Whether you’re in a festive mood this holiday season or you're looking to share a bah-humbug, holiday cheers and holiday jeers await you in Los Angeles theaters this month. One or more of these five best-bet shows ought to fit right in with your tastes, schedule and budget.
A Christmas Carol at A Noise Within, Dec 3–23
Once again, it’s time for that traditional sugarplum: Charles Dickens’ glorious tale about Christmas, and also about living life with awareness and generosity. Rejoice in the beauty of a classic brought to life by the superb veteran actors at the Southland’s “home for the classics,” A Noise Within. Directed by Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez Elliot, the play stars Samuel Christian, Freddy Douglas, Alison Elliott, Geoff Elliott, Jack Elliott, Megan Farber, Savannah Gilmore, Rafael Goldstein, Jill Hill, Eric Curtis Johnson, Tyler Miclean, Rigel Pierce-English, Seven Pierce-English, Jeremy Raab, Taleen Shrikian, Richy Storrs, Deborah Strang, Eli Stuart, Steve Weingartner and Ashlyn Woo. 3352 E. Foothill Blvd, Pasadena. See ANW website for repertory schedule. Tickets start at $25. 626-356-3100.
Blood Alley Christmas at Zombie Joe’s Underground, Dec 2–7
Looking for something completely different? Maybe thinking of combining a Christmas outing with your passion for horror in a late-night setting? Zombie Joe, who—despite being L.A.’s undisputed master of ghoulishness—will greet all comers at the door with the loveliest of warm welcomes, presents a new “holiday horror spectacular in the great Grand Guignol, Theatre of Cruelty and Butoh traditions.” Directed by Joe, it stars Jason Britt, Emily Charouhas, Trevor Fisch, Libertad Hultgren, Makoa Kawabata, Jared Liebenau, Alina Maris, Amanda McKenna, Elif Savas, Kevin Van Cott, Matthew Vorce and Debra Wilson. 4850 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood. Fri-Sat 11pm. $15. 818-202-4120.
Bob’s Holiday Office Party at Atwater Village Theatre, Dec 1–18
A Christmas Carol may be the longest-running holiday show ever, but Bob’s Holiday Office Party isn’t far behind. Celebrating its 21st annual remounting, this show pretty much encapsulates everything painfully and hilariously wrong with yearend parties in the workplace. One L.A. critic has described it as “antics that fall somewhere between the Three Stooges and a Ron Jeremy movie.” Under the direction of Matt Roth, playwrights Joe Keyes and Rob Elk star with returning cast members David Bauman, Cody Chappell, Melissa Denton, Mark Fite, Maile Flanagan, Michael Halpin, Andrea Hutchman, Sirena Irwin, Pat O'Brien, Mary Scheer and Pat Towne. 3269 Casitas Ave, Los Angeles. Thu-Sat 8pm, Sun 7pm (no show Dec 11, added show 8pm Dec 12). $30-$34.99. 800-838-3006.
Groundlings Holiday Show at Groundlings Theatre, Dec 2–17
Since 1974, the Groundlings comedy troupe has produced such eminent talents as Will Ferrell, Kathy Griffin, Lisa Kudrow, Phil LaMarr, Michael McDonald, Paul Reubens and Maya Rudolph. This month, its holiday show, with all-new sketches and always-new improvisation, promises to skewer our oldest traditions and the latest headlines. Stars Heidi Gardner, Patty Guggenheim, David Hoffman, Roy Jenkins, Damon Jones, Kiel Kennedy, Anne Lane, Lyric Lewis, Annie Sertich and Lisa Schurga. 7307 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood. Fri-Sat 8pm & 10pm. $20. 323-934-4747.
Little Drummer Bowie, Troubadour Theater Company at Falcon Theatre, Dec 9–Jan 15
In Troubadour Theater Company’s hilarious mash-up of the 1968 stop-motion animated film and the songs of David Bowie, Ziggy and his animal pals are “Under Pressure” as they slouch, er, moonwalk toward Bethlehem. However, don’t expect much “Repetition” of the Troubies’ 2005 rendition, considering the recent political “Changes.” Co-directed by Matt Walker (company founder) and Joseph Leo Bwarie (Frankie Valli in Broadway’s Jersey Boys), it stars Rick Batalla, Riccardo Berdini, Bwarie, Katie DeShan, Beth Kennedy, Katie Kitani, Phillip J. Lewis, Cloie Wyatt Taylor, Lisa Valenzuela and Walker. Falcon Theatre, 4252 Riverside Dr, Burbank. Wed-Fri 8pm, Sat 4pm & 8pm, Sun 4pm. $30–$45. 818-955-8101.
Want more? Sign up here to stay in the know.