Ho-Ho-Ho! Our Jolly Holiday Entertainment Roundup

Seeing a live show is as much a part of the Christmas season in New York as strolling past the Rockefeller Center tree or the festive window displays at Saks. And this year, especially, theatergoers have an array of special holiday offerings from which to choose. Here's the lowdown on six shows that tap into the spirit of the season:

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular
Starring: The Rockettes, with a special guest appearance by Santa Claus
Target Audience: Kids from 1 to 92
Running time: 90 minutes, no intermission
Sample Song Titles: "Sleighride," "Here Comes Santa Claus," "A Little Girl's Dream," "Christmas in New York"
What You'll See: This year's extravaganza kicks off with Santa and his reindeer taking a 3-D ride around Manhattan on a state-of-the-art L.E.D. screen, which projects other eye-popping images throughout the show. In addition to classic elements such as the Rockettes' "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" first performed in 1933 and the Living Nativity complete with camel and donkey, everyone's favorite line dancers get a snappy new "12 Days of Christmas" tap number and glam new costumes designed by Tony Award winner Gregg Barnes.
Where Is It? Radio City Music Hall, of course—1260 Avenue of the Americas

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Starring: Patrick Page in the title role; John Cullum as the narrator, Old Max; Rusty Ross as The Grinch's loyal canine sidekick, Young Max
Target Audience: Parents and kids ages 3 and up; fans of Dr. Seuss
Running Time: 90 minutes, no intermission
Sample Song Titles: "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," "Who Likes Christmas?" "Whatchama Who," "I Hate Christmas Eve"
What You'll See: This lively musical retells Dr. Seuss' tale of a grumpy green guy who's determined to eliminate Christmas in Whoville—until he's won over by the unselfish spirit of the happy Whos especially sweet young Cindy-Lou Who. The strong-voiced Page commands the stage, and John Lee Beatty's colorful sets bring the Seussian world to vivid life.
Where Is It? Broadway's Hilton Theatre, 214 West 43rd Street

Striking 12
Starring: Valerie Vigoda, Brendan Milburn and Gene Lewin of the indie-pop band GrooveLily
Target Audience: Anybody who feels ambivalent about New Year's Eve; families with tween-age kids especially girls ages 9-13
Running Time: 85 minutes, no intermission
Sample Song Titles: "Last Day of the Year," "Red and Green And I'm Feeling Blue," "Resolution," "Screwed-Up People Make Great Art"
What You'll See: Part concert, part musical revue, Striking 12 combines a conventional plotline about a guy who wishes he could eliminate New Year's Eve with a musical meditation on the meaning of "The Little Match Girl." The former works better than the latter, but GrooveLily's clever songwriting and expert musicianship makes their show a welcome addition to the holiday scene. Hey, you've gotta like this lyric: "I'd rather stay home and grout my shower stall than watch the ball go down."
Where Is It? Daryl Roth Theatre, 101 East 15th Street

That Time of the Year
Starring: A cast of five young performers, including Jonathan Rayson Little Shop of Horrors and Erin Maguire Five Course Love
Target Audience: Interfaith couples and families ages 8 and up looking for a holiday chuckle
Running Time: 2 hours, one intermission
Sample Song Titles: "Country Christmas," "Rock 'n Roll Hanukkah," "Miracles Can Happen," "Wong Ho's China Garden, and the title song
What You'll See: This new musical revue features original numbers that send up and celebrate the trials and tribulations of the season. They range from sweet a tribute to tradition entitled "Mama's Latkes" to strange an actor dressed as a top singing "Time for a Spin". There's also a horny Mrs. Santa who threatens to make whoopie with the elves in Santa's absence and this memorable lyric, sung by a lesbian character heading home to Tennessee to come out to her family: "This year, we're gonna dyke the halls!"
Where Is It? York Theatre, 619 Lexington Avenue

Annie
Starring: Kathie Lee Gifford as Miss Hannigan, Conrad John Schuck as Daddy Warbucks, Marissa O'Donnell as Annie
Target Audience: Parents and kids ages 4 and up; anybody too young to have seen Andrea McArdle and the divine Dorothy Loudon in the original Broadway production almost 30 gulp years ago
Running Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes, one intermission
Sample Song Titles: "It's the Hard-Knock Life," "Tomorrow," "Easy Street," "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile"
What You'll See: It's not technically a holiday show though Christmas figures into the plotline, but the touring production of this beloved musical hopes to draw holiday crowds in its year-end stop in the Big Apple. Sing along, everyone: "N.Y.C., what is it about you? You're big! You're loud! You're tough!" Schuck is a reliable presence as Daddy Warbucks; talk-show alum/musical-theater composer Gifford adds interest in her return to the stage as mean Miss Hannigan.
Where Is It? Theater at Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza

A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant
Starring: 10 child actors
Target Audience: Non-Scientologist adults with a pronounced sense of irony TomKat wedding attendees probably should steer clear
Running Time: 1 hour, no intermission
Sample Song Titles: "Hey! It's a Happy Day!" "L. Ron Hubbard," "Science of the Mind," "Mister Auditor"
What You'll See: This truly peculiar—and often hilarious— parody of a Christmas Nativity pageant substitutes the life story of L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology. Delivered in deadpan style by a cast of 8- to 12-year-olds, the show manages to get in plenty of digs at Scientology's spooky beliefs and manipulative ways. Two kids don costumes representing the human brain split into its "analytical mind" good and "reactive mind" bad. It's no surprise that Scientologists aren't crazy about this show, produced by Les Freres Corbusier which skewered fundamentalist Christians in the recent Hell House, but those with a love of satire may find it the ideal holiday cocktail.
Where Is It? New York Theatre Workshop, 79 East 4th Street