Holiday

Christmas Cantata "Ah, troppo e ver": A mini-opera of the Nativity, by Alessandro Stradella, 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, $12-$25, 979-4500. First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing (at Dana), Berkeley, 510-848-3696; 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, $12-$25, 979-4500. St. Gregory's, 500 De Haro (at Mariposa), 255-8100.

A Christmas Carol/A.C.T.: Dickens' classic holiday tale, 2 and 7:30 p.m., through Thursday, Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, and Sunday, Dec. 22, noon and 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24, noon and 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, noon Friday, Dec. 27, noon and 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, $15-$61. Geary Theater, 415 Geary (at Mason), 749-2228.

Christmas Concert & Sing-Along: San Francisco Girls Chorus perform its annual concert of carols and chorale works, 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23, $12-$40, 392-4400 (box office). Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness (at Grove), 864-6000.

Christmas Eve at Yoshi's: Join vocalist Clairdee at a CD release party for her new album of holiday songs, This Christmas, 8 and 10 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24, $15. Yoshi's, 510 Embarcadero West (at Washington), Oakland, 510-238-9200.

The Christmas Revels: 17th annual celebration of the winter solstice featuring Celtic music, traditional dance, and music, 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, and Sunday, Dec. 22, $15-$35, 510-893-9853 (box office). Scottish Rite Temple, 1547 Lakeside Dr., Oakland, 925-798-1300.

Cinderella/African-American Shakespeare Company: A funky retelling of the classic fairy tale, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, $17-$22, 866-462-2838 (box office). Palace of Fine Arts, 3301 Lyon (at Lundeen), 865-2000.

Cinderella/Marin Shakespeare Company: The beloved fairy tale presented in the farcical "panto" tradition, 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, additional 7:30 p.m. shows on Sunday, Dec. 22 and Dec. 29, 2 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 29; $15-$20, 499-4488 (information). 142 Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton (at Madrona), Mill Valley.

The Colors of Christmas: Presented by the San Francisco Symphony with special guests Peabo Bryson, Jon Secada, Oleta Adams, Jody Watley, and the Colors of Christmas Mass Choir, 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 18, $15-$73. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness (at Grove), 864-6000.

eXtreme Elvis Annual Holiday Show: eXtreme Elvis' performances last year included peeing on Toys for Tots donations and in the eggnog; see what he's got in store this year, 10:30 p.m. and midnight Saturday, Dec. 21, $6. Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk (at Hemlock), 923-0923.

Fred Anderson's Holiday Juggle-Rama: Comedy, magic, juggling, and more, 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, Monday, Dec. 23, and Thursday, Dec. 26, 4:30 and 5:45 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, Sunday, Dec. 29, and Monday, Dec. 30, free, Center Stage. Pier 39, Beach & Embarcadero, 705-5500.

Handel's Messiah/San Francisco Symphony: Celebrate with the symphony's classic rendition of Handel's masterpiece, 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, and Saturday, Dec. 21, $15-$79. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness (at Grove), 864-6000.

Holiday Choirs in the Rotunda: Bay Area choir groups serenade visitors to the Science Center, noon Saturdays, through Dec. 28; free-$8. Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline, Joaquin Miller Park, Oakland, 510-336-7300.

Holiday Music Series: Enjoy free entertainment as local musicians perform at various locations throughout the North Berkeley business district, Saturday, Dec. 21, free, 510-540-6444 (information), call for a listing of performances. Multiple Locations.

Holiday Revue & Fund-raiser: Fiddler Laurie Lewis hosts the annual benefit for Freight & Salvage featuring the Bluegrass Intention, Tony Furtado, Brittany Haas, and others, 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, $15.50-$16.50. Freight & Salvage, 1111 Addison (at University), Berkeley, 510-548-1761.

A Holiday Spectacle With The Slippery People: 9 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 19, $6. Tongue & Groove, 2513 Van Ness (at Union), 928-0404.

Holidaze in Hicksville: With Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks, special guests, 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 21, $35, 421-TIXS. Fillmore, 1805 Geary (at Fillmore), 346-6000.

It's a Wonderful Dyke: Chlamydia Killroy and Sean Fromer's spoof on the holiday classic It's a Wonderful Life, 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, and Friday, Dec. 20, 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, $10-$12. Spanganga, 3376 19th St. (at Mission), 821-1102.

Jelly's Annual Christmas Party: With Mazacote, DJ Luis Medina, 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 22, $7. Jelly's, 295 China Basin (at Mission Rock), 495-3099.

Kung Pao Kosher Comedy: Tenth anniversary celebration of Christmas with Chinese food and kosher comedy featuring Jeffrey Ross, Cory Kahaney, Eddie Sarfaty, and Lisa Geduldig, 6 and 9:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23, and Tuesday, Dec. 24, 5 and 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 25, 6 and 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, $35-$50, 522-3737 (information). New Asia Restaurant, 772 Pacific (between Grant and Stockton).

Kwanzaa Celebration: Dance for Power and Oakland's Castlemont High School present a musical extravaganza of song, dance, and drumming, 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, $5-$10, 510-652-2344 (tickets). Castlemont High School, 8601 MacArthur, Oakland.

Moonwatcher: A New Tale of Chelm for Chanukah: A musical comedy about the legendary "town of fools" in Jewish folklore, 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 29; $12.50-$25; pay-what-you-can Thursdays. A Traveling Jewish Theater, 470 Florida (at Mariposa), 399-1809.

New Pickle Circus in Circumstance: A young woman struggling to survive in the big city joins a band of underground circus performers in the Pickles' new holiday extravaganza; Opens, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, and Friday, Dec. 20, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, through Saturday, Dec. 28, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30, 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, and Wednesday, Jan. 1, $18-$26, 759-8123 (information). Cowell Theater, Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason, Marina & Buchanan, 345-7575.

Noontime Concert Series: With Anna Maria Mendietta, Frances Peterson Enchanted Christmas, 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18. St. Patrick's Church, 756 Mission (at Fourth St.), 777-3211.