Family Fare Fills Southland Stages for Holidays : Theater: ‘Annie,’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ and a Hanukkah program are among the theatrical offerings.

From Orange County to Santa Barbara, theaters ring in the holidays with “Christmas Carols,” “Christmas Memories” and a Hanukkah program; “Annie” is in town; Santa beams down from the North Pole and Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) beams down from the Starship Enterprise to the 19th-Century world of Charles Dickens.

It’s all part of the theatrical holiday season, from intimately staged readings to lavish spectaculars, familiar fairy tales and off-the-wall comedy.

Annie (Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St., (818) 793-2122, (213) 410-1062). There’s a Christmas tree on stage in Act II, and the characters sing about “getting a New Deal for Christmas”--enough to qualify this revival of the musical about a Depression-era orphan and her benefactor as a Christmas show. With John Schuck as Warbucks. Tue.-Sat., 8 p.m.; mat., Sat.-Sun., 2 p.m. Ends Dec. 16. $15-$32.50. Dec. 18-23: Moves to the Orange County Performing Arts Center, (714) 740-2000, (213) 480-3232, (714) 556-ARTS; $17-$35.

Annie (Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido, Santa Barbara, (805) 963-0761). Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera’s production. With Norwood Smith as Warbucks. Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.; mat., Sat.-Sun., 2 p.m. Ends Dec. 23. $21-$22.50.

A Child’s Christmas in Wales (Gem Theatre, 12852 Main St., Garden Grove, (714) 636-7213). Dylan Thomas’ memories of his boyhood Christmases, set to music. Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7:30 p.m.; mat., Sat.-Sun., 3 p.m.; Tue., Dec. 18, 8 p.m. Ends Dec. 30. $18-$22.

A Christmas Carol (South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, (714) 957-4033). SCR’s 11th annual production. Tue.-Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 2:30 p.m.; Sun., noon and 4 p.m.; Dec. 18, 20, 2:30 p.m. Ends Dec. 23. $22-$24.

A Christmas Carol (Various locations). Performed by the 36-member Nebraska Caravan Theatre. Thur., 8 p.m.: El Camino College, Marsee Auditorium, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, (213) 329-5345; $18-$25. Fri., 8 p.m.: Plummer Auditorium, 201 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton, (714) 773-3371; $12.50-$17.50. Next Sat., 2 and 7 p.m.: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, (213) 456-4522). $25.

Patrick Stewart in a Dramatic Reading of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” (Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, (213) 456-4522). Today, 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m. $22. Also, next Sat., 8 p.m., Dec. 16, 2:30 p.m. at Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium, in Pasadena, (800) 423-8849, (818) 356-4652. $18-$25.

A Christmas Memory and One Christmas (Itchey Foot Ristorante, 801 W. Temple St., (213) 972-7392). The Mark Taper Forum’s staged reading of two of Truman Capote’s short stories. Today, also next Sat.-Dec. 16, 2 p.m.; Dec. 19-21, 8 p.m. Dec. 22-23, 6 p.m. Ends Dec. 23. $8. A Christmas Memory (Theatre 6470, 6470 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, (213) 878-2360 or (213) 464-2124). One-man adaptation. Part of proceeds go to Stepping Stone Youth Crisis Shelter. Today, 3 p.m.; Thur.-Sat., 8 p.m.; also Dec. 16, 8 p.m. Ends Dec. 16. $10.

Cut to the Chase (The Holiday Edition) (blak & bloo, 7574 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, (213) 876-1120). Holiday-themed comedy revue. Wed.-Thur., 8 p.m. Ends Dec. 20. $7.50 (two-drink minimum).

Fourth Annual Children’s Hanukkah Concert (Wadsworth Theater, West L.A.’s Veteran’s Administration grounds, (213) 480-3232, (213) 559-BOOK, (818) 34-BOOKS). Top local children’s entertainers. Dec. 16, 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. $7-$9.

The Glory of Christmas (Crystal Cathedral, 12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove, (714) 54-GLORY). The Christmas Story spectacular, with flying angels, animals and a huge cast. Tue.-Sun., 4:30, 6:30, 8:30 p.m. Dark Dec. 24-25. Ends Dec. 30. $12-$25.

Hanukkah Lights (Bernard Milken Jewish Community Campus, 22622 Vanowen St., West Hills, (818) 346-3003). The Shpieler Troupe tells an updated version of the Hanukkah story. Dec. 16, 2 p.m.

Ho-Ho-Hilarions: Gladiators of Christmas in All About (Christmas) Eve (Theatre/Theater, 1713 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, (213) 960-8865). Comedy sketches, including “Rudolph, the Brown-Nosed Reindeer” and an extended holiday-oriented parody of “All About Eve.” Thur., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. Ends Dec. 23. $10.

Holiday Faire (Encino Playhouse, 4935 Balboa Blvd., Encino, (818) 990-1613). Musical about children awaiting Santa’s arrival. Sat.-Sun., 1 p.m. Ends Dec. 23. $5.

Holiday in Oz (Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., (818) 356-PLAY, (213) 480-3232), (714) 740-2000. Madcap family show for ages 3 to adult, with a visit from Santa. Wed.-Sun., 7:30 p.m.; mat., Sat.-Sun., 2:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 19, 11 a.m., Dec. 24, 1 p.m. Ends Dec. 30. $12 (under age 18) and $17.

Homo for the Holidays (Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica, (213) 453-1755). A benefit for gay and lesbian programming. Dec. 21, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. $10.

Humbug (Actors Alley, 12135 Riverside Drive, North Hollywood, (818) 986-2278). Musical adaptation of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Tue.-Sun., 8 p.m.; mat., Sun., 2 p.m. Ends Dec. 16. $12-$15.

The Jingle Bell Gang (Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, (818) 761-2203). Audience participatory musical. Dec. 21-24, 1 p.m. Ends Dec. 24. $6.

The Littlest Angel (Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., (213) 477-2055). Musical version of Charles Tazewell’s novel. Proceeds to go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.; mat., Sat.-Sun., 2 p.m. Ends Dec. 30. $15-$25.

The Long Christmas Dinner (Pacific Theatre Ensemble, 707 Venice Blvd., Venice, (213) 466-1767). Thornton Wilder’s classic. Thur.-Sun., 8:30 p.m.; mat., Sat.-Sun., 5 p.m. Ends Dec. 23. $15 ($13 with a non-perishable food donation for the Westside Food Bank).

Merry Christmas, Strega Nona (Serendipity Theatre at the Coronet, 366 N. La Cienega, Hollywood, (213) 652-9199). Based on Tomie de Paolo’s children’s book about the magical witch. Fri.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; mat., Sat., 2 p.m.; Sun., 1 and 4 p.m. Ends Dec. 30. $6-$10.

Merry Magic Christmas (Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, Malibu, (213) 456-4522). Magician David Seebach with a holiday package of illusions. Dec. 29 only, 3 and 8 p.m. $22.

Our Most Memorable Christmas (Los Angeles City College, 855 N. Vermont Ave., (213) 669-5528). The words of Dickens, O. Henry, Hans Christian Andersen and others; songs and music. Today-Sun., also Thur.-Dec. 16, 8 p.m.; mat., today, next Sat.-Dec. 16, 2 p.m. Ends Dec. 16. $7. (Bring a wrapped gift for a needy child and one child’s admission is free.)

Period of Adjustment (East-Side Ensemble, Boy Scouts of America Auditorium, 1325 N. Grandview Ave., Glendale, (818) 242-9236). Tennessee Williams’ comedy about two couples thrashing out their problems on Christmas Eve in a Nashville suburb. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m. Ends Dec. 16. $8.

Santa Knows Best (Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St., (213) 394-9779). Holiday musical comedy for preschoolers up. Sat.-Sun., 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Runs indefinitely.

The Snow Queen (Bob Baker Marionette Theatre, 1345 West 1st St., (213) 250-9995). A musical/puppet show. Mon.-Fri., 10:30 a.m.; Sat., 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m. (Except Dec. 17-21, 10:30 and 2:30 p.m.) Ends Jan. 31. $7.

‘Tis the Season (Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, (213) 851-7977). Traditional and original holiday material. Benefits the homeless. Fri.-next Sat., 8 p.m.; Dec. 16, 5 p.m. Admission: Non-perishable food items worth $5 up.

A Variety of Visions II, A Holiday Event (LACE, 1804 Industrial St., (213) 624-5650). Theater, poetry and music featuring members of the Homeless Writers Coalition. Fri. and next Sat. only, 8 p.m. $10.