HOLIDAY THEATER AND DANCE

From the 'Nutcracker' to the Radio City Rockettes, from 'Santaland' to 'La Pastorela,' holiday shows light up local stages

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Through Dec. 20

'Jingle Bell Broadcast.' Part vaudeville, part live radio show. Christmas Eve at a small town radio station finds the crew filling in when guest performers fail to show up for an on-air fundraising drive. 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 20. Salado Silver Spur Theater, 108 Royal St., Salado. $8-$15. 254-947-3456. www.saladosilverspur.com.

Through Jan. 4

'Rockin' Christmas Party.' Featuring Rebecca Schoolar, Judy Arnold and Andra Mitrovich along with Cedric Neal, Zach reprises its popular Motown-inspired holiday musical extravaganza. 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 4. Klbeberg Stage, Zach Theatre, West Riverside Drive and South Lamar Boulevard. $38-$50. (discounts for seniors and students). 476-0541, www.zachtheatre.org.

Through Jan. 11

'The Santaland Diaries.' Santa's got a brand-new elf this year. Actor Espie Randolph of comedic troupe Esther's Follies and star of Zach's "Sheer Madness" takes on the role of Crumpet, the sardonic writer who takes a job at Macy's as one of Santa's helpers. And you can expect Zach director Dave Steakley to add some timely tweaks to writer David Sedaris' wry observations on the painfully festive holiday season. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 11. Whisenhunt Stage, Zach Theatre, 1510 Toomey Road. $31-$43 (discounts for seniors and students). 476-0541, www.zachtheatre.org,

Today through Dec. 20

'X-Mas UnWrapped: A Holiday Burlesque '08.' Classic vaudeville burlesque in a holiday show. 9 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays through Dec. 20. Hyde Park Theatre, 511 W. 43rd St. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. 474-TIXS, www.nowplayingaustin.com/austix.

'La Pastorela.' Austin Latino Theater Alliance presents the magical story of the shepherds' journey to Bethlehem and the obstacles they meet along the way. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays through Dec. 20. Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St. $8-$15 (Thursdays pay-what-you-wish). 241-9799. www.lapastorela.org.

Friday through Dec. 14

'I'll Be Seeing You ...' A 1940s Christmas musical revue uses actual letters to and from the homefront during World War II along with popular holiday tunes of the era and razzle-dazzle dance numbers. 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 14. TexARTS, 2300 Lohman's Spur, Lakeway. $22-$48. 965-6050. www.tex-arts.org.

Friday through Dec. 21

'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.' Austin Playhouse presents Joe Landry's live radio stage version of the classic Christmas movie. 8 p.m. Thursdays–Saturdays, 5 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 21. Austin Playhouse, Larry L. King Theatre. 3601 S. Congress, Bldg. C. $20 for adults, $10 for students. 476-0084. www.austinplayhouse.com.

Saturday through Dec. 23

'The Nutcracker.' In its first 'Nutcracker' in the new Long Center, Ballet Austin brings back its full-scale lavish production complete with a live orchestra and the beloved role of Mother Ginger with a different celebrity starring in the role for each performance. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12-13, Dec. 18-20, Dec. 22-23. 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, Dec. 20-21. Dell Hall, Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive. $15-$71. 476-2163.

www.balletaustin.org.

Dec. 12-Dec. 20

'Tis the Season.' Bastrop Opera House artistic director Chester Eitze presents a Christmas celebration told in stories, poems and tales along with carols and holiday songs. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 20, 2:30 Dec. 14. Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St., Bastrop. $5-$10. 512-321-6283. www.bastropoperahouse.com.

'Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!).' Instead of performing Charles Dickens' beloved holiday classic for the umpteenth time, three actors decide to perform every Christmas story ever told — and more. 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 20. Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St., Bastrop. $5-$10. 512-321-6283. www.bastropoperahouse.com.

Dec. 13

'Dance-Along Nutcracker.' The inimitable Invincible Czars — who fuse Eastern European folk idioms with classical arrangements, heavy metal waltzes with jazz grooves — embark on their fifth annual "Nutcracker Suite" holiday tour with their spirited, zealous version of Tchaikovsky's classic. And you can get in touch with your inner Sugarplum Fairy at a family-friendly dance-along. Tutus optional. 2 p.m. Dec. 13. Jovita's, 1617 S. First St. $7 adults, $4 children. www.invincibleczars.com.

Dec. 14

'A Very Pink Christmas: An Evening of Sugarplumb Fairies.' Austin Babtist Women — an all-male, volunteer, cross-dressing comedy troupe that performs across the nation to raise funds for breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other charitable causes — holds their annual holiday cabaret extravaganza this year benefitting the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas. 7 p.m. The Rusty Spurs, 403 E. Seventh St. $5. www.babtistwomen.com.

Dec. 16-Dec. 21

'Celebrate.' Austin Shakespeare makes merry this holiday season with bright songs from musicals such as "Peter Pan," 'Kiss Me, Kate,' 'She Loves Me,' 'The Light in the Piazza' and Sondheim's 'A Little Night Music.' 8 p.m. Dec. 16-21, 3 p.m. Dec. 21 Austin Ventures Studio Theatre, 501 W. Third St, $12-$30. 474-TIXS. www.austinshakespeare.org.

Dec. 17-Dec. 21

'Black Nativity.' Pro-Arts Austin stages Langston Hughes' classic re-telling of the Nativity story set to gospel music. Show times TBA. Rollins Studio Theater, Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive. www.proartsaustin.org.

Dec. 18-Jan. 3

'12 Steps to a More Dysfunctional Christmas.' Funnyman Rob Nash returns with his hilarious one-man show that finds three generations of the dysfunctional Smith family trying to make it through the holidays. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays, Vortex, 2307 Manor Road. $10-$30. 478-5282. www.vortexrep.org.

Dec. 27

'Holiday House Party.' Join hostess Henrietta Hasselfree in a family-friendly interactive theatrical romp when she hosts her annual holiday party that includes the "Reindeer Game of the Year" and Nelda the New Year's Hypnotist among other crazy characters and funny skits. 4 p.m. Vortex, 2307 Manor Road. $5-$20 (sliding scale). www.vortexrep.org.

Dec. 30-Dec. 31

Radio City Christmas Spectacular. The world-famous Radio City Rockettes bring their kickline to Austin for a splashy holiday show. 4 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 30, noon and 3:30 p.m. Dec. 31. Frank Erwin Center, 1701 Red River St. $25-$72. www.uterwincenter.com.