Performance and classical music listings

1812 Productions: This Is The Week That Is

Annual show poking fun at local & national current events. Closes 12/31. Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Pl.; 215-592-9560. 1812productions.org. $34-$40.

A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens' tale. Closes 12/28. Princeton University - McCarter Theatre, 91 University Pl., Princeton; 609-258-2787. $25-$89.50.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Simon Reade's stage adaptation of the story by Lewis Carroll. Closes 1/4. Sedgwick Theatre, 7137 Germantown Ave.; 215-987-4450. quintessencetheatre.org. $27-$34; $25 seniors; $15 students.

Bad Jews Comedy by Joshua Harmon. Philadelphia premiere. Closes 12/28. Walnut Street Theatre - Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. $30-$45.

Beauty and the Beast From the team that created Arden's "Cinderella" comes a bold new telling of the tale. Closes 2/1. Arden Theatre, 40 N. 2d St.; 215-922-1122. $18-$36.

Burlesque-a-Pades Touring burlesque revue presented by the World Famous Pontani Sisters. Closes 12/20. World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington. $20.

Cape May Stage: Merry Melodies - A Holiday Celebration Featuring popular songs & carols. Closes 12/31. Robert Shackleton Playhouse, Bank & Lafayette Sts., Cape May; 609-884-1341. $35; $30 seniors; $15 students.

Great Expectations Based on the novel by Charles Dickens. Closes 12/14. Arden Theatre, 40 N. 2d St.; 215-922-1122. $36-$50.

Les Miserables A reformed criminal tries to avoid an obsessed police inspector while raising a child who was left in his care. Closes 1/11. Media Theatre for the Performing Arts, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-891-0100. $42; $35 seniors; $25 12 and under.

Mary Poppins Theatrical adaptation of the Disney movie. Closes 1/4. Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. $10-$95.

My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm Home for the Holidays 1-man show about family chaos & hijinks during the holidays. Closes 12/21. Delaware Theatre Company, 200 Water St., Wilmington; Box Office: 302-594-1100. www.stevesolomoncomedy.com. $30-$50.

Plaid Tidings Forever Plaid's holiday show. Closes 12/28. Bucks County Playhouse, 70 S. Main St., New Hope; 215-862-2121. $25-$59.50.

The Santaland Diaries Stage adaptation of David Sedaris' hilarious account of a stint working as a Christmas elf in Macy's. Closes 12/21. Off-Broad Street Theater at First Baptist Church, 1636 Sansom St.; 215-665-9720. flashpointtheatre.org. $15-$25.

Winter Musicale Carols, classics & seasonal tunes by the BRT Band & guests. Closes 12/21. Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe St., Bristol; 215-785-0100. $35; $10 students.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Stage version of the Peanuts special. Closes 12/20. Downtown Performing Arts Center, 8 Mount Hope St., Lambertville. $6.

Annie, Jr. Shortened version of the musical about the adventures of a spirited red-haired orphan. Closes 12/28. Media Theatre for the Performing Arts, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-891-0100. $15; $12 children.

Arthur & the Tale of the Red Dragon: A Musical Panto Offbeat take on young Arthur's quest to defend the land from a fearsome dragon. Closes 1/11. People's Light & Theatre Company, 39 Conestoga Rd., Malvern; 610-644-3500. $40-$60; $35-$55 children 17 and under.

Enchantment Theatre Company: The Snow Queen A girl embarks on a quest to find her missing friend, who was spirited away by a lonely queen. Closes 1/4. University of the Arts - Philadelphia Arts Bank, 601 S. Broad St.; 215-496-9160. echantmenttheatre.org. $16-$29.

Family Stages: The Snow Queen A girl embarks on a quest to find her missing friend, who was spirited away by a lonely queen. Closes 12/27. Newtown Theatre, 120 N. State St., Newtown; 215-886-9341. www.familystages.org. $12; $10 seniors and grandparents; free under 3.

Nutcracker 1776 A unique take on the story. Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999. therockschool.org. $23-$43.

Storybook Musical Theatre: Cinderella An original musical about a girl who has two selfish stepsisters, a mean stepmother & nothing to wear to the ball. Closes 1/17. Gratz College, 7605 Old York Rd., Elkins Park; 215-659-8550. www.storybookmusical.org. $14; $12 children.

A Christmas Carol

Musical retelling of the Dickens classic. Closes 12/21. Downtown Performing Arts Center, 8 Mount Hope St., Lambertville. $18; $13 children under 12.

Actors' NET of Bucks County: Cheaper By the Dozen Classic comedy. Closes 12/21. Morrisville Heritage Center, 635 N. Delmorr Ave., Morrisville; 215-295-3694. $20; $17 seniors; $10 under 12.

Annie Hit musical based on the comic strip. Closes 12/20. Haddonfield Plays & Players, 957 E. Atlantic Ave., Haddonfield; 856-429-8139. $20.

Little Women Musical adaptation of the Louisa May Alcott novel. Closes 1/3. Off-Broad Street Theatre, 5 S. Greenwood Ave., Hopewell, NJ; reservations required: 609-466-2766.

Show Stoppers: Winter Revue Student showcase. Closes 12/19. Kimmel Center, Broad & Spruce Sts.; tickets required. Free.

Consider the Source

Progressive ethno-fusion. Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore; 610-649-8389.

» READ MORE: www.myspace.com/considerthemusic

. $13 advance; $17 day of show. 12/20. 8:30 pm.

Keith Calmes, Classical Guitarist Peace Center of Delaware County, 1001 Old Sproul Rd., Springfield. www.keithcalmes.com. Free. 12/21. 3:30 pm.

New Jersey Symphony Chamber Orchestra: Handel's Messiah Performance of Handel's holiday masterpiece, w/vocal soloists & Montclair State University Singers. Princeton University - Richardson Auditorium, Nassau St. & University Pl., Princeton; 609-258-9220. www.njsymphony.org. $25-$80. 12/19. 7:30 pm.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Glorious Sound of Christmas Concert of favorites & original arrangements conducted by Bramwell Tovey. W/Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia. Kimmel Center, Broad & Spruce Sts.; 215-893-1999. www.philorch.org. $50-$120. 12/19-20.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Messiah Annual performance of Handel's beloved oratorio. Kimmel Center, Broad & Spruce Sts.; 215-893-1999. www.philorch.org. $60-$135. 12/21. 2 pm.

Tempesta di Mare: Handel's Messiah Philadelphia Baroque period-instrument ensemble performs Handel's masterpiece. St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 22 E. Chestnut Hill Ave. tempestadimare.org. $25-$40; $15 students and children. 12/20. 7:30 pm. Also Church of the Holy Trinity, 212 S. High St., West Chester. $20-$30; $15 students and children. 12/21. 3 pm.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Blend of classical, rock & operatic elements for a thrilling seasonal show. Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-339-7600. www.trans-siberian.com/. $30-$70. 12/23.

A Holiday Celebration: Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Bravo Brass & Strath Haven HS Chorus

"Christmas Cantata", "Gloria." St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 1625 Locust St. Free. 12/20. 7:30 pm.

Ama Deus Ensemble: Handel's Messiah 1749 London Covent Garden version performed in baroque pitch & on period instruments. St. Katharine of Siena Catholic Church, 104 S. Aberdeen Ave., Wayne; 610-688-2800. voxamadeus.org. $25; $20 seniors; $10 students. 12/21. 4 pm. Also Cathedral Basilica of SS Peter & Paul, 18th St.; 610-688-2800. $25; $20 seniors; $10 students. 12/19. 7 pm.

Amici Opera: Linda di Chamounix 3-act Donizetti opera w/libretto by Gaetano Rossi. United Methodist Church of the Redeemer, 1128 Cottman Ave.; 215-224-0257. $20. 12/20.

Cartoon Christmas Trio Trio specializing in music from classic Christmas cartoons, particularly by 'Peanuts' composer Vince Guaraldi. World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington. $10. 12/21. 7 pm.

Christ Bells Are Ringing This concert will be presented by the New Ark Chorale with Dr. Michael Larkin conducting. Guests include the Wilmington Handbell Ensemble with Kerry Dietz conducting. Newark United Methodist Church, 69 E. Main St., Newark, Del. $20; free 17 and under. 12/20. 3 pm.

Christmas Events & Services Christmas pageant 12/21 11 am. Christmas Eve services 12/24 include a contemporary family service at 4:30 pm and a Holy Eucharist with traditional choir at 8:30 pm. Christmas Day at 10 am, Holy Eucharist, Rite II, and Blessing of the Toys. St. James Episcopal Church, 409 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown. Free.

Delaware ChoralArts: Christmas Concert J.S. Bach's "Magnificat in D" & Geoffrey Bush's "Christmas Cantata." The Episcopal Church of Sts Andrew & Matthew, 719 N. Shipley St., Wilmington; 302-656-6628. delawarechoralarts.org/. $25; $20 seniors and students; $15 under 12. 12/22. 7:30 pm.

Pennsylvania Girlchoir & Keystone State Boychoir Over 350 voices, orchestra & soloist present Benjamin Britten's "St. Nicolas Cantata." Church of the Holy Trinity, 1904 Walnut St.; 215-704-3407. $30-$75. 12/21. 5 pm.

The Comcast Holiday Spectacular 18-minute film of original imagery, music & more, shown on the Comcast Experience video wall. Comcast Center, 1701 John F. Kennedy Blvd.; 215-735-6760. Free. To 1/1.

Band of Artists: Spectrum Order Disorder

Artists perform different expressions of art forms. Arcadia University, 450 S. Easton Rd., Glenside; bandofartists.org. 12/19-25.

Brandywine Ballet Company: The Nutcracker Tale of a girl & her magical doll. West Chester University - Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, Phillips Memorial Bldg., West Chester; www.brandywineballet.org. $10-$42. 12/20-21.

Donetsk Ballet of Ukraine: The Nutcracker Dancers are joined by local children in this production of the holiday favorite. Burlington County Institute of Technology, 10 Hawkin Rd., Medford; www.mountlaurelballet.com. $10-$20. 12/19.

First State Ballet Theatre: The Nutcracker Holiday tale of a young girl & her magical doll. W/music by Tchaikovsky. Grand Opera House, 818 N. Market St., Wilmington; 1-800-374-7263. www.firststateballet.com. $28-$48; $23-$43 seniors; $14-$24 students 18 and under. 12/20. 2 pm.

Israeli Dancing Informal weekly sessions. Germantown Jewish Centre, 400 W. Ellet St.; 215-844-1507 Ext 19. $5. 12/21.

Pennsylvania Ballet: George Balanchine's The Nutcracker Holiday tale of a girl & her magical doll. Academy of Music, Broad & Locust Sts.; Box Office: 215-893-1999. www.paballet.org. To 12/29. $30-$125.

Wilmington Ballet Academy of the Dance: The Nutcracker The DuPont Theatre, 1007 N. Market St., Wilmington; 1-800-338-0881. $15-$45. 12/20-21.

Bucks County School of the Performing Arts: A Classy Christmas Cabaret

Evening of performances by BCPA students, alumni & Heritage Theatre Company artists. Puck, 85 Printers Alley, Doylestown; 215-348-9000. $20. 12/21. 6 pm.

Eddie Bruce Cabaret musician with over 25 years experience. Seashore Gardens Living Center, 22 W. Jimmie Leeds Rd., Absecon. Free. 12/21. 2:30 pm.