Enough Choices to Stuff a Stocking

Deck the halls with sugarplums, nutcrackers and sing-along “Messiahs.” Add Christmas music concerts and a dance version of “Babes in Toyland,” and you get plenty of holiday choices for Orange County residents this season.

Still, if you’re looking for a lavish, full-scale production of the “Nutcracker” ballet, your best bet is the new Victorian-American staging by the Joffrey Ballet at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 23 and 8 p.m. Dec. 26-30, with matinees at 2 p.m. Dec. 28-31. Tickets: $8-$35. Information: (714) 740-2000 or (213) 480-3232.

The Long Beach Ballet offers a colorful “Nutcracker” at 2:30 and 8 p.m. Dec. 10 and 17, and at 1 and 4:30 p.m. Dec. 11 and 18, at the Terrace Theatre, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. Tickets: $11-$25. Information: (213) 436-3661.

If you don’t want to drive that far, here are some “Nutcrackers” closer to home:

Dec. 2-4 and 9-11: Buena Park Children’s Musical Theatre’s production at Buena Park High School, Magnolia Street at Academy Way. The company bills itself as “children performing for children”; actors are in the fourth to 11th grades. Show times: 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets: $2, children 12 and younger; $3, adults. Information: (714) 821-1394.

Dec. 3: Coast Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker: A Journey to Candyland” at the Robert B. Moore Theatre, Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. Show times: 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets: in advance, $4.50 for children younger than 12 and $5.50 for adults; at the door, $6 for children younger than 12 and $7 for adults. Information: (714) 432-5880.

Dec. 10: Ballet Montmartre/Children’s Ballet at the Newport Harbor High School Auditorium, 600 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach. Show time: 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $5 for the elderly and for children younger than 12; $7 for others. Information: (714) 646-7688.

Dec. 14-16: Orange County High School of the Arts’ first production of “The Nutcracker,” at Cypress College Theatre, 9200 Valley View St., Cypress. Show time: 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $7 for children younger than 12; $8 for adults. Information: (213) 596-1435.

Dec. 15-18: Coast Ballet Theatre will repeat “The Nutcracker: A Journey to Candyland” at Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. Show times: 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets: $6 for groups and children younger than 12; $7 for the elderly; $8 for others. Information: (714) 582-4656.

Dec. 16-18: Villa Park Ballet, Phillips Hall Auditorium, Rancho Santiago College, 17th and Bristol streets, Santa Ana. Show times: 7:30 p.m., with matinees at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets: $6 for children, seniors and Rancho Santiago College students; $8 for others. Information: (714) 667-3096.

Dec. 16-18, 20-22: Ballet Pacifica, the Moulton Theatre, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. Show times: 7:30 p.m. Friday; 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and 3:30 p.m. only on Sunday. Tickets: $8 for the elderly and children younger than 12; $10 for others. Information: (714) 494-7271.

Dec. 20-23: Ballet Repertory Theater, Mainstage Theater, Golden West College, 15744 Golden West St., Huntington Beach. Show time: 7 p.m. Tickets: $5 for children younger than 12; $7 general. Information: (714) 895-8378.

Another holiday dance choice:

Dec. 2-4 and 9-11: The Forum Dance Ensemble offers “Babes in Toyland” at the Forum Theater, 4175 Fairmont Blvd., Yorba Linda. Show times: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays and Saturday Dec. 10. Tickets: $7. Information: (714) 779-8591.

Handel’s “Messiah” continues to be a popular favorite in sing-along versions, in which the audience becomes the chorus. Two are scheduled:

Dec. 4 at 3 p.m.: David Lewis, Fullerton Symphony, Fullerton College Campus theater. Tickets: $5.50. Scores available for purchase. Information: (714) 871-8101.

Dec. 18 at 4 p.m.: St. Andrew’s Church, 600 St. Andrews Road, Newport Beach. Tickets: $5. Scores available for purchase. Information: (714) 631-3821.

Traditional concert versions of the “Messiah” are also available:

Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 17 at 4 p.m.: The Pacific Chorale and the Pacific Symphony, conducted by John Alexander, at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tickets: $9-$29. Information: (714) 542-1790.

Dec. 18 at 2 and 5 p.m.: Golden West Singers and Madrigal Singers, “Messiah” highlights, Mainstage Theater, Golden West College, 15744 Golden West St., Huntington Beach. Tickets: $4 for children younger than 12; $5 general. Information: (714) 895-8378.

Other holiday music concerts:

Dec. 2, 8 p.m.: Eastman Brass, at South Coast Community Church, 5120 Bonita Canyon Road, Irvine. Tickets: $8-$12. Information: (714) 856-6369.

Dec. 3, 7 p.m.: The Cypress College Camerata and Singers, at the West Anaheim United Methodist Church, 2045 Ball Road, Anaheim. Tickets: $3. Information: (714) 826-2220, Ext. 140.

Dec. 3, 8 p.m.: The Master Chorale of Orange County, conducted by William Hall, “Majesty of Bach” including three Cantatas, at St. Andrew’s Church, 600 St. Andrews Road, Newport Beach. Tickets: $9.50-$15. Information: (714) 556-6262.

Dec. 3, 8 p.m.: The All-American Boys Chorus and Westminster Chorale, Westminster Cultural Arts Center, Hoover Street and Westminster Boulevard. Tickets: $18 for the elderly and for children younger than 12; $20 general. Information: (714) 892-8034.

Dec. 9, 8 p.m.: The California Master Chorale and Orchestra, conducted by Larry K. Bell, at the Phillips Hall Theatre, Rancho Santiago College, 17th and Bristol streets, Santa Ana. Tickets: $4-$6. Information: (714) 667-3163.

Dec. 9-10: Wassail Dinners and Concerts at Chapman College, 333 N. Glassell St., Orange. Wassail at 6 p.m., dinners at 6:45, concerts at 8. Tickets: $25. Information: (714) 997-6812.

Dec. 9-11: The Saddleback Concert Chorale, conducted by Alvin Brightbill, singing Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms” with audience sing-along carols, at the McKinney Theatre, Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. Show times: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $8-$10. Information: (714) 582-4656.

Dec. 10, 8 p.m.: The Orange Coast Chorale and Singers, conducted by Richard Raub, singing Bach’s Cantata No. 40 and other seasonal works, at the Robert B. Moore Theatre, Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. Tickets: $7 in advance; $8.50 at the door. Information: (714) 662-7220.

Dec. 10, 8 p.m.: Cal State Fullerton Choirs, at the Little Theater, Cal State Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd. Tickets: $3.50. Information: (714) 773-3371.

Dec. 11, 3 p.m.: The Buena Park Community Chorus, at the Buena Park Community Recreation Center, 8150 Knott Ave. Admission: Free. Information: (714) 821-1010.

Dec. 11, 4 and 7 p.m.: Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” holiday favorites and sing-along carols, at St. Andrew’s Church, 600 St. Andrews Road, Newport Beach. Tickets: $2 for students; $4 general. Information: (714) 631-3821.

Dec. 11, 8:15 p.m.: The South Coast Symphony, conducted by Larry Granger, playing “Holiday Pops” at the Robert B. Moore Theatre, Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. Tickets: $6-$21. Information: (714) 662-7220.

Dec. 16, 8 p.m.: The Fullerton College Master Chorale, conducted by Gary McRoberts, at the Campus Theatre, Chapman Avenue and Lemon Street, Huntington Beach. Tickets: $5.50. Information: (714) 871-8101.

Dec. 16, 8 p.m.: Chamber music with guitarist Eric Tingstad and wind player Nancy Rumbel, at the Robert B. Moore Theatre, Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. Tickets: $8. Information: (714) 432-5880.

Dec. 16-17, 2 and 5 p.m.: The Golden West College Symphonic Band, at the Mainstage Theater, Golden West College, 15744 Golden West St., Huntington Beach. Tickets: $4 for children younger than 12; $5 general. Information: (714) 895-8378.

Dec. 16-17, 8 p.m.: Mel Torme and the Pacific Symphony, at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tickets: $15-$49. Information: (714) 972-1322.

Dec. 17, 11:30 a.m.: The Pacific Symphony, conducted by Keith Clark, plays a children’s holiday concert at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tickets: $5 for children 13 and younger; $7 for adults. Information: (714) 972-1322.

Dec. 17, 8 p.m.: “L’Age Noel,” played by flutist Marianne Whitmyer and guitarist Joseph Poshek, at the Fine Arts Recital Hall, Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. Tickets: $5.50 in advance, $7 at the door. Information: 432-5880.

Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.: The Orange Coast College Singers, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1221 Wass St., Tustin. Ticket: $6 in advance, $7.50 at the door. Information: (714) 432-5527.

Dec. 19-20, 7 p.m.: The Pacific Chorale and the Pacific Hand Bell Ensemble, conducted by John Alexander, at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tickets: $12.50-$35. Information: (714) 542-1790.

Dec. 31, 8:30 p.m.: The Pacific Symphony, conducted by Zdenek Macal, at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tickets: concert only, $29; concert and subsequent New Year’s Eve party at the Westin South Coast Plaza hotel, $69-$150. Information: (714) 973-1322.