A Theatre Lover's Guide to DC/Capital Area Theatres – December 2011 Offerings

It's holiday time in Washington, DC with so many gorgeous decorations adorning our Nation's Capital. Our local theatres are booming with new productions and there are holiday tree lightings, concerts, recitals and sing-alongs all through the DC area. Come visit us and see some shows and join in the holiday festivities that we have to offer during this very festive month. Happy Holidays everyone!

To read reviews and to see what's opening this month on DC area stages, go to Maryland Theatre Guide, where I am the Editor and a columnist.

6 PERSONAL 'MUST SEE' HOLIDAY SHOWS TO SEE IN DECEMBER 2011

(1) FROM DECEMBER 2ND TO 27TH, WONDERFUL LIFE, AT THE HUB THEATRE AT THE JOHN SWAYZE THEATRE, IN FAIRFAX, VA.

Jason Lott is one of my favorite local actors and I am really looking forward to seeing him perform all the characters in his and The Hub Theatre's Artistic Director Helen Parfumi's new co-adaptation of Wonderful Life, based on the beloved Frank Capra film It's a Wonderful Life.

If anyone can pull this manic feat - it's Jason. I'm sure he will earn his wings and lose some weight after each performance.

(2) FROM DECEMBER 14TH TO JANUARY 14TH, A CHRISTMAS CAROL: A GHOST STORY OF CHRISTMAS, AT THE OLNEY THEATRE CENTER'S MULITZ-GUDELSKY THEATRE LAB, IN OLNEY, MD.

I love the performance that Paul Morrella gives in this solo version of the Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas. Paul only uses the words from the original Dickens novella and his performance is full of passion, compassion, and is so heartwarming.

Paul Morella's performance is astounding. It's one I look forward to seeing every year, and I hope you and your family will see it too.

(3) THROUGH DECEMBER 18TH, A BROADWAY CHRISTMAS CAROL, AT METROSTAGE, IN ALEXANDRIA, VA.

For the second year in a row, MetroStage has produced Kathy Feininger's A Broadway Christmas Carol, and this year - Helen Hayes Award-winning funnyman Michael Sharp (who also starred as Scrooge at Round House Theatre's production of this same show many moons ago) is joined by last year's hysterical cast member Matthew A. Anderson and new cast member Tracey Stephens, (they play several male and female characters and get one heck of a workout doing so) to tell the famous Dickens' Scrooge Tale by singing parodies of popular Broadway show tunes. It's really very silly, and with this talented cast you'll be leaving the theatre humming those ol' familiar tunes, but singing some new 'off-the-wall' lyrics.

(4) THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, THE NUTCRACKER, AT THE PUPPET CO., IN GLEN ECHO, MD.

It's an annual tradition that The Nutcracker graces The Puppet Co.'s stage and this popular production.This wonderful production sells out quickly, so order your tickets ASAP. Performers Christopher Piper, Nora Achrati, Brett Messiora, Matt Reckeweg, and Leslie Vincent are life-sized puppets. Isn't that cool? Filled with all that festive Tsakovsky music, this production will fill the entire family with the holiday spirit.