THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT’S ALIVE, WELL ON STAGE

Running out of gift ideas? Even the Scrooge on your list might be satisfied with one of this season’s many holiday theater offerings.

“Bah, humbug!” can be heard all over the Southland as Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” is brought to life in a number of adaptations, beginning with South Coast Repertory’s seventh annual presentation of Jerry Patch’s sumptuous musical at Costa Mesa.

Veteran actor Ford Rainey plays Scrooge at the Norris Community Theatre in Palos Verdes and at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center in the humorous musical adaptation by the Rhode Island Trinity Repertory Company’s Adrian Hall and Richard Cumming, presented by the New Place Theater.

Theatre Exchange remains true to Dickens’ text, but for the eighth year sets its festive musical adaptation in Depression-era St. Louis. (Theatergoers who bring two canned goods for the needy will receive a 50-cent discount per ticket.)

The Changeling Theatre’s presentation of the classic at West Hollywood Park Theatre also includes an opportunity to give--admission is a new, unwrapped child’s toy or a $10 donation, to be given to Childhelp USA, a nonprofit organization combating child abuse.

San Diego Repertory Theatre offers its 11th annual traditional staging this year at the Lyceum Theatre in Horton Plaza.

“A Christmas Carol” may also be found at the Glendale Centre Theatre, Chaffey College, Cal State Long Beach, East Los Angeles College and UC Riverside.

Other “Carol” incarnations include “Scrooge” at the Sierra Madre Playhouse and La Mirada Community Playhouse, “A Winter’s Tale” at the Callboard and “The Stingiest Man in Town” at West Covina Playhouse.

Dickens isn’t the only author whose work has become a seasonal tradition. A staged reading of Truman Capote’s memoir of holiday rituals has returned for the fifth season to the Itchey Foot Ristorante (the Mark Taper Forum’s literary cabaret) and Dylan Thomas’ lyric reminiscence, “A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” is being presented at Garden Grove’s Gem Theatre and at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.

An adaptation of two O’Henry stories, “The Gifts of the Magi--The Los Angeles Christmas Musical,” is the Coast Playhouse’s family offering.

The Christmas story receives many tellings, from the extravagant to the simple. Crystal Cathedral presents its annual pageant, “The Glory of Christmas,” with live animals and a cast of hundreds. Langston Hughes’ spiritual musical “The Black Nativity” features the H. B. Barnum Choir at the Church in Ocean Park.

“Una Pastorela,” the traditional Shepherd’s Play, is being presented at the 18th-Century El Presidio Chapel in Santa Barbara and at Los Angeles Photography Center, where it’s preceded by a candlelight procession.

And the stars come out. Sammy Davis Jr. headlines the musical “Hallelujah Holidays!” for a one-day, two-performance run at Long Beach Arena.

Linda Hopkins guests in the Cambridge Players’ “A Christmas Festival for All--Young and Old Alike,” free to the public at Angeles Mesa Presbyterian Church.

‘Tis the season to be jolly, so why not Santa Claus as skateboard champ? Rafer Johnson guests as Saint Nick in “Santa Hangs Ten,” a musical by Paul Morse performed by Windward School students at the Beverly Hills Playhouse.

Santa needs some help in “A Christmas Held Captive,” also at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, while Santa Monica Playhouse musically explores Claus’ early years in “All About Santa.”

Spoofing those celebrity family holiday television specials, “The Cardigan Christmas Show” is a musical romp for adults and teens at the Zephyr Theatre.

The Brass Band comedy-music ensemble frolics at Westwood Playhouse in “Bent Brass,” a holiday absurdity designed equally for adults and tots.

An assortment of songs, silliness and high tea is served up at Theatre West in “Deck the Halls With Boston Charlie,” conceived and hosted by Betty Garrett.

Philip King’s farce, “See How They Run,” features a 1940s English vicarage Christmas setting at Theatre 40.

For older children and adults, Stage Lee Strasberg presents “Bother!” with Peter Dennis reading from A. A. Milne’s “Winnie-the-Pooh” and “The House at Pooh Corner.” Younger audiences can see productions of “Winnie-the-Pooh” at Pierce College and at the Laguna Moulton Playhouse.

“All About Santa” (through Dec. 22), Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St., (213) 394-9779.

“And All the Trimmings” (through Dec. 30), Actors Forum Theatre, 3365 1/2 Cahuenga Blvd., North Hollywood, (213) 850-9016.

“Bent Brass” (Wednesday through Jan. 3), Westwood Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave, (213) 208-5454.

“The Black Nativity” (Friday through Sunday), Church in Ocean Park, 235 Hill St., Santa Monica, (213) 399-1631.

“Bother!” (Wednesday through Dec. 20), Stage Lee Strasberg, 7936 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (213) 650-7777.

“The Cardigan Christmas Show” (through Dec. 28), Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, (818) 996-1947.

“A Child’s Christmas in Wales” (through Dec. 20), Gem Theatre, 12852 Main St., Garden Grove, (714) 636-7213.

“A Child’s Christmas in Wales” (Friday and Saturday), Orange Coast College Fine Arts Patio Theatre, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, (714) 432-5880.

“A Christmas Carol” (through Dec. 24), South Coast Repertory, Mainstage, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, (714) 957-4033.

“A Christmas Carol” (through Sunday, also Dec. 23-28), New Place Theatre at Norris Community Theatre, 27570 Crossfield Drive, Palos Verdes, (213) 544-0403.

“A Christmas Carol” (Wednesday through Dec. 21), Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, Center Theatre, 300 Ocean Blvd., (213) 436-3661. .

“A Christmas Carol” (through Dec. 24), Theatre Exchange, 11855 Hart St., North Hollywood, (818) 782-3140.

“A Christmas Carol” (through Dec. 22), Changeling Theatre at West Hollywood Park Theatre, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd., (213) 462-4122.

“A Christmas Carol” (through Dec. 23), Glendale Centre Theatre, 324 N. Orange St., (818) 244-8481.

“A Christmas Carol” (through Saturday), Cal State University Long Beach, Studio Theatre, (213) 498-5526.

“A Christmas Carol” (through Dec. 28), San Diego Repertory Theatre at Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, San Diego, (619) 235-8025.

“A Christmas Carol” (through Saturday), UC Riverside, (714) 787-4331.

“A Christmas Carol” (through Dec. 20), Chaffey College Theatre, 5885 Haven Ave., Alta Loma, (714) 978-1745.

“A Christmas Carol” (Thursday through Dec. 20), Little Theatre, East Los Angeles College, Brooklyn and Collegian, (213) 265-8941.

“A Christmas Festival for All--Young and Old Alike” (through Dec. 21), Cambridge Players at Angeles Mesa Presbyterian Church, 3751 West 54th St.; free.

“A Christmas Held Captive” (Sunday through Jan. 18), Beverly Hills Playhouse, 254 S. Robertson Blvd., (213) 558-0728.

“A Christmas Memory” (through Dec. 21), Mark Taper Forum at the Itchey Foot Ristorante, 801 W. Temple St., (213) 972-7231.

“Cinderella” (through Dec. 21), Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts Theaterfest, Marian Performing Arts Center, Allan Hancock College, Santa Maria, (800) 221-9469.

“Cinderella” (Friday through Dec. 21), Little Broadway Productions at Los Angeles Valley College, 5800 Fulton Ave., Van Nuys, (818) 346-7002.

“Deck the Halls With Boston Charlie” (through Dec. 28), Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Hollywood, (213) 851-4839.

“The Gifts of the Magi--The Los Angeles Christmas Musical” (Dec. 20-31), Coast Playhouse, 8325 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (213) 650-8507.

“The Glory of Christmas--A Living Nativity” (through Dec. 20), Crystal Cathedral, 12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove, (714) 544-5679.

“Hallelujah Holidays” (Dec. 20 only), Long Beach Arena, Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, (213) 432-7926, (213) 480-3232, (213) 436-3661.

“A Holiday Hoop-De-Doo!” (through Jan. 18), Bob Baker Marionette Theatre, 1345 West 1st St., (213) 250-9995.

“Max and Frossie--Stage Players” (runs indefinitely), Powerhouse Theatre, 3116 2nd St., Santa Monica, (213) 392-6529.

“A Miracle” (Saturday through Monday), Pasadena City College, Sexson Auditorium, 1570 E. Colorado Blvd., (818) 578-7216.

“The Mother Goose Suite,” “Children’s Games,” “The Little Girl Who Loved to Dance” (runs indefinitely), Blackstreet U.S.A. Puppet Theatre, 4619 W. Washington Blvd., (213) 936-6091.

“Sand Mountain” (Sunday through Feb. 1), Back Alley Theatre, 15231 Burbank Blvd., Van Nuys, (818) 780-2240.

“Santa Hangs Ten” (through Dec. 20), Beverly Hills Playhouse, 254 S. Robertson Blvd., (213) 874-3678.

“Scrooge” (Friday through Sunday), La Mirada Community Playhouse at La Mirada Civic Theatre, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., (213) 944-9801.

“Scrooge” (Saturday through Dec. 21), Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., (818) 355-4318.

“See How They Run” (through Dec. 21), Theatre 40, 241 Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills, (213), 465-0070.

“The Snow Queen” (through Dec. 21), Los Angeles City College, 855 N. Vermont Ave., (213) 669-5528.

“The Snow Queen” (through Saturday), Long Beach Community Players, Studio Theatre, 5021 E. Anaheim St., (213) 494-1616.

“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (through Dec. 28), Nosotros, 1314 N. Wilton Place, Hollywood, (213) 465-4167.

“The Stingiest Man in Town” (Friday through Sunday), West Covina Playhouse at West Covina High School, 1609 E. Cameron, (818) 331-6877.

“Una Pastorela” (through Dec. 21), El Presidio Chapel, El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park, (805) 966-9719.

“Winnie-the-Pooh” (through Dec. 21), Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills, (818) 719-6488.

“Winnie-the-Pooh” (Friday through Sunday), Laguna Moulton Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (714) 494-0743.

“A Winter’s Tale” (Friday through Dec. 28), Callboard Theatre, 8451 Melrose Place, West Hollywood, (213) 465-0070.