The Post and Courier

Even if you are a Scrooge about the usual Yuletide trappings, such as dry fruitcake, crumpled-up wrapping paper and too-sweet eggnog, don't fret.

This year the Charleston area's arts organizations are making a special effort to entertain you out of any seasonal miasma from which you might be suffering. In fact, they are going to make certain you will LOVE the holiday season, yes, every single sip of eggnog.

Thespian offerings include a wild and woolly romp by Pure Theatre, which despite performing in the back hall of a church is still as irreverent as ever, as Rodney Lee Rogers reprises from four years ago the one-man show "Fully Committed."

The role of a reservation booker at New York's trendiest restaurant during the busy holidays requires that Rogers play 40 different characters in a frantic 90 minutes flat.

Go to Lance Hall behind Circular Congregational Church and see how the invincible Rogers manages this feat.

It long has been whispered that relatively normal people can get slightly weird during the weeks between Thanksgiving and Dec. 25, and some have been known to talk with ghosts, VERY scary ghosts, such as in Charleston Stage's "A Christmas Carol, A Ghost Story of Christmas," an adaptation of Charles Dickens' 19th-century novella by Charleston Stage founder Julian Wiles. The large cast features some of the most macabre ghosts around that are made less spooky because they are accompanied by an on-stage band led by a New York arranger performing cheery carols.

"We really wanted it both ways, and I think that's what we have done," says Wiles. "Anyway, during Dickens' time, it was rather common for Christmas to be haunted by ghosts and spirits."

Putting a new spin on an old chestnut, the Footlight Players will stage the multitalented Daniel Sullivan's play "Inspecting Carol."

This comedic satire chronicles the fortunes of the fictional Midwestern Soapbox Theatre, which finds itself short of funds due to being turned down for a grant by the National Endowment for the Arts. The physical spoof on the Dickens classic features a Tiny Tim who is a tad old for the role and a slightly wacky Scrooge. It has been described as a satire not only of holiday traditions, but also as to what arts groups have to do to get NEA money.

This way, you can have your "Carol" fix tinged with laughter but carrying a bite.

The Village Playhouse definitely had a comedic Christmas in mind when co-founder Keely Enright decided to repeat the stage adaptation of Jean Shepherd's "A Christmas Story" — made into the popular movie — since last year's run was sold out. "Why not stage it every year?" asks Enright. "Other people do that with 'A Christmas Carol' and the movie '(It's) a Wonderful Life.' The Shepherd story is perfect for children and adults and dares to show why people really eat Christmas dinner out at a Chinese restaurant."

On the other end of the spectrum, Charleston Ballet Theatre can make any anti-balletomane attempt a leap down George Street, after seeing CBT Resident Choreographer Jill Eathorne Bahr's version of that 1892 miracle of a ballet "The Nutcracker," which, although taken from a story set in Germany, had to travel to Russia's Maryinsky Theatre to become famous.

Bahr has varied the choreography from the original by Lev Ivanov, who also adapted the ballet's story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King." Anybody who is accustomed to seeing the New York City Ballet's version will find out you can have just as much fun pretending it is snowing South of Broad, where the opening family party takes place, as in a snow-covered palace in St. Petersburg.

If you want a different sort of ballet, try "Peter and the Wolf," narrated by David Bowie and danced by The Robert Ivey Ballet at the Sottile Theatre on Dec. 18, 19, and 20. All forms of animals come alive as different sounds of the orchestra, and its a Russian classic for young and old alike - and just a tad scary the first time you see it.

To warm up any cold heart, gospel and Christmas music will ring out Saturday night at the Gaillard Auditorium when the 110-voice Charleston Symphony Orchestra Gospel Choir, directed by Vincent Danner, shares the stage with the CSO musicians. The groups will perform a "Gospel Messiah" along with more traditional seasonal songs, and Memphis-based Jennifer Bynum will return as guest soloist.

Another highlight of the CSO season will be the "Holiday Pops" to bring together at the Gaillard the Charleston Symphony Chorus and CSO musicians along with singers from other community organizations.

Other festive events will include the CSO musicians and CSO Chamber Choir in two concerts performing "The Messiah." One will take place at The Citadel's Summerall Chapel on campus and the other at St. Theresa the Little Flower Catholic Church in Summerville. A "Messiah Sing-Along," which encourages audience members to join in with the CSO Chamber Choir, will be held at Citadel Square Baptist Church.

Also, you can blast off into the holidays with the sounds of the CSO brass section in the concert "Holiday Brass" at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church.

If all this doesn't put you in the yuletide spirit, then, face it, you are condemned to forever be a Scrooge!

If you go

Dec. 13-14: "The Nutcracker." Gaillard Municipal Auditorium, 77 Calhoun St. 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13; 3 p.m. Dec. 14. $30-$40. 723-7334 or visit www.charlestonballet.org.

Through Dec. 30: Village Playhouse presents "A Christmas Story." 7 p.m. Dec. 4-6, 12-13, 19-20; 3 p.m. Dec. 7 and 14. $25/adult; $23/senior (62 & over); $20/student (w/ID); $12/child (12 & under). 730 Coleman Blvd., Mt. Pleasant. 856-1579 and visit www.villageplayhouse.com.

Dec. 2-20: Pure Theatre presents "Fully Committed." 150 Meeting St. (Circular Congregational Church). 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2-6, 9-13, & 16-20; 2 p.m. Dec. 14. $30/ $10 student rush. For tickets call 800-838-3006. Call 723-4444, e-mail info@puretheatre.org or visit www.puretheatre.org.

Dec. 4-21: Charleston Stage presents "A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas," adapted from Charles Dickens by Julian Wiles. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4-6, 11-13, 20; 5 p.m. Dec. 7; and 3 p.m. Dec. 14 and 21. Sottile Theatre, 44 George St. $41/adults; $39/seniors; $15/students. Call 577-7183 and visit www.charlestonstage.com.

Dec. 5-21: Footlight Players presents "Inspecting Carol" by Daniel Sullivan, "A Christmas Carol" meets "Noises Off" meets "Waiting for Guffman." 20 Queen St. 8 p.m. Dec. 5-6, 11-13, 18-20; 3 p.m. Dec. 7 and 21. $22/adults; $20/seniors; $15/students; $10/children under age 13. Call 722-4487 or visit www.footlightplayers.net.

Dec. 19-21: The Company Company presents the 2008 Holiday Edition of "The Good Time Variety Hour," directed by Maida Libkin. 7 p.m. Dec. 19-21; 3 p.m. Dec. 21. Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St. $20/adults; $15/seniors & students. Call 800-838-3006 or 810-8100 and visit www.thecompanycompany.com.

Dec. 20: Charleston Symphony Orchestra presents its McCrady's Charleston Pops! Series concert "Holiday Pops," 8 p.m. Gaillard Municipal Auditorium, 77 Calhoun St. $20-$45 per person; $5 students with ID; group rates available. 723-7528, ext. 110 and visit www.charlestonsymphony.com.

Dec. 21: Charleston Symphony Orchestra presents 'The Messiah Sing-a-long.' 6 p.m. Citadel Square Baptist Church, Meeting St. $15/adults; $5/students. 723-7528 ext. 110 or visit www.charlestonsymphony.com.

Dec. 13: Charleston Symphony Orchestra presents Holiday Brass. St. 8 p.m. Matthew's Lutheran Church, King at Vanderhorst street. $15/adults; $5/students. 723-7528 ext. 110 or visit www.charlestonsymphony.com.

Dec. 18-20: Robert Ivey Ballet presents "Peter and the Wolf" and "The Angel Tree." Sottile Theatre, 44 George St. 9 and 10:30 a.m. Dec. 18-19; noon Dec. 20. $8 per person. 556-1343 or visit www.robertiveyballet.com.

Reach Dottie Ashley at 937-5704 or dashley@postandcourier.com.