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"The Eight: Reindeer Monologues" opens Thursday, December 12, at American Repertory Theater of WNY.

Opening

CHARLES DICKENS PRESENTS: A CHRISTMAS CAROL, solo performance conceived, written, directed by, and starring Mike Randall, to benefit Red Thread Theatre Company. Dec 12-15, Thu & Fri at 8, Sat at 4 & 8, Sun at 2. Kavinoky Theatre, 320 Porter Ave. (829-7668).

THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES by Jeffrey Goode, presented by the Fearless Players in association with American Repertory Theater of WNY, directed by Todd Fuller, starring Thorin Valentin, Michael Wachowiak, Jon Kehoe, Bekki Sliwa, Matt Kindley, Lisa Ludwig, Scot Kaitanowski, Shayna Raichilson-Zadok, Virginia Brannon, John Jacoby. Dec 12-21, Thu-Sat at 7:30. ART in the Box, 16 Linwood Ave. (681-0311).

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, touring production of the Broadway musical presented by Shea’s and Albert Nocciolino. Dec 17-22, Tue-Thu at 7:30, Fri at 8, Sat at 2 & 8, Sun at 2 & 7. Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St. (1-800-745-3000).

THE WIZARD OF CLAUS, family holiday puppet musical conceived by Jason Bravo, Justin Karcher and Adam Kreutinger, directed by David Hall, starring Andrew Adolf, Jacob Albarella, Tom Doyle, Maria Droz, Matthew Iwanksi, Renee Landrigan, Joe Liolos, Jenn Stafford. Dec 12-15, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 3. Palace Theatre, Two East Ave., Lockport (438-1130).

Ongoing

AGNES OF GOD, drama by John Pielmeier presented by the Brazen-Faced Varlets, directed by Diane Di Bernardo-Blenk, starring Kelly Beuth, Lara D. Haberberger, Kate Olena. Through Dec 21, Fri & Sat at 7:30. Rustbelt Books, 202 Allen St. (909-5757).

BOUNTY: The Mutiny, company-developed version devised and directed by Robert Waterhouse, starring Christian Brandjes, Chris Kelly, Richard Lambert, Adam Yellen, Geoff Pictor, J. F. Kennedy, Zoe Appler, Alphonso Walker, Geoffrey Devereux. Through Dec 21, Thu-Sat at 8. The New Phoenix Theatre on the Park, 95 Johnson Park (853-1334).

A CHRISTMAS CAROL, adapted and directed by Neal Radice, starring David C. Mitchell, Melissa Seifert Leventhal, Katy Miner, Roger VanDette, David Poole, Jerry Hudson, Joyce Stilson, Darryl Hart, Radice. Through Dec 22, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 5 & 8, Sun at 2. Alleyway Theatre, One Curtain Up Alley (852-2600).

FOREVER PLAID: PLAID TIDINGS, musical comedy by Steven Ross presented by O’Connell & Company, directed by Michael Walline, starring Kurt Erb, Nicholas Lama, Matthew Mooney, Steven Sitzman. Through Dec 22, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:30. The Park School, 4625 Harlem Road, Snyder. (848-0800).

THE WIZARD OF OZ by L. Frank Baum, dramatized by Elizabeth Fuller Chapman, presented by Buffalo Public Theatre in association with Ujima Company, directed by Kelli Bocock-Natale, starring Cecelia Barone, Brian Riggs, Bobby Cooke, Eric Rawski, Loraine O’Donnell. Through Dec 22, Thu & Fri at 8, Sat at 4 & 8, Sun at 6. TheaterLoft, 545 Elmwood Ave. (883-0380).

YOU CAN’T GET A DECENT MARGARITA AT THE NORTH POLE, holiday farce by Matt Hanf presented by Subversive Theatre, directed by Carlton Franklin, starring Paul McGuiness, Betsy Bittar, Sean Marciniak, Lawrence Rowswell, Carolyn Lansom. Through Dec 21, Thu-Sat at 8. The Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave., third floor (408-0499).

Closing

BABES IN TOYLAND by Victor Herbert, presented by the Towne Players, directed by Tim Kordela. Through Dec15, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2. Sheridan-Parkside Community Center, 169 Sheridan-Parkside Dr., Tonawanda (693-9641).

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER by Barbara Robinson presented by the Alden Christian Theatre Society, directed by Christian Sutter, starring Sarah Stroka, Cilla Wagner, Mitchell Guidie, Dylan Brozyna, Brendan Guidie, Emma Bielawa, Dylan Colosanti, Tommy Hahn, Evan Dusza, Hali Wagner. Through Dec 15, Fri at 7:30, Sat at 2:30 & 7:30, Sun at 2:30. ACTS Beacon Cafe, 1470 Church St., Alden (937-7770).

A CHRISTMAS CAROL, by Charles Dickens, directed by and starring L. Don Swartz, also starring Mark Woomer, Michael Swartz, Carl Tamburlin, DJ Swartz, Jed Woomer. Through Dec 15, Thu at 7, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St., North Tonawanda (743-1614).

MADELINE’S CHRISTMAS, musical by Kirkeby and Mier, based on the book by Ludwig Bemelmans, presented by Theatre of Youth, directed by Meg Quinn, starring Megan Callahan, Tim Newell, Mary Kate O’Connell, Faith Walh, Isabel Atwood, Annabella Bogart, Grace Dalessandro, Mary Dalessandro, Kiana Duggan-Haas, Lily Hart, Anna Hills, Iris Izydorczak, Faith Knauf, Ellie Scarozza, Lydia Sulaiman. Through Dec 15, Fri at 7, Sat & Sun at 2. Allendale Theatre, 203 Allen St., Buffalo (884.4400).

MIRACLE ON 34th STREET, adapted by Mountain Community Theater from the novel by Valentine Davies, presented by the Mystery Company, directed by and starring Jerry Kelly, also starring Marta Roiz, Bob Wagner, Jamie Nablo, Autumn Cwick, Richard Cole, Leanne Troutman, Joe Laspro, Irma Lewis. Through Dec 15, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 2:30 & 7:30, Sun at 2:30. Lancaster Opera House, 21 Central Ave., Lancaster (683-1776).

THE PHILADELPHIA STORY, comedy by Phillip Barry presented by Niagara University Theatre, directed by Steve Braddock. Through Dec15, Thu at 7, Fri at 7:30, Sat at 2 & 7:30, Sun at 2. Leary Theatre, Clet Hall on NU campus (286-8685).

Special Presentations

GREETINGS, comedy by Tom Dudzick, directed by Jay Desiderio, starring Marc-Jon Filippone, Cynthia Schmitt, Marie Costa, Rich Kraemer, Jacob Marciniak. Through Jan 25, evenings, dinner at 6 & show at 7:30; matinees, dinner at 1:00 & show at 2:30. Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre, 5827 Broadway, Lancaster (683-7767).