Theater

Another Night Before Christmas This home-invasion Christmas story posits a dude who claims to be Santa caught in the home of a skeptical, sensible woman. You can bet that, by the 90-minute mark, she will have learned the true reason for the season. This year's American Heartland holiday show, a world premiere, comes somewhat pedigreed, with book and music by Sean Grennan and Leah Okimoto (the duo behind such recent Heartland premieres as Married Alive! and A Dog's Life). Encouraging sign: Instead of a series of vignettes based on a theme, this show actually promises a dramatic structure. Through Dec. 30 at American Heartland Theatre at Crown Center, 2450 Grand, 816-842-2999. (Alan Scherstuhl)

The Happy Elf Another coup for the Coterie Theatre: This world-premiere Christmas musical, developed by the Coterie, boasts original music and lyrics by Harry Connick Jr. That Harry Connick Jr., the one who showed in The Pajama Game and demonstrated that his John Raitt is as good as his Sinatra (and that his abs beat both). Based loosely on a swing number from a Connick Christmas record, The Happy Elf is billed as a "live jazz" musical. As elf Eubie tries to bring happiness to the miserable Bluesville, he also brings the swing and jive, so any "meaning of Christmas" treacle will probably go down easier than usual. Through Dec. 30 at the Coterie Theatre at Crown Center, 2450 Grand, 816-474-6552. (Alan Scherstuhl)

This Just In With Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart silenced by the Writers Guild strike, satirical news is at a premium. In Kansas City comedy, nobody brings the slash-and-burn to current events better than Full Frontal Comedy, improv pros who this week are making a full show out of it. With promising sketches that jab at Chastain, Kline and Phelps and improvised scenes and games involving real-life funny stuff not geared toward the Ruckus crowd, Tina Morrison's crowd-pleasing troupe (featuring the always inspired Joyce Halford and the new and fantastic Paul DeMerchant) is once again making our deeply troubled metro seem fun. Through Nov. 17 at Olathe Community Theatre, 500 E. Loula, Olathe, 816-623-3557. (Alan Scherstuhl)