A Wonderland of Scrooge, Carols and Dance / Theater

“A Christmas Carol.” It’s time again for South Coast’s custom adaptation of the Dickens classic. Hal Landon Jr., the one and only Scrooge in the production’s history, is back for his 21st annual round of bah-humbugging, terrified self-examination and jolly transformation. Through Dec. 24. South Coast Repertory Mainstage, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 708-5555.

“Keely and Du.” Vanguard Theatre Ensemble has programmed against the lighthearted seasonal grain with the pseudonymous Jane Martin’s intense drama about a young woman who wants to end a pregnancy engendered by a rape, and the anti-abortion zealots who kidnap her to prevent what they consider murder. Through Dec. 16. Vanguard Theatre Ensemble, 699-A S. State College Blvd., Fullerton. (714) 526-8007.

“La Posada Magica.” The death of her baby brother has extinguished the hope and faith of a teenage girl in this annual holiday musical by Octavio Solis and Marcos Loya. La Posada, a traditional Mexican American door-to-door Christmas procession, helps Graciela find tidings of comfort and joy again. Dec. 8-24. South Coast Repertory Second Stage. (714) 708-5555.

“Regali, Fantasmi e Canti (Gifts, Ghosts and Songs).” The Rude Guerrilla Theater Company musters its own loose, comic interpretation of “A Christmas Carol”--as carried out by an improvising troupe of Italian-accented commedia dell’arte players. In this take, Scrooge becomes Scruglione. Dec. 1-17. Empire Theater, 200 N. Broadway, Santa Ana. (714) 547-4688.

“Rent.” Puccini’s “La Boheme” is the template for this Tony- and Pulitzer-winning musical about the loves, losses and struggles of a group of young people living the bohemian life in a rough Manhattan neighborhood. Dec. 26-31. Orange County Performing Arts Center. (714) 556-2787.

“A Shakespearean Christmas.” Shakespeare Orange County presents its traditional holiday assortment of readings, songs and comical asides. Besides the Bard, past shows have delved into seasonally resonant passages from Dickens, Virgil, Anne Frank and Ogden Nash. Dec. 16. Waltmar Theatre, Chapman University. (714) 744-7016.