Dramatic Christmastime: Theatrer Around Atlanta

Atlanta and its surrounding cities abound in theatrers, and at Christmas there are many versions of A Christmas Carol, various Nutcrackers, and a multitude of other holiday goodies to choose from to delight your eyes and ears.

For instance, this will be the 18th year the Alliance Theater has offered its rendition of A Christmas Carol, a big, Broadway-style production full of seasonal songs that never fails to warm the hearts of audiences, no matter how familiar the story may be. This production runs throughout the season. Other versions play during December at Kudzu Playhouse and Towne Lake Arts Center, to name just a couple.

Theatre Gael at the 14th Street Playhouse in Atlanta is offering A Child's Christmas in Wales, Dylan Thomas' brlliant memoir of how "All the Christmas seemed to run together" in a magical childhood. It will run from December 8-23rd.

For those of you who start to feel you're drowning in sentimental Christmas cheer and feel the need for something with a lot more bite, the soon-to-be classic The Santaland Diaries from NPR's David Sedaris should perk you right up. The main character, described in the press material as a "Rebel without a Clause," describes his adventures as an elf at Macy's Santaland. The play is based on the bestselling book, "Holidays on Ice," and is presented by the Horizon Theatre in Atlanta throughout December.

A most beloved Atlanta author, Celestine Sibley, created the tales included in A Christmas at Sweet Apple. Several humerous and very human stories are enacted in this brand new show at the Marietta's Theatre in the Square, at the Alley Stage, various dates throughout December.

On the main stage at Theatre in the Square is the return of one of Georgia's favorite holiday theatre experiences: A Sanders Family Christmas. This wonderful World War II musical is perfect for the whole family.

You'll laugh until your sides ache in Roswell ,as the Kudzu Playhouse presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Saturdays and Sundays from now until Christmas Eve.

As for that other holiday dramatic necessity: Atlanta's Fox Theatre is a magical place at any time, with its star-studded ceiling and art deco opulence. But when the Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker comes to the Fox, you're in for the ultimate Christmas extravaganza. Multiple performances are planned throughout December.

This is just a taste of some of the theatrical wonders in store in and around Atlanta this holiday season. If you have a favorite Christmas story, it is probably playing somewhere. From a live radio play of It's a Wonderful Life to the timeless O.Henry Gift of the Magi, from a Queer Christmas Carol (definitely not for children,) to Jean Shepherd's dearly loved A Christmas Story at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, the holiday season has theatres spilling over with merriment and cheer.