Alongside the expected onslaught of holiday fare, both traditional and alternative, come a few other dark, wintry visitors—witches, beasts, tyrants, serial killers and Cruella Deville.
“101 Dalmations,” adapted by Martha King De Silva from the book by Dodie Smith, at Imagination Stage in Bethesda, Md. through Jan. 11, 2015. Pictured: Ayanna Hardy and Sarah Beth Pfeifer.
“Beauty and the Beast” by Charles Way, at Arden Theatre Company in Philadelphia through Feb. 1, 2015. Pictured: Matteo Scammel. (Photo by Mark Garvin)
“Broomstick” by John Biguenet, at the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles through Dec. 14. Pictured: Jenny O’Hara. (Photo by Ed Krieger)
“A Christmas Carol,” adapted by Geoffrey Sherman, at Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery, Ala. through Dec. 24. Pictured: Rodney Clark and James Bowen.
“A Christmas Carol” at Kansas City Repertory Theatre in Kansas City, Mo., through Dec. 26. Pictured: Mark Robbins. (Photo by Don Ipock)
“A Civil War Christmas” by Paula Vogel, at the Firehouse Theatre in Richmond, Va. through Dec. 20. Pictured: Debora Crabbe and Jessa Raven Wilkes. (Photo by Bill Sigafoos)
“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)” by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. Pictured: Gerard Neugent and Ernie Gonzales. (Photo by Michael Brosilow)
“Desperate Dolls” by Darren Callahan, at Strawdog Theatre in Chicago through Dec. 23. Pictured: Alex Fisher and Jim Poole. (Photo by Tom McGrath)
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at the Old Globe in San Diego in 2014.. Pictured: Burke Moses. (Photo by Jim Cox)
“Laughter on the 23rd Floor” by Neil Simon, at American Stage Theatre in St. Petersburg, Fla. through Dec. 21. Pictured: Lauren Wood, Joseph Parra, Kristian Truelsen, Chris Jackson and Glenn Gover. (Photo by Chad Jacobs)
“The Little Prince,” adapted by by Rick Cummins and John Scoullar from the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, at the New Repertory Theatre in Watertown, Mass. through Dec. 21. Pictured: Wil Moser, Laura Jo Trexler, and Andrew Barbato. (Photo by Andrew Brilliant / Brilliant Pictures)
“Madeline’s Christmas,” adapted by by Jennifer Kirkeby and Shirley Mier from the book by Ludwig Bemelmans, at the Main Street Theater in Houston through Dec. 21. Pictured: Vivienne St. John and the cast. (Photo by Little Nun Photography)
“Mame” by Jerome Lawrence, Robert Edwin Lee and Jerry Herman, running at Virginia Repertory Theatre in Richmond, Virg. through Jan. 11, 2015. Pictured: Emily Skinner and cast. (Photo by Aaron Sutten)
“The Mikado” by Gilbert & Sullivan, adapted by Sean Graney, running at the Hypocrites’ new home, the Den Theatre, in Chicago through Feb. 7, 2015. Pictured: Dana Omar, Emily Casey and Christine Stulik. (Photo by Matthew Gregory Hollis)
“Picasso at the Lapin Agile” by Steve Martin, at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Ct. through Dec. 21. Pictured: Robbie Tann, Grayson DeJesus and Dina Shihabi. (Photo by T. Charles Erickson)
“Tamburlaine, Parts I and II” by Christopher Marlowe, at Theatre for a New Audience (Photo credit Gerry Goodstein)