Yes Virginia, Santa has come down the chimney a little early and stuffed the stockings and placed lots of theatrical presents under the tree for all the good little lovers of stage theater in Rutherford County.

Beginning tonight, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. sharp, Murfreesboro Little Theatre tunes us in to the “1940s Radio Hour,” a magical journey to Dec. 21, 1942, where static free WOV, New York, brings us the Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade live!

A hilarious musical comedy, Director Carl Glenn has brought in to the studio a multitude of your favorites, with Danielle Araujo, Jerry Bailey, Bob Fish, Shane and Emily Lowery, Caleb Marshall, Gary Parker, Caleb Peterson, Kathy Quarto, Tim Smith, Sherry Sunday and Tyler Tsoumbos. With live instrumentals from Charlie Parker and Charlie Prazac, this is going to be a Christmas present you will want to open first! With a rare three weekend performance, including two Thursday nights, as usual I am betting there will be sell-out crowds, so buy your tickets early, and buy them often.

Also beginning this weekend, “It’s A Wonderful Life: The Radio Show” opens the curtains at Lamplighters Theatre in Smyrna. Based on the movie with James Stewart and Donna Reed, this “radio show” of course is a Christmas Classic not to be missed.

It plays for two weekends, 7:30 on Fridays and Saturdays, 4:30 p.m. on Sundays.

Continuing weekends through Dec. 20, The Center for the Arts is performing “The Sanders Family Christmas,” at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays. With John Blankenship directing and several of my favorites on stage, David Cummings reprises his role as Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe, David Winton as Dennis Sanders, Mr. Blankenship and Fran Gebuhr also are back on the Center stage as Burl and Vera Sanders.

I will pay the $14 to see these wonderful actors on stage.

The Other Me Theatre Company put on a most well done production of “Light Sensitive” at MLT Nov. 5-15, and I only wish it had been better advertised.

This thought-provoking play dealt with Thomas Hanratty (Bowd Beal) who had become blind in his mid-life and lived alone in a flat in New York City. He had only his best friend, Lou D’Marco (Todd Seage), who would come by to check on him and make his day more . . . well, miserable or nicer. It depended. Enter Edna Miles, (Anastasia Zavaro) who made Thomas’ life complete.

Donna Seage directed, and I was blown away by the intensity the show portrayed. I always expect the best from Mr. Seage, and I get it; but all three actors were simply great together, a fine show.

Several weeks ago I was invited to see the drama students at Oakland High School put on “The Beverly Hillbillies.” These fine actors did a remarkable job portraying the Clampetts, the Drysdales and others as Jed and Granny moved from Bug Tussle to Beverly Hills.

The set was great, as was the lighting and sound, and they are to be commended on a job well done.

Oakland instructor April Gunter directed the show, which I did enjoy. (Next time, make the theater warmer, though!)

I really enjoyed Jed Clampett, played by Dylan Smitty. Mr. Smitty put a lot of Buddy Ebsen into his portrayal and took over the show. Good work Dylan.

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" at Siegel High School

Coming up at Seigel High School is “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” directed by Chad Fields. Seniors John Underwood as Willy Wonka and Forrest Arnold as Charlie Bucket star in the show, based on the classic by Roald Dahl.

Shows are Dec. 3 at 7 p.m., Dec. 5 at 2 and 7 p.m., Dec. 6 at 2 p.m., and Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.

I want to thank Tony Lehew for writing this column last month, what a fantastic review on “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Tony, you are my “Hero.” I only wish I had been able to see the show myself.

My ghost-team, S.P.I.R.I.T., raised $200 for the Murfreesboro Little Theatre by letting us borrow the log cabin for three nights before Halloween to tell ghost stories and give spooky tours of the building. My genuine thanks to the Board of MLT for letting us have all that fun again this year.

See ya at the show.