Milwaukee’s performing arts groups and presenters are putting gifts on stage for you throughout the coming holiday season, starting before Thanksgiving.

Here’s a list of some theater, music and dance performances you can enjoy here through Christmas. While most of these shows have holiday content, I’ve included a few that don’t but that could still make for a festive outing.

These are listed in chronological order by date of first performance.

‘Lumberjacks in Love’

In Fred Alley and James Kaplan’s eternally popular hit musical, lumberjacks up north enjoy their bachelor camp world until a woman shows up who puts them in a tizzy. Milwaukee Repertory Theater performs this show through Jan. 12. Stackner Cabaret, 108 E. Wells St. Visit milwaukeerep.com or call (414) 224-9490.

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‘Oliver!’

Skylight Music Theatre performs Lionel Bart’s musical adaptation of Charlies Dickens’ classic novel “Oliver Twist”; songs include “Food, Glorious Food” and “Consider Yourself.” Skylight recommends Bart’s kinder, gentler take on the novel for people 8 and older. Nov. 15-Dec. 29. Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway. Visit skylightmusictheatre.org or call (414) 291-7800.

‘Almost, Maine’

Next Act Theatre performs John Cariani’s romantic chestnut, which wraps nine short love stories into a single play in the same small locale. Nov. 20-Dec. 15. 255 S. Water St. Visit nextact.org or call (414) 278-0765.

Bach’s ‘Christmas Oratorio’

Music director Ken-David Masur leads the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in the first three of this oratorio’s six cantatas, which commemorate the birth of Jesus, the annunciation to shepherds and the adoration of the shepherds. Nov. 22-24. Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. Visit mso.org or call (414) 291-7605.

Concert for Peace

Present Music’s annual pre-Thanksgiving concert, with its themes of peace and gratitude and its interfaith orientation, is one of the most distinctive events of Milwaukee’s musical year. The 2024 edition will include MacArthur fellow Courtney Bryan’s “Sanctum,” which draws on the Holiness preaching tradition and also includes voices of Ferguson activists, as well as Iranian composer Niloufar Nourbakhsh’s “C Ce See” and Ho-Chunk drumming group Little Priest Singers. 5 p.m. Nov. 24. Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 812 N. Jackson St. Visit presentmusic.org.

“Elf the Musical’

The touring Broadway musical based on the now-canonical holiday movie brings Buddy and company to the Marcus Performing Arts Center, 929 N. Water St., for shows Nov. 26-Dec. 1 (no performance on Thanksgiving). Visit marcuscenter.org or call (414) 273-7206.

‘A Christmas Carol’

Matt Daniels returns as Scrooge in Mark Clements’ adaptation of the Dickens story for the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. It’s an extroverted staging with some interactive elements that the Rep recommends for people 6 and older. Nov. 26-Dec. 24. Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells St. Visit milwaukeerep.com or call (414) 224-9490.

‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical’

Director (and First Stage artistic poobah) Jeff Frank conceived this adaptation of the animated special, itself an adaptation of the Johnny Marks song. It’s become a recurring holiday staple for First Stage, recommended for audience members 3 and older. Nov. 29-Dec. 29. Marcus Performing Arts Center’s Todd Wehr Theater, 929 N. Water St. Visit firststage.org or call (414) 267-2961.

‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra screens the movie, featuring Michael Caine as Scrooge among the Muppets, while conductor Ryan Tani and the MSO perform the score live. Nov. 29-Dec. 1. Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. Visit mso.org or call (414) 291-7605.

‘Black Nativity’

Black Arts MKE stages Langston Hughes’ celebration of the birth of Jesus as seen through a Black lens, blending gospel and R&B music. Dec. 5-8. Marcus Performing Arts Center’s Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall, 929 N. Water St. For tickets, visit marcuscenter.org or call (414) 273-7206.

Canadian Brass

The famed northern quintet brings a holiday music program seasoned with humor. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5. Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. Visit mso.org or call (414) 291-7605.

‘All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914’

Vanguard Productions performs Peter Rothstein’s distinctive a cappella choral musical about the unexpected moments of peace shared by English and German soldiers on the Western Front during World War I. Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach have arranged some 30 songs for this show, which was developed in Minneapolis by Theater Latté Da and the vocal ensemble Cantus. Dec. 6-22. Calvary Presbyterian Church, 935 W. Wisconsin Ave. Visit vanguardmke.com.

‘The Nutcracker: Drosselmeyer’s Imaginarium’

It’s Year Two for Milwaukee Ballet Artistic Director Michael Pink’s reimagining of the holiday dance extravaganza, which has bright new costumes (even the rats and mice look sharp) and more closely ties the second act to the storyline of the first. Plus more kids than ever in the show. Dec. 7-24. Marcus Performing Arts Center, 929 N. Water. Visit  milwaukeeballet.org or call (414) 902-2103.

Rachel Barton Pine with Trio Settecento

Early Music Now presents a big holiday program laced with Baroque Christmas music featuring popular Chicago violinist Pine. Expect to hear music composed by Corelli, Vivaldi, Handel, Scarlatti and Bach. 5 p.m. Dec. 7 and 3 p.m. Dec. 8. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 914 E. Knapp St. Visit earlymusicnow.org or call (414) 225-3113.

‘The Flamenco Nutcracker’

Milwaukee’s Studio K Flamenco stages this production for all ages of a familiar holiday story with a flamenco look and sound. 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 7. South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, 901 15th Ave., South Milwaukee. Visit southmilwaukeepac.org or call (414) 766-5049.

‘Carols & Classics’

Florentina Opera’s Baumgartner Studio Artists sing a holiday program, with help from the Milwaukee Children’s Choir. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 914 E. Knapp St. Visit florentineopera.org or call (414) 291-5700 x224.

‘Voices of Glad Tiding’

Bel Canto Chorus performs its annual holiday program, including music by John Rutter and David Willcocks. Dec. 13-15. The Basilica of St. Josaphat, 2333 S. Sixth St. Visit belcanto.org or call (414) 481-8801.

Hometown Holiday Pops

Conductor Ryan Tani will lead the Milwaukee Symphony, Chorus and vocalist-narrator Alli Mauzey in seven performances of seasonal music, including the customary singalong. Dec. 14-22. Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. Visit mso.org or call (414) 291-7605.

One-man ‘Christmas Carol’

Pink Umbrella Theatre will stage Clayton Mortl’s one-actor multimedia version of Dickens’ story, inspired by Dickens’ own performances of his work as a storyteller. 2 p.m. Dec. 14-15. Charles Allis Art Museum, 1801 N. Prospect Ave. Visit pinkumbrellatheater.org.

The King’s Singers

The long-running English vocal sextet, founded in the 1960s by choral scholars of King’s College, Cambridge, bring their holiday program to the Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16. Visit mso.org or call (414) 291-7605.

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