By Odin Rasco<\/p>\n
Any opportunity to see a live play is a gift, and it\u2019s a gift that keeps on giving this month. As the holiday season comes into full swing, it\u2019s a time for traditions and yearly favorites to come back for all to enjoy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sacramentans looking to see a time-honored favorite one more time \u2014 or start a new annual tradition \u2014 have options aplenty, including two different interpretations of Charles Dickens\u2019 \u201cA Christmas Carol.\u201d If something with more spectacle is sought, Sacramento Ballet\u2019s \u201cNutcracker\u201d is sure to wow kids and adults alike. And, for those interested in seeing a play that doesn\u2019t fit in with the Christmastime fare, Capital Stage\u2019s presentation of \u201cI and You\u201d is just the ticket.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI And You\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Caroline has been stuck at home for some time; too sick to go to school for months, but still as quick and sardonic as she ever was. One afternoon, the athletic and popular Anthony arrives at her house unexpectedly, bringing along a battered copy of Walt Whitman\u2019s \u201cLeaves of Grass.\u201d As they work on a seemingly mundane poetry project, the two let down their guard, share secrets and delve into a mystery that has brought the two together. A special limited production coming to Capital Stage this month, \u201cI and You\u201d is an ode to youth, life, love and the beauty of human connection.<\/p>\n Venue: Capital Stage, 2215 J St., Sacramento<\/p>\n Dates: Dec. 3-28<\/p>\n Cost: $55-67<\/p>\n Tickets: https:\/\/capstage.my.salesforce-sites.com\/ticket\/#\/events\/a0STV000002Bl5h2AC<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAmahl and the Night Visitors\u201d<\/a> and \u201cFour Lost Santas\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n With December\u2019s chill entering the air, enjoy the return of two holiday shows which had their premiere on the West Coast last year by Light Opera Theatre Sacramento.<\/p>\n \u201cAmahl and the Night Visitors\u201d is the story of a poor shepherd boy, Amahl, as he and his mother provide hospitality to some unexpected visitors \u2014 the Three Wise Men, following a glorious star to Bethlehem. During this visit, Amahl\u2019s mother and the Wise Men share a transformative moment of grace and redemption.<\/p>\n The other side of the double-billing is \u201cFour Lost Santas,\u201d the comical story of a quartet of singing Santas whose car breaks down on their way to a Santa Claus Convention. They are rescued by a son and mother who are late for their performance of \u201cAmahl and the Night Visitors.\u201d Will the Santas make it to SantaCon? Will Rudy and Judy get to the theater on time to perform in Amahl?\u00a0<\/p>\n Both works will be presented staged with a live orchestra.<\/p>\n Venue: 24th Street Theatre, 2791 24th St., Sacramento<\/p>\n Dates: Dec. 5-7<\/p>\n Cost: $20-30<\/p>\n Tickets: https:\/\/www.zeffy.com\/en-US\/ticketing\/amahl-and-the-night-visitors-and-4-lost-santas<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cBlack Nativity\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n The close to a strong season at Celebration Arts is a staging of the iconic poet and author Langston Hughes\u2019 \u201cBlack Nativity,\u201d a retelling of the traditional New Testament Nativity story. Hughes\u2019 retelling combines gospel music, dance and a biblical narrative to celebrate love, hope and faith.\u00a0<\/p>\n Venue: Celebration Arts, 2727 B St., Sacramento<\/p>\n Dates: Dec. 5-21<\/p>\n Cost: $22-27<\/p>\n Tickets: https:\/\/celebrationarts.vbotickets.com\/event\/BLACK_NATIVITY\/143292<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cScrooge\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Scrooge is returning to the Chautauqua Playhouse for a second year. An adaptation of Charles Dickens\u2019 \u201cA Christmas Carol,\u201d \u201cScrooge\u201d has been a go-to production for Northern California stages looking to celebrate the holidays, with the show popping up at theaters in the region every year since 1978. With 12 musical numbers, a postcard set, colorful costumes and a talented cast, this year\u2019s show is sure to bring the Christmas Spirit(s) to the whole family.<\/p>\n Venue: Chautauqua Playhouse, 5325 Engle Rd., Ste. #110, Carmichael<\/p>\n Dates: Dec. 5-24<\/p>\n Cost: $21-23<\/p>\n Tickets: https:\/\/secure.boxofficeavenue.com\/Chautauqua\/Home\/ListShowings?aid=352<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cA Christmas Carol\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n B Street Theatre is returning to a fresh adaptation of Dickens\u2019 Christmas story for another year. Back by popular demand, Sam Kebede\u2019s hilarious adaptation of \u201cA Christmas Carol\u201d is returning to The Sofia. The show features original music, and audiences are sure to be entertained by the three person cast\u2019s shenanigans as they transform into every character in this classic holiday story.<\/p>\n Venue: The Sofia, 2700 Capitol Ave., Sacramento<\/p>\n Dates: Dec. 10-28<\/p>\n Cost: $41-45<\/p>\n Tickets: https:\/\/bstreettheatre.org\/mainstage\/a-christmas-carol-2025\/<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cNutcracker\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n A cherished memory for schoolkids from the Sacramento region and a yearly tradition for many, Sacramento Ballet will be performing \u201cNutcracker\u201d at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center. Accompanied by the Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera, the show is a splendid showcase of masterful dancers and musicians bringing a wintertime classic to life.\u00a0<\/p>\n Venue: SAFE Credit Union PAC 1301 L St., Sacramento<\/p>\n Dates: Dec. 12-21<\/p>\n Cost: $45-149<\/p>\n Tickets: https:\/\/www.ticketmaster.com\/sacramento-ballet-tickets\/artist\/3160201<\/a><\/p>\n This story was funded by the City of Sacramento\u2019s Arts and Creative Economy Journalism Grant to Solving Sacramento<\/a>. Following our journalism code of ethics and protocols, the city had no editorial influence over this story and no city official reviewed this story before it was published. Our partners include California Groundbreakers, CapRadio, Hmong Daily News, Russian America Media, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento News & Review and Sacramento Observer. Sign up for our \u201cSac Art Pulse\u201d newsletter here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Odin Rasco Any opportunity to see a live play is a gift, and it\u2019s a gift that…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":82796,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[19307,47110,47111,121,123,122,47112],"class_list":{"0":"post-82795","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sacramento","8":"tag-capital-stage","9":"tag-celebration-arts","10":"tag-light-opera-theatre","11":"tag-sacramento","12":"tag-sacramento-headlines","13":"tag-sacramento-news","14":"tag-the-sofia"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82795","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82795"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82795\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/82796"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82795"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=82795"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=82795"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}