Scrooges, Santa and snow onstage

City Theatre at Sacramento City College is staging an updated version of Snow White: The British Panto, first staged in 2008. For the uninitiated, British panto involves fairy-tale characters, corny jokes, song, dance and always a loud, overdressed, sarcastic man in drag. Showtimes are 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday through December 15, at the Main Auditorium Performing Arts Center (3835 Freeport Boulevard). Purchase tickets ($10-$15) by contacting (916) 558-2228 or

www.citytheatre.net.

The B Street Theatre’s Buck Busfield writes an original play each year for the December slot, and this year’s entry is Not in the Stars. Originally drafted as a one-act in 1994, the play has now been expanded to full length and stars three veterans (Kurt Johnson, Elisabeth Nunziato and David Pierini), who first appeared at B Street as interns 19 years ago. Showtimes are 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 2 and 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 5 and 9 p.m. on Saturday through January 5, 2014, at the B Street Theatre (2711 B Street). Contact (916) 443-5300 or www.bstreettheatre.org for tickets ($25-$35).

Capital Stage is doing The Santaland Diaries, a one-man stage adaptation of the sardonic 1992 radio essay for NPR by David Sedaris, which launched his career. It’s about the pitfalls and stresses encountered by a temp working as a department-store elf. Aaron Wilton stars in this production, which will show from December 4, through December 29, at Capital Stage (2215 J Street). Showtimes are 7 p.m. on Wednesday, 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 2 and 7 p.m. on Sunday. Contact (916) 995-5464 or www.capstage.org for tickets ($24-$38).

Sacramento Theatre Company offers It’s a Wonderful Life – The Musical, based, of course, on the iconic 1946 film. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday, 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday through December 22, at the Wells Fargo Pavilion (1419 H Street). Get tickets ($20-$40) at (916) 443-6722 or www.sactheatre.org.

And if you just gotta see Scrooge, Rodger Hoopman is once again doing his musical version from December 5, through December 23. Showtimes are at 8 p.m. on Friday through Saturday at Chautauqua Playhouse (5234 Engle Road, Suite 110 in Carmichael). Buy tickets ($10-$15) at (916) 489-7529 or www.cplayhouse.org.

Lastly, Broadway Sacramento brings The Buddy Holly Story from December 27 through January 2, 2014, at the Sacramento Community Center Theater (1301 L Street). Call (916) 808-5181 or visit www.broadwaysacramento.com for showtimes and to purchase tickets ($22-$88).