Community at a glance

Today Thelonious Monk and Beyond starts at 7 p.m. at Sammons Center for the Arts in Dallas. The opening set features Dave Zoller and Drew Phelps with AJ6 (Alternative Jazz Sextet) playing music by jazz master composers. During the second set, the Chuck Willis Quintet will play a program of jazz standards. The $25 tickets include complimentary wine, beer, soft drinks, coffee, light appetizers and valet parking. Call 214-520-7789 for reservations.

Dec. 6 The annual Christmas in the Stockyards will be Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. in the Livestock Exchange Building. Sponsored by the Fort Worth Stockyards Business Association, the event is geared toward children and families.

Now-Dec. 6 Family holiday entertainment will be offered by the NE Campus drama department. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer will be presented at 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Thursday and Saturday. Tickets are $5 adults, $3 seniors and non-TCC students and free for TCC students, faculty and staff. For reservations, call 817-515-6687.

Now-Dec. 21 Texas Ballet Theater will open the premier of Ben Stevenson’s production of The Nutcracker for 16 performances in Bass Hall in Fort Worth and the Music Hall at Fair Park in Dallas. Performances in Fort Worth are Dec. 5-7, Dec. 12-14 and Dec. 19-21. Friday performances are at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. The Music Hall schedule is Monday, Dec. 22, at 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Wednesday, Dec. 24, at 2 p.m.

Now-Dec. 21 Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus opens at Theatre Arlington. The play is based on the biographical teleplay about a successful New York newspaper editor who received a simple, poignant letter from 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon asking if Santa Claus really exists. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 11 and younger. Call 817-275-7661 for reservations.

Now-Dec. 21 The musical Forever Plaid closes the season at Plano Repertory Theatre. The musical tells the fictional story of the Plaids, a ’50s rock group who, on their way to their first big concert, were killed by a busload of teenagers in an accident. The Plaids are able to return to Earth for one final concert. For times and reservations, call 972-422-7460.

Now-Dec. 23 Ebenezer Scrooge, by Joe Dickinson and Laurie Tirmenstein is a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. The production returns for its 22nd consecutive year at Pocket Sandwich Theatre in Dallas at 8 p.m. Dec. 9, 10, 16, 17, 22 and 23 with 1 p.m. matinees Dec. 14 and 21.

Now-Dec. 24 Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is showing at the Dallas Theater Center. The classic tale of consequence and redemption offers family entertainment. Prices and times vary by performance dates, so call 214-522-8499 for specifics and reservations.

Now-Jan. 5 Santa vs. the Snowman tells the story of a lonely snowman who wages war on Santa for the right to deliver toys and gain adoration of children. The IMAX film continues at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History with tickets $10 for adults and $7 for children and seniors.

Now-Jan. 11 Edward Weston: Life at Work is on display at the Amon Carter Museum. Weston is known as one of the most original and renowned photographers of the 20th century. The 99-piece retrospective exhibition includes vintage prints from all phases of Weston’s five-decade career. His works include portraits and landscapes as well as photos that changed his career, shots of Armco Steel in Ohio. The museum has scheduled two free programs on his work: “Remembering Edward Weston” 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, and “A Scientist Collects Edward Weston,” 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8.

Now-Jan. 18 Painted Prayers: Medieval and Renaissance Books of Hours from the Morgan Library are on display at the Kimbell Art Museum. The illuminated pages of books of hours (prayer books used by ordinary people) contained exquisite paintings and prints. Produced by hand and by press from 1250-1550, these books were bestsellers, even more popular than the Bible. The exhibit features 58 of the finest manuscript and printed books of hours. Painted Prayers examines the various images depicted in the books, the artists who illustrated them and the central role of the books as religious texts in the lives of their owners.

Now-Feb. 28 The Omni at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History will take audience members out for a spin of a different sort with the new large-format film STRAIGHT UP: Helicopters in Action, narrated by Martin Sheen. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children (3-12) and seniors (60+). Call 817-255-9300 for times and advance tickets.

Now-Feb. 29 The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame presents Rodeo: No Guts, No Glory: 40 Years of Rodeo Photographs by Louise Serpa. Serpa has recorded incredible action shots during the last 40 years. Sherpa was the first woman allowed to photograph from inside the rodeo arena. Art critics say Serpa revolutionized thinking about bodies in motion.

Dec. 5-20 All Scrooged Up—An Improvised Twisted Christmas Carol plays in Pocket Sandwich Theatre’s late night fare. Performances will be Fridays and Saturdays at 11:15 p.m. with seating and food and beverage service at 10:45 p.m. Tickets are $10.

Dec. 5-Jan. 4 Jubilee Theatre presents a holiday musical Aunteé Explains X-Mas. Everybody’s favorite Aunteé—a little dotty, plenty spacey—narrates a classic story or two of Christmas from a whole ’nother point of view: hers. She serves up ghosts of Christmas past or future or sometime, the baby Jesus, her “mostest favoritest” Christmastime, or was that yours? Performances are 8:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday (plus Thursday, Dec. 11 and 18) and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $12-25.

Dec. 13 & 19-20 The Vocal Majority Chorus with guests Max Q will perform at 2 and 8 p.m. on the 13th in Ed Landreth Auditorium at TCU and at 8 p.m. on the 19th and 2 and 8 p.m. on the 20th in the McFarlin Auditorium at SMU.

Dec. 14-16 Sweet Was the Song features the music of Christmas by Schola Cantorum. The free concerts will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Arlington, 7:30 p.m. Monday at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at White’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Southlake.

Dec. 31 Pocket Sandwich Theatre will again have a popcorn-tossing spoof, Fangs For The Memories, by Joe Dickinson and Rodney Dobbs. The play pokes fun at hardboiled film noire private eyes and the vampires of New Orleans’ mysterious French Quarter. This production is part of the Pocket’s New Year’s Eve Theatre Party package ($75 plus tax) and continues Jan. 2-Feb. 14.