“A Christmas Carol.” Chesapeake Shakespeare Company brings back its annual Baltimore-set adaption of Charles Dickens’ holiday morality tale. Through Dec. 23, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, 7 S. Calvert St., (410) 244-8570, chesapeakeshakespeare.com, $19-$65.
Cirque de la Symphonie Holiday Spectacular. Cirque de la Symphonie joins forces with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for a musical showcase of acrobats, contortionists, jugglers, balancers, strongmen, and aerialists. Dec. 22, 8 p.m.; Dec. 23, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., (410) 783-8000, bsomusic.org, $17.50-$79.
Comedy Cantonese. Magooby’s Joke House invites audience to participate in the Jewish tradition of gorging on Chinese food and Jewish humor on Christmas Eve. Marc Unger headlines. Dec. 24, buffet served at 7:30, show at 8:30 p.m., Magooby’s Joke House, 9603 Deereco Road, (410) 252-2727, magoobys.com, $30 for show only, $40 for show plus Chinese buffet (plus $5 for kosher).
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” StillPointe Theatre brings the cult rock musical about an East German rock ‘n roll queen to The Ottobar. Dec. 21 and 28, The Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St., (410) 662-0069, theottobar.com, $25-$40.
Joe Squared Holiday Spectacular. Comedy from Eric Navarro, Kiragu Beauttah, and Rose Vineshank plus music from Michael Moran and the Chris-Misfits, The Gunson Roses Office Holiday Party, and Leo’s Maximum Yuletide Trumpets. Dec. 23, 8:30 p.m., Joe Squared, 33 W. North Ave., (410) 545-0444, joesquared.com, $10.
“Lookingglass Alice.” A contemporary retelling of Lewis Carroll’s trippy tale. Through Dec. 31, Baltimore Center Stage, 700 N. Charles St., (410) 332-0033, centerstage.org, $19.50-$74.
The Mother Load: Performance Anxiety. The cabaret-style puppet showcase hosted by Mother Goose returns with original music by Trucker Talk, a new story from Bigfoot’s memoirs, and drink specials. Dec. 20, 8 p.m., The Windup Space, 12 W. North Ave., (410) 244-8855, thewindupspace.com.
“The Revolutionists.” Former queen Marie Antoinette, feminist playwright Olympe de Gouges, assassin Charlotte Corday, and Caribbean spy Marianne Angelle get together and talk revolution and duty. Through Jan. 7, Everyman Theatre, 315 W. Fayette St., (410) 752-2208, everymantheatre.org, $25-$65.
“Sister Act: The Musical.” Based on the 1992 film with original music by award-winning composer Alan Menken, the Tony Award-winning musical finds a disco diva in protective custody sent to a convent after witnessing a murder. Through Dec. 24, Motor House, 120 W. North Ave., (410) 637-8300, ArtsCentric.net, $26.
Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.” The Ballet Theater of Maryland presents their version of the grand ballet accompanied by the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra. Dec. 23, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., Lyric Opera House, 140 W. Mount Royal Ave., (410) 685-5086, modell-lyric.com, $19-$54.