Preview: Holiday shows in Sacramento

As Turkey Day approaches, it’s time to consider local theaters’ holiday offerings. Luckily, these aren’t turkeys, though a few are repeats; leftovers, if you will. What follows is a chronological listing of some Christmas season openings:

Miracle on 34th Street. November 23-December 16 at City Theatre at Sacramento City College:

Luther Hanson directs the play inspired by the perennial holiday movie and based on the novel by Valentine Davies. It tells the story of an old guy named Kris Kringle who gets a job as a department store Santa and winds up in court trying to prove he’s the real deal.

Plays run 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, 2 p.m. November 24 and 2 p.m. December 15 at the Main Auditorium in the Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $18 general; $15 for seniors, SARTA members and military; $10 for students and children over 6; $5 for children 5 and under; citytheatre.net.

A Christmas Carol. November 28-December 23 at Sacramento Theatre Company:

This opulent version of the Charles Dickens classic was adapted by local playwright Richard Hellesen and musician David de Berry and has become a favorite with STC audiences. Matt K. Miller returns as the notorious miser Ebenezer Scrooge, who “bah-humbugs” his way through life until scared into redemption by three ghostly visitors.

Plays run 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday on the STC Mainstage. Tickets are $30 for preview performances November 28 through December 1 and $40 for regular performances. The December 7 performance will be ASL interpreted. (916) 443-6722, sactheatre.org.

A Christmas Carol. November 28-December 23 at B Street Theatre at The Sofia:

This is not the STC version. Written by B Street’s Buck Busfield and featuring B Street regulars, this is a snarky, meta-theatrical adaptation of the classic tale, only in Busfield’s twisted vision, Scrooge has had enough of his yearly redemptions and does everything he can to make it through the night without those unwelcome visitors.

Previews run 6 p.m. November 28; plays at 1 p.m. December 1, 4 p.m. December 2 and various days and times through December 23. Tickets are $15 for November 28, $23 all other shows. (916) 443-5300, bstreettheatre.org.

Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley 2018. November 28-December 30 at Capital Stage:

Last year’s hit holiday production, a reimagined sequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, puts middle sister Mary in the spotlight when the family gathers for Christmas at Pemberley and an unexpected guess gooses Mary’s hope for an intellectual—and romantic—match. Peter Mohrmann directs this sumptuous staging of the adaptation by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon that fits Austen’s style to a T.

Previews run 7 p.m. November 28-29, opens 8 p.m. December 1 and continues at 2 p.m. Sunday, 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays at Capital Stage, 2215 J St. Tickets are $25 for previews, $32-$42 all other performances. (916) 995-5464, capstage.org.

Black Nativity. November 29-December 22 at Celebration Arts:

This “gospel song poem” by the great African-American poet Langston Hughes is a retelling of the traditional Nativity story with an all-black cast. The play generally is performed with a choir, several soloists, a narrator and Joseph and Mary, who are mute. It opens and closes with the gospel song “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”

Opens 8 p.m. Saturday, November 29 and continues 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $20 Friday through Sunday and $10 Thursday. (916) 455-2787, celebrationarts.net.