THEATER
Annie Media Theater presents the musical with out comedian and TV star Wanda Sykes starring as Miss Hannigan, Jan. 12-16, 104 E. State St., Media; (610) 891-0100.
Between Heaven and Hell: The Anthony Lawton Festival Lantern Theater Company presents the first-ever festival by the Philadelphia actor and playwright featuring works by C.S. Lewis, Shel Silverstein and Lawton, through Dec. 19 at St. Stephen’s Theater, 923 Ludlow St.; (215) 922-3807.
Black Nativity Theatre Double presents Langston Hughes’ holiday gospel play, through Dec. 31 at St. Mary’s Chapel, 1831 Bainbridge St.; (267) 575-4888.
Blue Man Group The wildly popular musical and visual show returns, Dec. 22-Jan. 2 at Merriam Theatre, 250 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
The Borrowers Arden Theatre Company presents an adaptation of the beloved children’s novel, through Jan. 30 on the F. Otto Haas Stage, 40 N. Second St.; (215) 922-1122.
Caesar’s Palace O’ Fun The Walnut Street Theatre presents a musical variety show centered around an outrageous lounge lothario, through Jan. 2 at Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol The Walnut Street Theatre presents the classic Christmas story, through Dec. 18, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.
Dralion Cirque du Soleil’s take on an ancient Chinese circus tradition hits town Dec. 21-Jan. 2 at Liacouras Center, 1776 N. Broad St.; (215) 204-2400.
I Capture The Castle The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents the romantic comedy about 17-year-old budding writer Cassandra and her eccentric family, who live in a crumbling 17th-century English castle, through Jan. 2, 36 Madison Ave., Madison, N.J.; (973) 408-5600.
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas The Walnut Street Theatre presents an all-new production of the holiday Broadway musical, through Jan. 9, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.
Jake Ehrenreich’s A Jew Grows in Brooklyn The multimedia comedy runs Dec. 23-28 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theatre, 280 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Merry F***ing Christmas and Other Plays About Holiday Cheer Plays & Players Theater presents an irreverent holiday production, through Dec. 18 at 1714 Delancey St.; (215) 735-0630.
Once Upon a Matress Actors’ NET presents a musical-comedy version of the beloved fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea,” through Dec. 19 at The Heritage Center, 635 N. Delmorr Ave., Morrisville; (215) 428-0217.
Parenting 101: The Musical! The musical comedy about the various stages of raising children is produced through March 6 at Kimmel’s Innovation Studio, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Scrooge: The Musical The ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future join to transform Ebenezer Scrooge from the meanest skinflint that ever lived to a warm and caring human being in this holiday musical, through Dec. 19 at Ritz Theatre, 915 White Horse Pike, Haddon Township, N.J.; (856) 858-5230.
The Santaland Diaries Flashpoint Theatre Company presents an adaptation of out humorist, David Sedaris’ comedic look at the holidays, through Dec. 19 at Second Stage at The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 568-8077.
This is the Week That Is 1812 Productions presents the smash news comedy returning for its fifth year, through Dec. 31 at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St.; (215) 592-9560.
The Very Merry Xmas Carol Holiday Adventure Show Theatre Horizon presents a comedic, nontraditional vision of the holiday, through Dec. 31, 208 Dekalb St., Norristown; (610) 283-2230.
MUSIC
Glorious Sound of Christmas The Philadelphia Orchestra performs holiday classics at 7 p.m. Dec. 17-18 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Dweezil Zappa The guitarist performs the songs of his father, Frank Zappa, at 8 p.m. Dec. 18 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650.
Jann Klose The out singer-songwriter opens for Annie Haslam at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18-19 at Sellersville Theater, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; (215) 257-5808.
Brian McKnight The R&B singer performs at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650.
Holiday Pops! Peter Nero and the Philly Pops perform a holiday-themed selection of songs, through Dec. 22 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Steph Hayes The out singer-songwriter opens for Prima Donna at 10:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St.; (215) 928-0770.
Messiah The Philadelphia Orchestra performs Handel’s holiday classic at 2 p.m. Dec. 19 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
“It Came Upon a Midnight Beer” Rock & Roll Christmas Show Jesse Malin & The St. Marks Social perform a holiday rock show at 7 p.m. Dec. 19 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.
Rad Bromance: All-Male Lady Gaga Tribute Five guys rock out on Lady Gaga covers at 8 p.m. Dec. 22 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.
Rock to the Future Christmas Benefit The Josh and Pete Band, Big Terrible, The New Motels and The Best Westerns perform to benefit the free after-school music education and youth development program, 8 p.m. Dec. 23 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.
EXHIBITS
Art of the American Soldier The National Constitution Center presents the world-debut exhibition of over 15,000 paintings and sketches created by 1,300 American soldiers in the line of duty, through Jan. 10, 525 Arch St.; (215) 409-6895.
Between Now & Then AxD Gallery presents an exhibition of paintings by Matthew Ostroff and Amber Dubois, through Jan. 8, 265 S. 10th St.; (215) 627-6250.
Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt The Franklin Institute presents an exhibition of 150 artifacts from Egypt, through Jan. 2, 20th Street and the Parkway; (215) 448-1200.
Eakins on Paper: Drawings and Watercolors from the Collection Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of 10 rarely seen drawings and watercolors that survey the early work of Thomas Eakins, through Jan. 9, 26th Street and the Parkway; (215) 763-8100.
A Glimpse of Paradise: Gold in Islamic Art Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring the unique status of gold in Islam through a small group of objects drawn from the museum’s collection, through April 2011, 26th Street and the Parkway; (215) 763-8100.
In My Body Wexler Gallery hosts a retrospective exhibition of works by photographer and mixed-media artist Leah Macdonald, celebrating the diversity and beauty of the female form, through Dec. 31, 201 N. Third St.; (215) 923-7030.
John Folinsbee and American Modernism Woodmere Art Museum presents a fresh look at the New Hope painter’s life and work, revealing the artist’s move from impressionism toward modernism, through March 6, 9201 Germantown Ave.; (215) 247-0476.
Listen to My Story, See Through My Eyes: Stories from the Robert R. Rosenbaum Oral History Project The William Way LGBT Community Center presents video recordings of over 40 oral histories from local activists, celebrities and everyday people in the LGBT community, through Dec. 25, 1315 Spruce St.; (215) 732-2220.
100! AxD Gallery host a sale and exhibition of 100 sketches selected from the portfolio of openly gay comic/media artist Michael Broderick, 6-9 p.m. Dec. 17, 265 S. 10th St.; (215) 627-6250.
Pleasures and Pastimes in Japanese Art Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of costumes, masks and poetry exploring the ways in which leisure time was interpreted across all social classes in Japanese art, through Jan. 3, 26th Street and the Parkway; (215) 763-8100.
DANCE Carols in Color Eleone Dance Theatre presents a holiday dance musical that retells the gospel according to St. Matthew using contemporary music, dance and narration, through Dec. 19 at Freedom Theatre, 1346 N. Broad St.; (800) 838-3006.
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker The Pennsylvania Ballet performs the holiday-themed show through Dec. 31 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Mummenschanz The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the world-famous abstract dance/performance troupe, through Dec. 18 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; (215) 898-3900.
FILM
I Love You Phillip Morris Jim Carrey stars in this gay romantic comedy opening Dec. 17 at Ritz Bourse, 400 Ramstead St.; (215) 925-7900.
It’s a Wonderful Life The classic holiday film is screened at 2 p.m. Dec. 19 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 917-0223.
Gremlins The film about little beasties that run amok and ruin one small town’s holiday is screened at 8 p.m. Dec. 20 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-6888.
BOOKS
Alexander Kundera The author of “Fight for Your Long Day” hosts a reading at 7 p.m. Dec. 22 at Moonstone Arts Center, 110A S. 13th St.; (215) 735-9598.
CABARET
Nutcracker Cabaret Red Light performs a ballet and burlesque retelling of the original gothic Christmas story, through Dec. 19 at Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St.; www.cabaretredlight.com/nutcracker.
Judy Barnett’s “Jazz-A-Teria” The jazz singer performs at 7:30 and 9 p.m. Dec. 17 at Bob Egan’s New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; (215) 862-5225.
ETC
Morris Arboretum’s Holiday Garden Railway The holiday-themed quarter mile displays bustling model trains and buildings, through Jan. 2, 100 E. Northwestern Ave.; www.morrisarboretum.org.