Don we now our gay apparel! Holidays onstage, from C.S. Lewis’,’The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ to Nevada Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”

● Nevada Conservatory Theatre

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and the Nevada Conservatory Theatre could be starting a new Las Vegas holiday tradition with its magical production of the C.S. Lewis classic, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” dramatized by Don Quinn.

Follow Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter through the wardrobe into their adventures in Narnia at the Judy Bayley Theatre, Dec. 6-15. For tickets, contact the PAC Box Office at 702-895-ARTS (2787) or go online to www.unlv.edu/nct/ season-info.

● Signature Productions “Once Upon a December: A Signature Christmas” is the Summerlin Youth Theater’s charming holiday gift to our city. Experience a musical celebration full of joy and the spirit of the season featuring live music and some of your favorite Signature performers.

Shows are Dec. 5-7 at 7:30 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online at SignatureProductions.net or by calling 702-878-7529.

● Las Vegas Little Theatre

Looking for a romantic gift for your honey this Christmas? Get tickets to John Patrick Shanley’s stage hit, “The Portuguese Kid,” running Dec. 6-22 at the Las Vegas Little Theatre.

Laughs and heart abound in this romantic comedy from the Tony Award-wining writer of “Moonstruck.” Habitually widowed Atalanta pays a visit to her second-rate lawyer, Barry, intending to settle her latest husband’s affairs, but things quickly get out of hand when Barry’s impossible Croatian mother, a couple of opportunistic young lovers and a dash of current politics get mixed up into this delicious soufflé of theater.

Also, at hand to lighten up the holidays is LVLT’s production of a delightful facsimile of “William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (Abridged)” by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor, Dec. 6-22, at the Black Box. A loving, self-deprecating riff on Shakespeare’s complete canon performed in just 90 minutes with just three actors.

Tickets range from $20 to 25 at www. LVLT.org or contact the box office at 702-362-7996.

● Vegas Theatre Company

It’s not too late to treat the mystery fan on your gift list to a clever new investigation into the mystery of just who is Sherlock Holmes in the Vegas Theatre Company’s production of “Holmes and Watson” by Jeffrey Hatcher running through Dec. 8 at Art Square Theatre.

The Edgar Award-nominated playwright Jeffrey Hatcher is something of a Sherlock Holmes fanatic (he’s written two other plays about the famous sleuth) and his ingenious new thriller is receiving its West Coast premiere in the Vegas Theatre Company’s moodily atmospheric production.

For tickets visit atrsquaretheatre.com or vegastheatrecompany.com or call 725-222-9661.

It’s no mystery that theater is expensive to produce. Give the gift of theater this season and donate to the Vegas Theatre Company. VGT’s fundraising goal is to raise $25,000 in individual contributions through Dec. 8. Your gift is tax-deductible and keeps theater vibrant and accessible in Las Vegas. Visit vegastheatrecompany.com to donate or to see the campaign’s progress.

● Opera Las Vegas A gingerbread house, a deep, dark forest, two abandoned children and a cannibalistic witch — what could go wrong? Englebert Humperdinck’s (the other one) “Hansel and Gretel” is a lovely folk opera based on the grim Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale. The opera debuted in 1893 under the baton of Richard Strauss and it has been an enduring Christmas classic ever since. Opera Las Vegas is treating us to what should become an enduring Vegas Christmas tradition at the Windmill Library Theatre, Dec. 7-8 at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $10 to $35 and are available at operalasvegas.com. The opera will be sung in English with live chamber orchestra and the Opera Las Vegas Youth Chorus.

● Vegas City Opera Vegas City Opera keeps the gift of opera going with two holiday concerts at the historic Amargosa Opera House in Shoshone, California. “Christmas at the Opera” performing Dec. 7 at 7 p.m., features classic and contemporary Christmastime operatic works, such as “La Bohéme,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “Amahl and the Night Visitors” and “John Adams’s El Niño.” Vegas City Opera goes to Broadway for “White Christmas,” a concert of Christmas music from the Great American Songbook featuring songs by Broadway song writers. Matinee on Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. and evening encore on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15-$25. Call 760- 852-4441 or visit vegascityopera.org/ to purchase. Vegas City Opera also invites you to join them for Winterfest Caroling at local libraries. Vegas City Opera’s songbirds and troubadours in period costumes will perform traditional carols and modern holiday favorites from around the world. The free event will be held Dec. 14 noon-1 p.m. at Windmill Library lobby and Dec. 15 from 2-3 p.m. at Summerlin Library lobby.

● Super Summer Theatre Super Summer Theatre and Speeding Theatre are presenting “House of Tomorrow” Dec. 5-15 at the SST Studio, 4340 S. Valley View Suite 208. The show presents humorous, yet poignant stories about seniors taking strength from their yesterdays and pursuing the passions of their tomorrows. You’ll meet seniors navigating the uncharted waters of online dating, trying in vain to order a refill from a mail order pharmacy, responding to adult children concerned about driving safety, experiencing the stresses of forced downsizing, as well as other fun stories about seniors undaunted by the challenges life keeps throwing at them. Purchase tickets at supersummertheatre.org/in_city_series/ for $20 General admission. Shows at 2 and 7 p.m.

● The Majestic Repertory Theatre Even more opera for the holidays.

The Majestic Repertory Theatre’s production of “The Manson Family: An Opera” runs through Dec. 8 at Alios, 1217 S. Main St. in downtown Las Vegas.

When John Moran’s “The Manson Family: An Opera” opened at Lincoln Center in 1990, audiences and critics were shocked and it even spurred Charles Manson to write a rambling letter to one naysaying critic.

Now, almost 30 years later, Moran has granted Majestic Repertory Theatre permission to give his work a shocking immersive staging, taking audiences on a ride through Cielo Drive, Spahn Ranch and the Los Angeles County Court, and remembering The Beatles.

Only 16 tickets will be sold to each performance, purchase at tickets.vendini.com/ticket. Because the production is immersive with the audience moving about with the actors, the production is not recommended for persons with severe mobility issues. There will be no late admittance to this show.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without “Krampus” and the Majestic Theatre Company brings back this beloved holiday demon made even scarier because this time. He’s real.

On Dec. 5-22 you are invited for a holiday gathering of drinks and snacks at Jerry and Marge Krumeich’s house, and an ancient family curse.

“Krampus” is designed for audience members age 21 and up only. It’s too scary for kids!

Tickets are limited to 14 per performance and advance purchase is required at tickets.vendini.com/ticket. This production will be held at a private residence in northwest Las Vegas. It will not be held at the Majestic’s theatre on Main Street. Location will only be revealed the day prior to the performance (Shiver!)

● Rainbow Company Youth Theatre

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” is being presented by the Rainbow Company Youth Theatre, Dec. 6, 7, 13 and 14 at 7 p.m., and Dec. 7, 8, 14 and 15 at 2 p.m. at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. at West Charleston Blvd. The Dec.14 performance includes an American Sign Language interpreter for the hearing impaired.

This holiday classic is a faithful adaption of the beloved TV special that debuted in December 1965. Join Charlie Brown as he searches for meaning in the midst of all the holiday commercialism. The play features holiday favorites like “Christmas Time Is Here.” Stay afterwards for Winter Wonderland and sing-along with family and friends — warm apple cider in hand — to your favorite holiday tunes, accompanied by local choirs.

Tickets are $6, tax included, plus fees. For tickets, visit ArtsLasVegas.org or call 702-229-ARTS (2787).

● St. George Musical Theater

Get outta town and experience “Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn” at the St. George Musical Theater, 212 N Main St. in St. George, Utah. SGMT presents this updated adaptation of the film classic with even more beloved songs, including the iconic “White Christmas.” For tickets, visit gmusicaltheater.com.

● Nevada Ballet Theatre

It wouldn’t be the holidays in Las Vegas without Nevada Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker Ballet.” Choreographed by James Canfield for The Smith Center stage, this holiday treat fills the theater and our hearts with the warmth of Christmas joy.

I saw my first NBT “Nutcracker” at the Paris Las Vegas Theater and was enchanted by NBT’s staging of the magical journey of Clara and her handsome Nutcracker Prince. Waltzing flowers, candy-cane soldiers and moonlit snow fairies, all on tiptoe to Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable music makes every little girl and boy want to take ballet.

There are four ways to make this year’s “Nutcracker” even more magical:

►Before the ballet, enjoy NBT’s fun, family-friendly bonus experience: The Nutcracker Wonderland. This glittering holiday pre-performance party lets you wander through scenes from the ballet. Highlighting The Nutcracker Wonderland experience is the arrival of a special guest to read the story of The Nutcracker to all of the children. Doors open 60 minutes prior to curtain at the Troesh Theatre, adjacent to Reynolds Hall, and The Nutcracker Wonderland is free to all ballet ticket holders.

►Be sure to stop by The Nutcracker Boutique in the Reynolds Hall lobby before the performance to check out the many Nutcracker-themed souvenirs, keepsakes and last-minute stocking stuffers for everyone on your shopping list.

►Walk the red carpet with the Nutcracker mascot for your holiday card family photo, purchased in advance with your tickets for a $6 discount.

►For Dec. 15 performances only, meet Clara, The Nutcracker Prince and The Sugar Plum Fairy at the Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party. Enjoy a holiday-style tea with sandwiches, a selection of sweet treats and a cocoa bar. Plus, receive a special souvenir photo with the Nutcracker characters. Select tickets for this special Sugar Plum are available for $45 for children (14 and younger) or $65 for adults, in addition to the price of your show ticket. A limited number of premium tables (for four or eight guests) are available and include tableside hot chocolate service for the children and Veuve Clicquot champagne for the adults. Please phone Dane Kronick at 702-243-2623 ext. 222 to reserve one of these tables.

Performances are Dec. 13-24. Value priced tickets are available for select dates. For tickets call 702-749-2000 or go online at nevadaballet.org/nutcracker/.