pot revealed as both ebullient and energizing. Saturday, Nov. 29-Dec. 28. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. $66-$111. 714-708-5555; scr.org
‘Scrooge! The Musical’ at Chance Theater
Chance revised its announced schedule earlier this season, introducing a new facet to its traditional and rotating December productions of “storybook” musicals (“Little Women.” “The Secret Garden,” etc.) Now, the theater is unveiling a new production of “Scrooge! The Musical” which was an original movie from England in 1970 that was marketed with the phrase “What the dickens have they done to Scrooge?”. This stage version features the original Leslie Bricusse score, which adapts some of the traditional narrative into the song lyrics. Saturday, Nov. 29-Dec. 19. Chance Theater, Cripe Stage, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim. $58-$116. 888-455-4212; chancetheater.com
‘Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas’ at Chance Theater
Chance created a second, child-friendly adaptation from Jane O’Connor’s “Fancy Nancy” books for the holiday a few years back for patrons 4-years old and older (including parents). On the theater’s smaller Fyda-Mar stage, the musical runs 75 minutes with a crucial intermission for attendees to blow off steam in the lobby and address other needs. Dec. 5-21. Chance Theater, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim. $14-$17 advance purchase (includes a feathered boa); $23 at the door. 888-455-4212; chancetheater.com.
‘Santa Claus Conquers the Martians’ at Maverick Theater
Will Earthling kiddos get cheated out of their presents? Maverick’s homegrown adaptation of the 1964 movie — it routinely shows up on worst-flicks-ever-made lists — addresses this burning issue for a 19th season, with an original score supplementing the hokum. As is invariably the case, this show is currently an advance sell out but sending a pronto email “overflow seating request” in the subject field to mavericktheater@gmail.com might get your Christmas wishes fulfilled. Through Dec. 23. Maverick Theater, 110 E. Walnut Ave., Fullerton. Adults, $30, children, $15. 714-526-7070; mavericktheater.com
‘A Snow White Christmas’ at Laguna Playhouse
What’s a decade old is kind of new again this season as the annual Lythgoe Productions holiday production revisits, with a few tweaks, a “Snow White Christmas,” which was the first “panto” seen at Laguna Playhouse in 2015. This variation on the English musical hall traditional formatting features the iconic Disney character, an evil queen and plenty of supplementary characters in a Christmas-ized version of the original tale with some schtick, a few songs and broken 4th wall audience involvement. Dec. 6-28. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach. Adults, $49-$89, children $42-$72. 949-497-2787; lagunaplayhouse.com
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
‘A Christmas Carol’ at Riverside Community Players Theater
A tip of Scrooge’s Victorian stovetop hat to the Riverside Community Players, now in their 101st year! (The first ever show from 1925 appears lost to time, but it is known that in 1930 they staged the non-Christmas-y sounding “The Queen’s Husband”). As for “A Christmas Carol,” the plucky troupe, coming out of the intermittent pandemic still lingering around in 2021, performed “A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play.” Self-described as the oldest theater company west of the Mississippi (ahem, don’t mention this to the Laguna Playhouse troupe, founded in 1920), the production is proudly described as “family-friendly.” Dec. 5-14. Riverside Community Players Theater. 4026 14th St., Riverside. $16.99. 951-686-4030; riversidecommunityplayers.com
‘A Christmas Carol, the Musical’ and ‘Irving Berlin’s White Christmas The Musical’ at Old Town Temecula Community Theater
It’s a bounteous season at this venue along the I-15 freeway corridor with mountings of two musical chestnuts. First up comes a two-week run of “A Christmas Carol, the Musical” and that is followed from mid Dember on with a mounting of “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas The Musical.” (Plus, if this isn’t enough, these runs are preceded by a long weekend staging of the “Nutcracker”!). As for the entertainments where they sing on stage: “Carol”: Nov. 28-Dec. 7. $28-$32. “White Christmas”: Dec. 12-21. $30-$35. Old Town Temecula Community Theater, 42051 Main St., Temecula. 866-653-8696; tickets.temeculatheater.org
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
‘Bethlehem Marketplace’ at Pathway Church
Presented by LifeHouse Theater, this is a theatrical narrative walk through 1st century Bethlehem. Based on the Gospel of Luke, guests are led in groups of 10 by biblical guides Zebulun and Rebekah through the bustling village streets of Bethlehem, encountering Roman soldiers, marketplace merchants, gossiping villagers, census takers, philosophers, dancers, and more. It ends up at a living Nativity scene. Dec. 10-20 (no performance on Dec. 14). Tours depart by reservation every five minutes between 6 and 9 p.m. Pathway Church, 611 E. Cypress Avenue, Redlands. $20 adults, $10 teens 13-17, free for children 5-12 . 909-335-3037; lifehousetheater.com
‘Scrooge! – A Christmas Classic’ at LifeHouse Theater
This self-produced version of the Dickens’ tale takes place in the 215-stadium-style seat, faith-based theater. This version includes comedy and some songs and is less reliant on the darker shadings of Scrooge than as a self-described “powerful family production” that explores his redemption to a more charitable and giving personality. Saturday, Nov. 29-Dec. 28. LifeHouse Theater, 1135 N. Church St., Redlands. $29-$33 adults, $17-19 children, 3-11. 909-335-3037; lifehousetheater.com
VENTURA COUNTY
“Nuncrackers!” at the Simi Valley Cultural Center
The Catholic sisters of “Nunsense” are back in this seasonal follow-up. From the basement of Mount Saint Helen’s Convent, they broadcast a new cable access Christmas special, complete with a mélange of (mostly) traditional holiday songs, a silly secret Santa contest, a not-so-graceful take on Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet and other touches from the Little Sisters of Hoboken. Dec. 5-21. Simi Valley Cultural Center. 3050 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. $32-$37. 805-583-7905; svvac.org