OPENING

JOSEPH’S GOSPEL, one-man comedy starring Alan Safier. Dec 17-20, Thu at 7:30, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. 710 Main Theatre, 710 Main St. (1-800-745-3000). www.sheas.org/710Main

SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS! by Paul L Jacobson and Glenville Mareth, adapted for the stage and directed by Billy Horn, presented by Patchwork Theatre of Niagara, starring Elliot Fox, Meagan Kurilovitch, Steve Brachmann, Rick Vogt, Trevor Dugan, Daniel Baker, Jamie Moore, Rosie Lorenti. Dec 17-20, Thu & Fri at 7, Sat & Sun at 3 & 7. Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, 1201 Pine Ave. at Portage Rd. (628-5347).

CLOSING

ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT, play written and directed L. Don Swartz, starring Kirsten Ferree, D.J. Swartz, Isabella Kutzbach, Ben Torres, Ryan Walters, Mikey Swartz, Bailey Blanchard. Through Dec 20, Thu at 7, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St., North Tonawanda (743-1614). www.starrynighttheatre.com

A CHRISTMAS CAROL, adapted and directed by Neal Radice, starring David C. Mitchell, Melissa Leventhal, Stephanie Bax, Roger VanDette, David G. Poole, Jerry Hudson, Joyce Stilson, Radice. Through Dec 20, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 5 & 8, Sun at 2. Alleyway Theatre, One Curtain Up Alley (852-2600). www.alleyway.com

HARVEY, comedy by Mary Chase, directed by Tom Makar, starring Richard Lambert, Caitlin Coleman, Dave Lundy, Betsy Bittar, Tammy Hayes McGovern, Sharon Straight, Jamie Nablo, Nicholas Lama, Todd Fuller, Rich Kramer, Franklin LaVoie. Through Dec 19, Thu-Sat at 8. New Phoenix Theatre, 95 Johnson Park (853-1334). www.newphoenixtheatre.org

LITTLE HOUSE CHRISTMAS, by James DeVita, based on the series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, presented by Theatre of Youth, directed by Meg Quinn, starring Larry Smith, Kim Meurer, Christina Rausa, James Heffron, Eric Rawski, Faith Walh, Emma Najdzionek, Keeley Tundro, Tyler Eisenmann. Through Dec 20, Sat at 10 a.m. & 2, Sun at 2. Allendale Theatre, 203 Allen St. (884-4400). www.theatreofyouth.org

UH OH! HERE COMES CHRISTMAS, variety performance by Fulghum, Zulia & Caldwell, presented by O’Connell & Company, directed by Joey Bucheker, starring Corey Beiber, Tim Goehrig, Edith Grossman, Mary Moebius, Michael Starzynski. Through Dec 20, Fri & Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:30. The Park School, 4625 Harlem Rd., Snyder (848-0800). www.oconnellandcompany.com

THE SANTALAND DIARIES, one-man show by David Sedaris & Joe Mantello, directed by Doug Weyand, starring Kevin Kennedy. Through Dec 19, Fri & Sat at 7:30. Road Less Traveled Theater, 500 Pearl St. (629-3069). www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

THE GUNS OF CHRISTMAS, staged reading of the play by Gary Earl Ross, presented by Subversive Theatre, starring John Kennedy, Justin Fiordaliso, Thorin Vallentin, Jacob Sauer, Michael Mottern, Cody Jones, Lucas Lloyd, Lawrence Rowswell, J. Tim Raymond, Ryan Filer, Murry Galloway. Dec 18-22, Fri-Tue at 8. The Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave., third floor (408-0499). www.subversivetheatre.org

IT WAS A WONDERFUL LIFE, written by Joseph Demerly, directed by Loraine O’Donnell, starring John Fredo, Dudney Joseph, Jenn Stafford, Kelly Copps, Doug Crane, Timothy Finnegan, Mary Craig, Annette Christian. Through Dec 27, Sat & Sun at 2. Forest Lawn Chapel, 1411 Delaware Ave. (885-1600).