Continued: OnStage: Holiday flavors

Christmas and New Year's Day fall on Tuesdays this year, leaving two complete weekends free for song, dance, drama and comedy on Twin Cities stages. Here's an opinionated guide to productions still running, including a couple that have added shows to meet demand.

Children's Theatre: "A Year With Frog and Toad"

Bradley Greenwald and Reed Sigmund sing with style as the suave Frog and the insecure Toad in this amphibian equivalent of "The Odd Couple." They go through a year together, and we get to join them, from spring wake-up to planting flowers to taking tea. A nice alternative to the regular holiday shows, with clever music and an orgy of cookies. (7:30 p.m. today, 2 & 7:30 p.m. Sat., 2 & 5 p.m. Sun., 2400 3rd Av. S., Mpls. $17-$39. 612-874-0400 Ends Jan. 5.)

Theatre Latté Da: "A Christmas Carole Petersen"

This year Tod Petersen brings his annual homage to family traditions, estrangement and reconciliation to the roomier confines of Ordway's McKnight Theatre. It's still the same show, though, filled with Petersen's charismatic storytelling and an eclectic mix of Christmas songs that are just off the beaten path. It's charming, homespun and entertaining. (8 p.m. today-Sat., 2 & 7 p.m. Sun., 7:30 p.m. Thu. 5th and Washington Sts., St. Paul. $29-$35, 651-224-4222. Ends Dec. 30.)

SteppingStone Theatre: "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!"

Here's another chestnut that draws people back. This year, the show is being performed in SteppingStone's new theater -- a renovated church turned into a lovely auditorium. The play mirrors the youth company's process. A bunch of kids get together with earnest passion, stumble through the process of putting together a pageant and then prove to be the ultimate money players when the curtain goes up. (7 p.m. today, 2 & 4 p.m. Sat.; 55 N. Victoria St., St. Paul. $9-$11, 651-225-9265.)

Penumbra Theatre "Black Nativity"

You go for the carols and spirituals, delivered by an A-list cast of singer/actors (including Greta Oglesby, pictured) under the sweet, if unseen, direction of Sanford Moore (the band is hidden backstage). There are standout moments by Ginger Commodore (her stirring a capella version of "Sweet Little Jesus Boy") and Jamecia Bennett ("Mary Had a Baby"). But it's the lyrical dancing of Alanna Morris and Marciano Silva dos Santos, portraying Mary and Joseph, that will leave you speechless. (8 p.m. today, 2 & 8 p.m. Sat., 2 & 7:30 p.m. Sun., 270 N. Kent St., St Paul. $35. 651-224-3180. Ends Dec. 30.)

Guthrie Theater: "A Christmas Carol"

The 33rd edition of this most enduring of Twin Cities holiday shows has been tweaked for clarity and punch and has been made more boisterous and colorful by director Gary Gisselman. With Raye Birk as a practical Scrooge and a capable cast telling the story, we get a shorter, sweeter and more pointed telling of the Dickens classic. (7:30 p.m. today, 1 & 7:30 p.m. Sat., 1 & 7 p.m. Sun., 818 S. 2nd St., Mpls. $29-$64. 612-377-2224. Ends Dec. 30.)

Brave New Workshop: "Stuck in the Manger With You, or Carol On, My Wayward Son"

The best parts are hits from previous holiday shows. But since no one is bothered by the 400th year of "A Christmas Carol" or the umpteenth "Black Nativity," this should not be counted as a criticism. Highlights are the two versions of "The 12 Days of Christmas" done by the Angry Mothers' Chorus, and then by the dads. (8 p.m. Fri., 7 & 10 p.m. Sat.; 2605 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. $23-$29, 612-332-6620 or www.bravenewworkshop.com. Ends Jan. 26.)

History Theatre" "Hormel Girls"

The meat musical fills up nicely with song and dance. It tends to feel bloated when it focuses on the humdrum lives of the women who traversed the nation selling Hormel products. Let the turkey do its work during those slow periods and rest your eyes -- you'll enjoy the production numbers that much more. Laurie Flanigan's lyrics nestle nicely into Hiram Titus' postwar-period songs. The show was scheduled to end this weekend, but it's been popular enough to be extended through Dec. 30. (8 p.m. today-Sat., 2 p.m. Sat.-Sun., 7:30 p.m. Thu. 30 E. 10th St., St. Paul. $20-$30. 651-292-4323 or www.historytheatre.com.)

Ordway Center: "The Sound of Music"

The Ordway is alive with the sound of ... musical imitation. The principals are miscast in this holiday offering, with Jessica Bogart (pictured) as Maria doing a twirling, histrionic attempt at the role played iconically by Julie Andrews. But the secondary performers are strong, including Met Opera veteran Susan Pierson, who, as the Mother Abbess, is divine on "Climb Ev'ry Mountain." (8 p.m. today and Tue.-Thu.; 2 & 8 p.m. Sat.; 2 & 7:30 Sun.; 5th and Washington Sts., St. Paul; $25-$70, 651-224-4222 or www.ordway.org.)