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Best 2015 Holiday-Themed Stage Productions In San Francisco

A Charlie Brown Christmas Live (credit: San Francisco Symphony)

The magic of Clara and the nutcracker prince never fades, and the salvation of Ebenezer Scrooge is eternally inspiring. San Francisco's holiday programming includes the 19th-century Tchaikovsky ballet and Dickens' classic tale, among other stage performances from Peanuts characters to festive programming at a nightclub cabaret.

"A Charlie Brown Christmas"
San Francisco Symphony
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 864-6000
www.sfsymphony.org
Dates: Dec. 18-24, 2015

A Charlie Brown Christmas is back, with all of the Peanuts gang: Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and their friends. Jodi Benson, the original voice of Ariel from Disney's animated film classic "The Little Mermaid," leads in with carols and sing-alongs with the audience. Throughout December, San Francisco Symphony has a full program of special events in store for the holidays, including Music for Families, Holiday Brass, "It's a Wonderful Life," a Christmas Classic program, "Peter and the Wolf, Handel's "Messiah" and more.

"A Rebel Without A Clause"
Feinstein's At The Nikko
222 Mason St.
San Francisco, CA
(866) 663-1063
www.hotelnikkosf.com/feinsteins
Date: Dec. 9, 2015 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 10, 2015 at 8 p.m.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter-pianist Spencer Day rings in the holidays at the intimate 140-seat cabaret, Feinstein's at the Nikko, with his new show, "A Rebel Without a Claus," for two performances only. Day will perform a selection of holiday classics, as well as new music from his upcoming album, "Angel City." Widely regarded for his original songs that blend compelling melodies, smart lyrics and lush arrangements, Spencer Day has wooed audiences at venues all over the world including the Hollywood Bowl, the Kennedy Center and at Tanglewood. Tickets for Spencer Day range in price from $40 to $55.

San Francisco is lucky that Michael Feinstein will be here for New Year's Eve, performing selections from the Great American Songbook in person for two performances only on Dec. 31, 2015.

San Francisco theaters, Union Square

"A Christmas Carol"
American Conservatory Theater
Geary Theater
415 Geary St.
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 749-2228
www.act-sf.org
Dates: Dec. 4-27, 2015

In its 39th season, the A.C.T. production of this Bay Area favorite returns. The Charles Dickens seasonal classic "A Christmas Carol" features a lively cast, delightful music, gorgeous costumes and deliciously spooky ghosts. Legendary Bay Area veteran actors are onstage, such as James Carpenter as Ebenezer Scrooge and Ken Ruta as the ghost of Jacob Marley. Rounding out the cast are 10 students from the A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts Program and 29 talented young actors from the A.C.T. Young Conservatory.

"A Christmas Story - The Musical"
Orpheum Theater
1192 Market St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
(888) 746-1799
www.bit.ly
Dates: Dec. 9-13, 2015

Year-in and year-out, this is a family favorite seasonal musical. Based on the 1983 movie, it's the hilarious story of 11-year-old Ralphie Parker, living in small-town Indiana around 1940, and his desperate quest to ensure that his idea of the most perfect gift ends up under his Christmas tree. Variety calls the story "heartwarming but wise," and says the show is "a natural for kids and there's more than enough here for grown-ups of all ages."

San Francisco Ballet at War Memorial Opera House

"The Nutcracker"
San Francisco Ballet
301 Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 865-2000
www.sfballet.org
Dates: Dec. 16-31, 2015

Designed especially for children ages 6-10 and their families, "The Nutcracker" is staged at the beautiful Beaux-Arts 3,200-seat War Memorial Opera House. The annual production is a much-anticipated highlight of the holiday season in San Francisco, as it has been since first staged here in 1944. The captivating ballet is adored by audiences all over the world. Clearly, Tchaikovsky's magical Waltz of the Snowflakes hasn't lost an ounce of appeal through generations of admirers.

Laurie Jo Miller Farr loves walkable cities. A tourism industry professional and transplanted New Yorker by way of half-a-lifetime in London, she's writing about the best of the bay and beyond for Bay City Guide, AXS, Examiner and more. Examiner.com.


 

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