This time of the year, you can’t escape the sounds of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” suites or Tiny Tim asking God to bless all of us.

We are all, at all times this month, about a candy cane’s throw from a production of “The Nutcracker” and “A Christmas Carol.” Some are whimsical, some are classical, all are seasonal.

Here’s a handy guide to several area productions.

“A Christmas Carol” is a novella by Charles Dickens published in 1843. You know the story — Ebenezer Scrooge is a miserly old man who squeezes 13 cents out of every dime. One night he is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley who warns him to change his ways — or suffer eternal consequences.

Marley tells him he’ll be visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come and after their visits, Scrooge does in fact become a better person.

4th Street Theater presents “A Christmas Carol”: 7 p.m. Nov. 25 and Dec. 2, and 3 p.m. Nov. 26 at 4th Street Theater, 125 N. 4th St., Chesterton. Tickets: $5-$20. 219-926-7875; 4thstreetncca.com.

Actor and storyteller Grant Fitch performs his one-man version of the Dickens tale, performing all the characters himself.

M & M Productions presents “Scrooge the Musical”: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 25 Dec. 1-2 and 3 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Reinhart Auditorium at Merrillville High School, 276 E. 68th Place, Merrillville. Tickets: $10-$14. 219-947-4922; facebook.com/mmrmt.

Now in its 24th year, “Scrooge the Musical” by Leslie Bricusse draws from Dickens, as well the 1970 movie “Scrooge,” which starred Albert Finney as the title character. The lobby will be fully themed, transporting guests to the world of Christmas in 1860 England.

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre’s “A Christmas Carol”: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays Nov. 25-Dec. 23; 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Nov. 26 and Dec. 2-24 at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. Tickets: $20-$40. 847-577-2121; metropolisarts.com.

There will be an American Sign Language performance at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7.

A (Berwyn) Christmas Carol: 7 p.m. Dec. 2, 2 and 6 p.m. Dec. 3 at Baila Conmigo Dance With Me, 6829 Stanley Ave., Berwyn. Tickets: $9.75-$27.50, 708-788-8960; facebook.com/BailaConmigo.DanceWithMe.

Baila Conmigo Dance With Me presents a dance version of the Dickens story.

“A Christmas Carol: A Live Musical Radio Play”: 7 p.m. Dec. 2, 8-9; 2 p.m. Dec. 3 and 10 in the board room of the Mundelein Village Hall, 300 Plaza Circle, Mundelein. Tickets are free. 847-949-3282; survey123.arcgis.com/share/88a0729943f94a8a8d88974c41c6046e.

The Mundelein Arts Commission presents the play brought to life by local actors and with musical accompaniment.

Studio5 presents Tom Mula: A Reading of “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol”: 8 p.m. Dec. 9 at Studio5 Performing Arts Center, 1934 Dempster St., Evanston. Tickets: $27.05-$37.34. 847-328-6683; studio5.dance/calendar.

Tom Mula does a staged reading of his novel “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol,” which tells the tale from the perspective of Scrooge’s former business partner. Featuring a live improvised score by Larry Schanker.

Riverfront Playhouse’s “A Christmas Carol Musical”: 8 p.m. Dec. 8-9 and 15-16 and 3 p.m. Dec. 10 and 17, and a reunion concert at 8 p.m. Dec. 10 and 17, at the Riverfront Playhouse, 11-13 S. Water Street Mall, Aurora. Tickets: $18-$20. 630-897-9496; riverfrontplayhouse.com.

The Riverfront Playhouse celebrates its 30th anniversary of “A Christmas Carol,” which was adapted for the Riverfront Playhouse by the late Jack Schultz. This version has a group of actors arriving in town on a circus wagon to tell the story while still allowing Ebenezer Scrooge to receive all of his ghostly visits.

Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” is the story of a girl named Clara, who receives a nutcracker doll from her mysterious Uncle Drosselmeyer at a Christmas Eve party. At night, the doll transforms into the Nutcracker Prince and Clara wakes up and together they battle and defeat the evil Mouse King.

Grateful, the Nutcracker Prince takes her on a magical journey through the Land of Snow to the Kingdom of Sweets. Along the way, they meet animated toys, dancing snowflakes, flowers, spices, candy and the enchanting Sugar Plum Fairy.

Barrington Dance Ensemble presents “The Nutcracker”: 7 p.m. Dec. 1-2 and 2 p.m. Dec. 2-3 at Richard C. Johnson Auditorium, Barrington High School, 616 W. Main St., Barrington. Tickets: $25-$38. 847-382-6333; barringtondance.org.

The 30th anniversary production features Marize Fumero, principal dancer with the Milwaukee Ballet; and Arionel Vargas, former principal dancer with the English National Ballet, as Snow Queen and King.

Albright Community Theatre’s “The Nutcracker”: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1, 8 and 9; 2:30 p.m. Dec. 2-3 and 9 at the Batavia Government Center, third floor, 100 N. Island Ave., Batavia. Tickets: $18-$23. 630-406-8838; albrighttheatre.com.

See the Batavia theater company’s version of Clara’s fantastic voyage.

North Shore Center’s Salt Creek Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1; 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 2 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Tickets: $28-$54. 847-673-6300; northshorecenter.org.

This year’s production features guest artists from all over the United States, courtesy of the Joffrey Ballet. The Mac’s performance features live accompaniment from New Philharmonic.

“The Nutcracker” presented by M3 Dance: 12 p.m. Dec. 2-3 and 5 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Tickets: $30-$40. 847-931-5900; cityofelgin.org.

Students from surrounding suburbs take the stage alongside professional guest performers. Director and choreographer Lauren Blane blends multiple dance genres such as ballet, jazz, contemporary and tumbling. A Sugar Plum Tea Party is at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 2.

Indiana Ballet Theatre presents “The Nutcracker”: 7 p.m. Dec. 7-8, 1 and 6 p.m. Dec. 9, 2 p.m. Dec. 10 at Theatre Northwest, Indiana University Northwest, 3401 Broadway, Gary. Tickets: $20-$25. ibtnw.org/events.

Indiana Ballet Theatre presents this annual, all-ages, classical, mime ballet.

The Dance Theater of Will County’s “Nutcracker Ballet”: 7 p.m. Dec. 8-9 and 3 p.m. Dec. 9-10 at Lockport Township High School East Campus Theater, 1333 7th St., Lockport. Tickets: $25. 815-588-8888; lths.org/o/lthsd/page/foundation.

The Dance Theater of Will County’s version features professional performers and local dancers.

The Music Institute of Chicago’s “Duke It Out! Nutcracker”: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Dec. 9 in at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. Tickets: $15. 847-448-8308; nicholsconcerthall.org.

Tchaikovsky’s classical score alternates with Duke Ellington’s and Billy Strayhorn’s jazz version of the holiday favorite in a music and dance performance. An interactive musical instrument petting zoo for children takes place between the two performances.

The Ballet Makkai Youth Company’s “The Nutcracker”: 2 p.m. Dec. 9-10 in the John and Nancy Hughes Theater at the Gorton Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest. Tickets: $30. 847-234-6060; gortoncenter.org.

The Ballet Makkai Youth Company and students from the Irina Makkai Classical Ballet School will perform a classic version of “The Nutcracker.”

Libertyville’s Dancenter North’s “The Magic of the Nutcracker”: 3 p.m. Dec. 9-10 at Libertyville High School, 708 W. Park Ave., Libertyville. Tickets: $22-$40. 847-367-7970; dancenter-north.com/magic-nutcracker.

The 35th annual production features more than 100 performers, elaborate sets and costumes set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score.

Engage Dance Theatre presents “The Nutcracker”: 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 16-17 at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Tickets: $18-$30. 815-356-9212; rauecenter.org.

The company purchased sets and costumes from the Milwaukee Ballet. There will be guest dancers and a sensory-friendly performance at 6 p.m. Dec. 20.

Ruth Page’s “The Nutcracker”: 1 p.m. Dec. 16-17 and 5 p.m. Dec. 16 at James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at the College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. Tickets: $15-$26. 847-543-2300; ruthpage.org.

This production recreates famous choreographer Ruth Page’s original, full-length staging.

McAninch Arts Center’s Salt Creek Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”: 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 16-17 at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Tickets: $36-$46. 630-942-4000; atthemac.org.

This year’s production features guest artists from all over the United States, courtesy of the Joffrey Ballet and features live accompaniment from New Philharmonic.

Ballet 5:8′s Beyond the Nutcracker: 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 16 and 3 p.m. Dec. 17 at Lincoln-Way East High School, 201 Colorado Ave., Frankfort. Tickets: $12.50-$37.50. 708-329-8773; ballet58.org.

Ballet 5:8 artistic director Julianna Rubio Slager choreographs this holiday tradition featuring students and guest artists. This version has a girl named Emma, her Uncle Abrahms and the angel Anastasis as they embark on a journey through time and discover what Christmas is all about.

Genesee Theatre’s Dancenter North’s “The Magic of the Nutcracker”: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 21-22 at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Tickets: $18-$40. 847-367-7970; dancenter-north.com/magic-nutcracker.

The 35th annual production features more than 100 performers, elaborate sets and costumes set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score.

Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News.