Holiday Plays Have Begun

Christmas is still over 6 weeks away but the holiday decorations were in stores before Halloween and Christmas-themed stage productions have already begun, with momentum building as the big day approaches. Whether you look on the holidays as a time for festivity and family or with a bit of jaded cynicism, there's a show to get you smiling.

This week, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical opens at the Pantages Theatre; Robbie Jensen: The 12 Steps of Christmas opens at the NoHoArt Center; It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play continues at the Center Theatre in Whittier; and a live stage show introduces Disney's A Christmas Carol in 3D at El Capitan Theatre. For details on these and more visit my list of LA Christmas Plays and Shows.

The first productions of The Nutcracker start on Thanksgiving weekend. Some of them sell out, so get your tickets now. The same goes for popular Christmas Sing-Along Events at the Music Center. Some are already almost sold out.

More:

• LA Christmas Traditions
• Some More Unusual Christmas Traditions
• LA Gift Guide - Experiences to Give
• LA Holiday Boat Parades

Extra: Broadway's  Mary Poppins also opens this weekend at the Ahmanson Theatre at the LA Music Center.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Seuss Enterprises