When the weather becomes frightful, Lincoln theater and music groups can be quite delightful. This month's calander is chocked full of entertainment, ranging from the traditional to the original.

The Bobs

Who: Lincoln Association for Traditional Arts

When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5

Where: O'Donnell Auditorium, 50th Street and Huntington Avenue

What: Talk about perfect timing. Just nine days before NBC debuts its a cappella competition show, "The Sing-Off," one of the country's pre-eminent a cappella groups performs a special holiday concert, with Lincoln's own No Better Cause opening the show for them.

Tickets: $10, $1 children under 12 and free to those with Nebraska Wesleyan identification; 580-8656 or www.lafta.net

‘SantaLand Diaries'

Who: Nebraska Repertory Theatre

When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9-10; 7:30 and 10 p.m. Dec. 11-12; 2 p.m. Dec. 13

Where: Studio Theatre, Temple Building, 12th and R streets

What: Rep executive director Paul Steger reprises his role as Crumpet in the hilarious stage adaptation of a David Sedaris essay, which chronicles the humorist's ultimate nightmare of working at Macy's in New York City as a SantaLand elf.

Tickets: $20, $18 UNL faculty/staff, seniors, active military, $10 students; 472-4747

Riders in the Sky

Who: Lied Center for Performing Arts

When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3

Where: Ranger Doug, Woody Paul, Too Slim and Joey the Cowpolka King return to Lincoln "to do Christmas the cowboy way" in a family-friendly show that reminds older listeners of Gene Autry and Roy Rogers.

Tickets: $24, $19; students $12.50, $9.50; 472-4747 or www.liedcenter.org

‘The Nutcracker'

Who: Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company

When: 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 19; 2 p.m. Dec. 20

Where: Lied Center for Performing Arts

What: Lincoln East High School senior Hannah Sher dances the role of Clara. If her last name sounds familiar, it's because her uncle is Bartlett Sher, the 2008 Tony Award-winning director of the "South Pacific" revival. Needless to say, she comes from good stock.

Tickets: $45, $32, $25; students $32, $20, $15; 472-4747

‘Babes in Toyland'

Who: Lincoln Community Playhouse

Where: 2500 S. 56th St.

When: 7 p.m. Dec. 4-5, 10-12, 17-19; 2 p.m. Dec. 6, 13 and 20

What: Victor Herbert's unforgettable tunes accompany Contrary Mary, Tom-Tom and their friends as they journey from Mother Goose Village to Toyland, seeking the Master Toymaker to save their home in this family-friendly musical directed by local children's theater guru Paul Pearson ("Alice in Wonderland," "James and the Giant Peach").

Tickets: $15; 489-7528 or www.lincolnplayhouse.com

Theater

"A Christmas Carol," NWU Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3-5, 10-12, 2 p.m. Dec. 5-6, 12-13, McDonald Theatre, 51st Street and Huntington Avenue.

For the third straight year, NWU presents an adaptation of the Charles Dickens' classic, complete with Scrooge, Bob Cratchet, Tiny Tim and the spirits of Christmas. Tickets: $10, $7.50 seniors and students, $5 children under 12; 465-2384.

"The Spirit of Christmas," Nebraska Youth Theatre, 7 p.m. Dec. 4-5, 11-12; 1:30 p.m. Dec. 5 and 12, Haymarket Theatre, Eighth and Q streets.

With Scrooge suffering a relapse, Jacob Marley attempts to restore his Christmas spirit with some friends in the original musical comedy.

Tickets: $10, $8 seniors and students; 477-2600 or www.haymarkettheatre.org.

"Rockin' Christmas," TADA Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10-12, 17-19, 2 p.m. Dec. 13 and 20, Creamery Building, Seventh and P streets.

Spoofing such shows as "Glee" and "High School Musical," the original musical comedy tells the story of an eclectic group of misfits who gather to put on a holiday concert.

Tickets: $18 (Thursday-Saturday), $15 (Sunday); 438-8232 or www.tadatheatre.info.

Music

"Behold the Lamb of God," Andrew Peterson, 7 p.m. Dec. 4, Lincoln Berean Church, 6400 S. 70th St. Tickets: $15 and $10; 483-6512.

"A Nebraska Brass Christmas," Nebraska Brass, 3 p.m. Dec. 6, St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 8550 Pioneers Blvd. Tickets: $15, $12 seniors; students admitted free; 477-7899 or nb@artsincorporated.org.

Pueri Cantores Organization of Choirs for Young Voices, 7 p.m. Dec. 7, First-Plymouth Congregational Church, 20th and D streets. Tickets: Freewill offering.

"An Intimate Christmas with Lorie Line," 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10, Lied Center, 301 N. 12th St. Tickets: $42; 472-4747 or www.liedcenter.org.

"Amahl and the Night Visitors," UNL Opera, 1:30 and 4 p.m. Dec. 12, Johnny Carson Theater, 11th and Q streets. Tickets: Free, but reservations required; 472-2494

"Deck the Halls," Lincoln's Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12, Lied Center, 301 N. 12th St. Tickets: $45, $35, $25; students $27, $21, $15; 472-4747.

"Hussies' Holiday Hoopla for Charity," 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 13, Meadowlark Coffee, 16th and South streets. Tickets: Freewill donation of cash, nonperishable food or personal care items.

Christmas Choral Celebration Concert, Lincoln Civic Choir, 3 p.m. Dec. 13, O'Donnell Auditorium, 50th Street and Huntington Avenue. Tickets: $15, $10 ages 12-18, free for children under 12; 430-2395 or lincolnchoir@inebraska.com

"Christmas & All That Jazz," Nebraska Jazz Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15, The Cornhusker, 333 S. 13th St. Tickets: $20, $10 students; 477-8446 or njo@artsincorporated.org.

"Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room," Abendmusik: Lincoln, 4 p.m. Dec. 20, First-Plymouth Congregational Church, 20th and D streets. Tickets: $20, $15 seniors, $10 students; 476-9933 or www.abendmusik.org.

Malley Keelan & Friends Christmas Concert, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20, Rosemont Alliance Church, 2600 N. 70th St. Tickets: $12, $3 children under 12; available at the door.

"Last Blast 2009," Plymouth Brass, 8 p.m. Dec. 31, First-Plymouth Congregational Church, 20th and D streets. Tickets: $30 and $25, $20 seniors, $10 students; 421-2452.

Special event

Elizabethan Christmas Feast, 6 p.m. Dec. 12, NWU, Great Hall, Smith-Curtis Administration Building, 50th Street and St. Paul Avenue. Tickets: $16; 465-2269.