Bay Area holiday theater highlights

A Christmas Carol: James Carpenter returns as Ebenezer Scrooge in ACT's version of Charles Dickens' definitive yuletide tale. Previews begin Dec. 2; runs Dec. 8-24. American Conservatory Theater, 415 Geary St., San Francisco. $15-$102. (415) 749-2228. www.act-sf.org.

A Christmas Carol: Other perennial stagings: Center Rep, Dec. 9-19. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. $15-$41. (925) 943-7469. www.centerrep.org. Northside Theatre Company, Dec. 8-24, 848 E. William St., San Jose; $15-$20. (408) 288-7820. www.northsidetheatre.com. Sonoma County Rep, adapted by Jon Tracy, Dec. 1-10, 104 N. Main St., Sebastopol; $20-$25, (707) 823-0177. www.the-rep.com.

A Christmas Memory: TheatreWorks unveils a world premiere musical based on the classic Truman Capote tale, adapted by Duane Poole (book) and Broadway veterans Larry Grossman and Carol Hall. Previews begin Dec. 1, runs Dec. 4-26. Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. $19-$67. (650) 463-1960. www.theatreworks.org.

The Arabian Nights: Mary Zimmerman's luminous adaptation of "The 1001 Nights" returns. Dec. 11-30. Berkeley Repertory's Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. $17.50-$73. (510) 647-2949, www.berkeleyrep.org.

Christmas Revels: The 25th annual winter solstice celebration features holiday songs, dance and stories from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Dec. 10-17. Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland. $19-$52. (510) 452-8800. www.calrevels.org.

Cinderella: Velina Brown directs a new version of African-American Shakespeare Company's holiday fairy tale with a soulful twist. Dec. 3-19. African American Art & Culture Complex, 762 Fulton St., San Francisco. $10-$30. (800) 838-3006, www.african-americanshakes.org.

Every Christmas Story Ever Told: No pop cultural holiday icon is spared in Michael Carleton, Jim Fitzgerald and John K. Alvarez's irreverent recap. Wednesday-Dec. 19. San Jose Stage, 490 S. First St., San Jose. $20-$45. (408) 283-7142. www.thestage.org.

The Gifts of the Magi: Randy Courts' holiday musical combines the title tale with O. Henry's almost equally famed "The Cop and the Anthem." Dec. 3-19. Tabard Theatre Company, Theatre on San Pablo Square, 29 N. First St., San Jose. $10-$24. (800) 838-3006, www.tabardtheatre.org

Joyful Noise: Robin Hodge-Williams stars in the 12th edition of the late Stanley E. Williams' "Gospel Celebration of Christmas." Previews Dec. 10; runs Dec. 11-31. Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, Southside Theater, Building D, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco. $40-$50. (415) 345-7575. www.lhtsf.org.

Kung Pao Kosher Comedy: The 18th annual feast of Jewish comedy for Christmas in a Chinese restaurant. Dec. 23-26. New Asia Restaurant, 772 Pacific Ave., San Francisco. $42-$62. (925) 275-9005. www.koshercomedy.com.

Naughty & Nice: A Meg & Billy Christmas: Cabaret stars Meg Mackay and Billy Philadelphia deliver a mix of standards, rarities and traditional and non-traditional holiday tunes. Dec. 17-23. Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison St., Berkeley. $23-$25. (510) 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org.

The Oddman Family Christwanzaakuh Spectacular: Guerrilla Rep and the Beards Beards Beards troupe team up on John Caldon and Joey Price's new dystopian musical farce about celebrating four holidays with a family with 50 adopted kids. Dec. 2-18. Exit Stage Left, 156 Eddy St., San Francisco. $20. (800) 838-3006, www.guerrillarep.org.

Santaland Diaries: David Sinaiko returns as David Sedaris' hapless elf Crumpet in Combined Artform's 10th anniversary holiday offering. Dec. 22-30. Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson St., San Francisco. $20-$30. (800) 838-3006. www.combinedartform.com.

Siddhartha, the Bright Path: Marsh Youth Theater presents the fifth annual edition of its holiday tale of enlightenment and the journey of the Buddha. Dec. 11-Jan. 9. The Marsh, 1074 Valencia St., San Francisco. $10-$50. (800) 838-3006. www.themarsh.org.

Striking 12: GrooveLily brings back its delightful smash holiday hit version of "The Little Match Girl" to TheatreWorks. Dec. 28-31. Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto. $56-$75. (650) 463-1960. www.theatreworks.org.

Texas Chainsaw Yuletide: Comic Will Franken unleashes deranged tales and characters in a Combined Artform late-night holiday show. Dec. 21-23. Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson St., San Francisco. $15. (800) 838-3006. www.combinedartform.com.

White Christmas: Diablo Theatre Company presents the stage version of the tune-filled Irving Berlin holiday film. Nov. 26-Dec. 4. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. $20-$42. (926) 943-7469. www.lesherartscenter.com.

A Wonderful Life: Sheldon Harnick and Joe Raposo's musical version of the beloved Frank Capra film. Dec. 2-19. Hillbarn Theatre, 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City. $19-$36. (650) 349-6411. www.hillbarntheatre.org.

E-mail Robert Hurwitt at rhurwitt@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page Q - 19 of the San Francisco Chronicle