Celebrating the winter holidays with theater in New Jersey (Dec. 5-Jan. 1)

Here’s a sample of seasonal stage events taking place around the state through the end of the year.

Langston Hughes' "Black Nativity" will be presented at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank on Dec. 30.thebasie.org

Through Dec. 11 “A Christmas Pudding,” Bergenstages production of holiday songs, stories, poems and tales by Dickens, Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, Bergen Community College, Anna Maria Ciccone Theatre, 400 Paramus Road, Paramus. $5-$15. tickets.bergen.edu, 201-447-7428.

Through Dec. 12 “The Happy Elf,” Harry Connick Jr.’s holiday musical, Brundage Park Playhouse, 2 Bungalow Lane at Carrell Road, Randolph. $20-$25. brundageparkplayhouse.org, 973-989-7092.

Through Dec. 12 “A Christmas Carol,” Centenary Stage Company production of Stephen Temperley adaptation of the Charles Dickens novella, Centenary University, Sitnik Theater, Lackland Center, 400 Jefferson St, Hackettstown. $15-$29.50. centenarystageco.org, 908-979-0900.

Through Dec. 12 “A Christmas Carol,” stage production based on holiday film, Music Mountain Theatre, 1483 Route 179, Lambertville. $25. musicmountaintheatre.org, 609-397-3337.

Through Dec. 12 “Christmas with Harte and O. Henry,” short stories adapted for stage presentation, East Lynne Theater Company, Cape May Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes St, Cape May. $20-$35. eastlynnetheater.org, 609-884-5898.

Through Dec. 12 “Elf the Musical,” stage production based on the film, Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees Drive, Manasquan. $30-$40. algonquinarts.org, 732-528-9211.

Through Dec. 12 “Assisted Living — The Home . . . for the Holidays,” musical comedy, Avenel Performing Arts Center, 150 Avenel St. in Avenel, Woodbridge. $39.50. avenelarts.com, 732-314-0500.

Through Dec. 19 “The Absolute, Fantastical Adventures of Cindy Ella,” original holiday production based on British pantomime, Ritz Theatre, 915 Whitehorse Pike, Oaklyn. $27. 856-858-5230.

Through Dec. 19 “Scrooge,” on-site production of the musical, Spring Lake Community House, 300 Madison Ave, Spring Lake. $25-$35. springlaketheatre.com, 732-449-4530.

Through Dec. 19 “Ebenezer,” musical based on the Charles Dickens novelette, Surflight Theatre, 201 Engleside Ave, Beach Haven. $31-$41. surflight.org, 609-492-9477.

Through Jan. 2 “A Jolly Holiday — Celebrating Disney’s Broadway Hits,” musical revue of seasonal songs, Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn. $36-$98. papermill.org, 973-376-4343.

Dec. 8-30 “Adopt a Sailor: The Holiday Edition,” Charles Evered comedy about an upper class New York couple that inadvertently welcomes a military man from the deep south, Cape May Stage, Robert Shackleton Playhouse, Bank and Lafayette streets, Cape May. $36-$65. capemaystage.org, 609-770-8311.

Dec. 8-Jan. 2 “A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” musical stage production based on the Dylan Thomas short story, F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave, Madison. $40-$55. shakespearenj.org, 973-408-5600.

Dec. 10-19 “Elf the Musical,” holiday stage production based on the film, Broadway Theatre of Pitman, 43 S. Broadway, Pitman. $30. thebroadwaytheatre.org, 856-384-8381.

Dec. 10-12 “Frosted — a ‘Frozen’ Fairytale Parody,” musical loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen,” Cranford Dramatic Club Theatre, 78 Winans Ave, Cranford. $15. cdctheatre.org, 908-276-7611.

Dec. 10-19 “A Christmas Carol,” Playhouse 22, 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. $15. playhouse22.org, 732-254-3939.

Dec. 10-19 “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus,” radio play version of holiday story inspired by a little girl’s letter to the editor, Nutley Little Theatre, 47 Erie Place (off Brookfield Avenue), Nutley. $20. nutleylittletheatre.com, 201-294-9157.

Dec. 10-12 “Swingin’ Through the Holidays,” annual Greater Ocean City Theatre Company family holiday music and dance revue, Ocean City Music Pier, Moorlyn Terrace at Boardwalk, Ocean City. $15-$18. ocnj.tix.com, 609-399-6111.

Dec. 10-12 “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” Kelsey Players family production, Mercer County Community College, Kelsey Theatre, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. $10-$12. kelseyatmccc.org, 609-570-3333.

Dec. 11-18 “The Reindeer Who Saved Christmas,” family production, Broadway Theatre of Pitman, 43 S. Broadway, Pitman. $10. thebroadwaytheatre.org, 856-384-8381.

Dec. 11 “A Christmas Carol,” fundraiser production of the Charles Dickens holiday story using only two actors, Passage Theatre, Mill Hill Playhouse, 205 E. Front St, Trenton. $20-$50. passagetheatre.org, 609-392-0318.

Dec. 11-12 “Ebenezer — a Shadow Carol,” Chester Theatre Group reading of the holiday ghost story geared for ages 12 and older, Black River Playhouse, Grove and Maple streets, Chester. $5. chestertheatregroup.org, 908-879-7304.

Dec. 11-19 “Once an Angel,” Main Street Theatre Company production of the holiday musical, Congregation Beth Ohr, 70 Route 516, Old Bridge. $14-$20. mainstreettheatrecompany.org, [email protected].

Dec. 17-18 “Rudolph Meets Frosty,” Ritz Kidz production of new holiday musical, Ritz Theatre, 915 Whitehorse Pike, Oaklyn. $10. 856-858-5230.

Dec. 17-19 “Yuletide Magic,” holiday show, Rhino Theatre, 247 Wanaque Ave, Pompton Lakes. $28-$32. rhinotheatre.com, 973-248-9491.

Dec. 17-19 “It’s a Wonderful Life — a Live Radio Play,” Exit 82 Studio Theater, 73 Main St, Toms RIver. $28-$30. exit82theatre.com.

Dec. 18 “My Big Gay Italian Christmas,” 8 p.m., Ocean Casino Resort, Ovation Hall, 500 Boardwalk, $49-$69. theoceanac.com, 866-506-2326.

Dec. 18-19 “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” stage adaptation of the animated holiday TV special, Eagle Theatre, 208 Vine St, Hammonton. $20. theeagletheatre.com, 609-704-5012.

Dec. 23 “The Elf on the Shelf,” holiday musical, $35.50-$84.50.30 “Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity,” “gospel song play” retelling of the traditional story in music, dance and verse, $15-$35. Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth St, Red Bank. countbasietheatre.org, 732-842-9000.

See more events at nj.com/events

Send event information to [email protected] or submit online at nj.com/myevent