The onslaught of holiday parties, cookie baking, gift-giving, and, of course, shopping continues this week, as we celebrate Chanukah and count down to Christmas and Kwaanza. As much as the holidays are about presents, they are also about presence, and coming together to honor our families, our friends, and our traditions.

For many, an outing to the theater with family around the holidays is one of those traditions. Some of our most lasting memories are created there, and nothing quite beats the feeling of sitting together with loved ones, sharing a heartfelt, thrilling, joyful, or musically fulfilling performance.

A shared and transient art-form, theater together is a perfect way to honor our connection to each other as we pass through time, marking another holiday, another season, another year.

Show: “Silver Bells: A Christmas Cabaret,” one-time event, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.
Company: Performance Network Theatre
Type of Company: Professional Equity SPT
Venue/location: Performance Network Theatre, 120 E. Huron, Ann Arbor
Recommended ages: All
Description: Welcome to the newest holiday tradition at Performance Network - the annual Christmas Cabaret! This year's theme is Silver Bells, so get ready to go on an adventure through a winter wonderland of seasonal songs. This family-friendly event will feature all the standards and new favorites you love from this special season. Your host for the evening will be Ann Arbor's own Piano Man, R. MacKenzie Lewis. Also featuring singers Courtney Riddle, Bradley McNett and Laura Dysarczyk combined with the orchestra from A Little Night Music and members of the Ann Arbor based swing band Accidentally Hip.
More information
Fun Fact: Originally from Detroit, featured performer Laura Dysarczyk’s credits include several Broadway national tours including "Disney’s Beauty and the Beast," "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and "Wicked."
For tickets and information: www.performancenetwork.org/, 734-663-0681.

Show: "The Hollow" by Agatha Christie; through Dec. 15
Company: PTD Productions
Type of Company: Pre-professional
Venue/location: Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron, Ypsilanti
Recommended ages: 12-plus
Description: Join Sir Henry and Lucy Angkatell for a weekend at The Hollow, their country home. Several friends and relatives will be there, and all covet something or someone they could just about kill for. The trouble is, someone crosses the line. Match wits with Inspector Colquhoun to see who did it, and why. Agatha Christie provides an exciting evening!
More information
Fun fact: This week PTD is hosts a Mystery Lovers Book Exchange in the lobby of the theater. Bring a mystery, see a mystery, leave a mystery, take home a mystery!
For tickets and information: 734-483-7345, www.ptdproductions.com
Special ticket offer: Thursday performances are pay-what-you-can. $4 discount for Haab's diners with receipts from day of show.

Show: “Superior Donuts” by Tracy Letts, through Dec. 15
Company: Purple Rose Theatre Company
Type of Company: Professional Equity SPT
Venue/location: Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park Street, Chelsea
Recommended ages: Contains adult language and content
Description: Arthur Przybyszewski has just about given up on everything: a social life, the chance of romance and most of all his family’s long standing Chicago doughnut shop. But when idealistic dreamer, Franco Wicks walks through the door of his vandalized storefront, Arthur realizes through their unlikely friendship that life still has more to offer him. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tracy Letts ("August: Osage County") the comedy-drama "Superior Donuts" will make you a believer too.
Review from AnnArbor.com
Fun fact: The 8pm show of "Superior Donuts" on December 15 will be the 89th performance of this production!
For tickets and information: 734-433-7673 (ROSE), www.purplerosetheatre.org

Show: “Wolf Cry Wolf” by Kevin Kautzman, through Dec. 16
Company: The New Theatre Project
Type of Company: Professional Non-Equity
Venue/location: Mix Performance Space, 130 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti
Recommended ages: 18+
Description: “People make believe with each other. It’s how we get through the night.” When Steph returns home to North Dakota for the first time in years and surprises her estranged childhood friend Jane, they descend into their memories and relive the summer Jane told Steph her deepest secret: she knows how turn into a wolf. "Wolf Cry Wolf" looks at the fine line between memory and imagination and at the lies we tell to survive our shadows.
More information
Fun fact: The English word "wolf" stems from the Old English wulf, which is itself thought to be derived from the Proto-Germanic wulfaz. Old English literature contains several instances of Anglo-Saxon kings and warriors taking on wulf as a prefix or suffix in their names. Examples include Wulfhere, Cynewulf, Ceonwulf, Wulfheard, Eanwulf, Wulfmeer, Wulfstan and Aethelwulf.
For tickets and information: 734-961-8704, thenewtheatreproject.org/

Show: “Forever Plaid presents: Plaid Tidings” through Dec. 23
Company: The Encore Musical Theatre Company
Type of Company: Professional Equity and Non-Equity
Venue/location: The Encore Musical Theatre Company, 3126 Broad Street, Dexter
Recommended ages: All
Description: The Plaids return to earth again, and with the help of a heavenly Rosemary Clooney, they instill the holiday spirit into the world!
Article from Encore Michigan
Fun fact: The Plaids perform a 3 minute, 11 second version of the Ed Sullivan show!
For tickets and information: www.theencoretheatre.org, 734-268-6200.

Show: “A Little Night Music” music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler, through Dec. 30
Company: Performance Network Theatre
Type of Company: Professional Equity SPT
Venue/location: Performance Network Theatre, 120 E. Huron, Ann Arbor
Recommended ages: 16-plus
Description: Sondheim's rollicking tour-de-force of love, lies, and liaisons is the winner of six Tony awards and a Grammy, featuring an amazing musical score, including "The Glamorous Life" and "Send in the Clowns." Desiree Armfeldt is an enchanting Swedish actress. While on tour in a country town, she runs into former lover Fredrik, who has brought his young wife to the theater. Reminiscing in Desiree's dressing room, their passion rekindles. The two seek to continue their affair at a gathering for several guests at Fredrik's country home, setting in motion a hilarious and flirtatious weekend for all.
Review from the Detroit Free Press
Fun Fact: Stephen Sondheim has written material for movies as well as the stage, including the 1981 Warren Beatty film "Reds," for which he contributed the song "Goodbye For Now". He also wrote five songs for the 1990 movie "Dick Tracy," including "Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)" which won the Academy Award for Best Song.
For tickets and information: www.performancenetwork.org/, 734-663-0681.