Utah theater companies serve up holiday cheer

A Christmas checklist:

Get box of tree ornaments down from a too-high garage shelf.

Figure out who's going to give you a gift so you don't embarrass yourself.

Holiday haircut.

Get mom a you-do-more-for-me-than-I-could-possibly-acknowledge-so-here-are-new-slippers type of gift.

Shovel walks, again.

Mix up the holiday stress with some holiday cheer.

What? You don't have the last one checked off your list? You hardly know what counts as holiday cheer anymore?

Well as one Grinch himself discovered:

Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.

You'll find yourself in a holiday mood when you experience Scrooge's transformation, or listen to the Plaids harmonize your Christmas favorites.

You'll chuckle your stress away with the different parodies and likely find yourself wondering why things can't always be like the holiday postcard brought to life in "White Christmas."

Layer the kids for the cold weather now, buckle 'em into the minivan and head to a local theater … not a movie theater.

Go see a play! There are more offerings than you have marshmallows in your hot cocoa.

'Tis the season, my friends, enjoy!

Here is a list of the holiday offerings through the valley:

"1940s Radio Hour," West Jordan Theatre Arts, through Dec. 18, nights and times vary, Midvale Main Street Theater, 7720 S. 695 West, West Jordan. Tickets are $4-$7 (www.sugarfactoryplayhouse.com).

"A Christmas Carol," through Dec. 30, nights and times vary, Rodgers Memorial Theatre, 292 E. Pages Lane, Centerville. Tickets are $13-$17 (801-298-1302 or www.rodgersmemorial.com).

"A Christmas Carol," through Dec. 23, nights and times vary, Hale Center Theater Orem, 225 W. 400 North, Orem. Tickets are $15.50-$19.50 (801-226-8600 or www.haletheater.org).

"A Christmas Carol," through Dec. 23, nights and times vary, Hale Centre Theatre, 3333 S. Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City. Tickets are $17-$30 (801-984-9000 or www.halecentretheatre.org).