Stages: Hanover Theatre’s many holiday entertainment options

Worcester’s Hanover Theatre and Conservatory is alive with holiday entertainment, and tickets are on sale now.

Kick off the Thanksgiving weekend with ‘’The Nutcracker” with several performances Nov. 29-Dec. 1. “The Nutcracker” is a two-act ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky first performed in Russia in December 1892. It is based on the stories of E.T.A. Hoffmann and Alexandre Dumas. The story revolves around Clara, a young girl who receives a nutcracker doll as a Christmas gift and then enters a magical world where the Nutcracker and other characters come to life. This production will enchant audiences with its brilliant dancing and vibrant costumes. Tickets range from $39 to $59.

Judy Collins arrives with her Christmas and iconic hits show on Dec. 3. In her 50-plus years in music, Collins has inspired audiences with sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs and a firm commitment to social activism. In the 1960s, she evoked both the idealism and steely determination of a generation united against social and environmental injustices. Five decades later, her luminescent presence shines brightly as new generations bask in the glow of her iconic 55-album body of work, and heed inspiration from her spiritual discipline to thrive in the music industry for half a century. Tickets are $27.50, $39.50, $49.50, $64.50 and $84.50. There is an 8-ticket limit per customer.

“Mannheim Steamroller Christmas” by Chip Davis has been a favorite holiday tradition for more than 35 years. Grammy Award winner Davis has created a show that features Mannheim Steamroller Christmas classics in the distinctive Mannheim sound. The program includes 15 musicians playing more than 20 instruments against a backdrop of dazzling multimedia effects, capturing the spirit of the season in an immersive yet intimate setting. Tickets are $49, $65, $79 and $99.

Join the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and conductor Keith Lockhart on Dec. 6 for their sparkling and beloved Holiday Pops concert. Capturing the magic of the Christmas season and the winter charms of New England, the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra will perform holiday classics and new arrangements of seasonal favorites. They are joined by the Metropolitan Chorale, known as one of Metro Boston’s premier choral ensembles. Santa Claus himself will make a guest appearance during the concert’s finale. Performing festive favorites from cultural traditions around the world, Lockhart along with the Pops, will get you in the holiday spirit quicker than you can sing “fa la la la.” Tickets are $79, $95, $119 and $149.

“A Christmas Carol” returns for several performances Dec. 15-22, including a sensory friendly one on Dec. 18. Adapted by the president and CEO Troy Siebels and featuring the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, the annual production returns to the main stage with timeless music, lavish costumes, and spine-tingling special effects. New and returning cast members tell the tale of curmudgeonly miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by the Spirits of Christmases Past, Present and Yet to Come. The show is refined and revised each year to feature more magic than ever before, with an array of spectacles from smoke and fog to spectacular flying stunts. Be sure to get seated early to enjoy the pre-show concert featuring the largest and most versatile theatre pipe organ in New England, led by accomplished organist Sean Redrow. Tickets are $39, $59 and $69.

Please contact the box office at 877.571.7469 or visit www.thehanovertheatre.org for tickets or more information and to inquire about accessible seating options.

Nancye Tuttle’s email address is nancyedt@verizon.net.