Some Nutcrackers, Some Scrooges

Ed Gero, who seems to have played every notable character to be seen in Washington, always finds time to be Ebenezer Scrooge at Ford’s Theatre for the last few years, returning this year Nov. 19–Dec. 31. The Keegan Theatre features Cameron Whitman as a wealthy Irish pub owner named David who gets visited by ghosts and such in “An Irish Carol,” Dec. 12–31, and Paul Morella presents his singular version, “A Christmas Carol, A Ghost Story of Christmas,” in the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab at Olney Theatre Center on Dec. 5.

Washington has its choice of Nutcrackers, with Septime Webre’s own version of the Washington Ballet’s “The Nutcracker,” set in colonial and revolutionary America, a version that’s become a Washington tradition at the THEARC in Southeast, Nov. 28–29, and at the Warner Theatre, Dec. 3–27. At the Kennedy Center, the Joffrey Ballet brings its version of Tchaikovsky’s classic one last time before it is revised and changed for next season, Nov. 25 and 27–29. Strathmore will present the “Hip Hop Nutcracker,” Dec. 3, and Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker, Dec. 21–22. Last but not least, Momentum Dance Theatre will perform its “Jazz Hip Hop Nutcracker,” Dec. 13–14 at Wilson High School and Dec. 19–20 at Stuart Hobson Middle School.