And now we revisit that yuletide melody to brace us against the cold night air as we go searching for warmth in the company of friends gather'd for an e'en of song, dance or merriment during this blessed of seasons.

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a Ballet in Front of A Tree...

The most traditional production of "The Nutcracker," staged for its 20th year by Ballet Memphis, goes up this weekend at the Orpheum. It's a large cast: 19 dancers from the professional company, a couple dozen Junior company and a veritable hoard of tiny ballerinas from the dance school.

As always, the company promises small changes. Some "new characters" join the traditional array of mice, fairies, snowflakes and cloaked men bearing gifts.

For one performance only, a touring company called the Moscow Ballet also performs its "Great Russian Nutcracker," danced by a professional cast plucked from top Russian dance schools. Choreographed by Bolshoi soloist Stanislav Vlasov, the show is also filled out with children from local dance schools.

Ballet Memphis' "Nutcracker" is 7 tonight, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Orpheum. Tickets are $5-$70. Call 737-7322.

Moscow Ballet's "Great Russian Nutcracker" is 3 p.m. Sunday at the Cannon Center. Tickets are $25-$65. Call Ticketmaster at 525-1515.

On the Second Day of Christmas my true love gave to me two Broadway Singers...

The Memphis Symphony Orchestra's annual "Home for the Holidays" concert features New York stage veterans Dani Davis and Kevin Duda leading a pops sing-along, in addition to crooning a lot of tunes with Christmas in the titles: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "White Christmas," "Love at Christmas Time ..."

8 p.m. Saturday at the Cannon Center. Tickets are $28-$78. Call 537-2525.

...Three church ladies...

Voices of the South and Project: Motion return with another installment of "Pre-sent Pres-ent," a multimedia holiday show about gift-giving emceed by Sister Myotis (comedian Steve Swift in drag) and her helpers Sister Ima and Sister Velma. This year's show is subtitled "Wonderland."

Dec. 12-21 at TheatreWorks, 2085 Monroe. Times are 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $10-$15. Call 726-0800.

...Four Standing Ovations...

Famed opera soprano Kathleen Battle reunites with friend and collaborator saxophonist Kirk Whalum for a special concert of secular and Christmas music that shows off the Memphis singing community. Joining her onstage will be the choirs of Snowden Middle School and White Station Middle School.

3 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Cannon Center. Tickets are $20-$70. Call 743-2787.

...Five ways to sing...

Rhodes College's annual "Christmas at St. Mary's" concert is always a major yuletide event. Join the Rhodes Singers and the Rhodes Brass Ensemble for an evening of holiday music. New this year is a sing-along of traditional carols. A reception follows the performance.

7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, 700 Poplar. Free. Call 843-3775.

... Six Cab'ret belters...

Three singing duos take the stage in Theatre Memphis' "Life is a Holiday! Cabaret," through Dec. 21. This weekend, Joe Lackie and Josh Quinn sing classic renditions of Christmas tunes. Next weekend features Lydia Hart (of "Thoroughly Modern Millie") and artistic director Kell Christie. Week three: Ann Sharp and Jude Knight -- the "bosom buddies" of the musical "Mame." The event is hosted by executive producer Debbie Litch and music director Gary Beard.

8:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $28; a cash bar is open during the performances. 630 Perkins Ext. Call 682-8323.

...Seven styles of dancing...

New Ballet Ensemble reinvents the story of "The Nutcracker" with its signature blend of eclectic dance in "Nut Re-Mix." Dancers display a variety of styles. Among them: pointe, Modern, Chinese, African, flamenco and even, in the past, gymnastic flipping.

7 p.m. Dec. 12 and 13 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Buckman Arts Center, 60 Perkins Ext. Tickets are $25 adults, $10 students. Call 726-9225.

...Eight Nights of Hanukkah...

Any one of which may be spent reminiscing about the one non-Christmas related show this season, "The Pajama Game," opening Tuesday at the Orpheum theater. This touring musical production of the Tony-winning 2006 Broadway revival is about pajama factory workers demanding higher wages.

7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. Dec. 12; 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 13; and 1:30 and 7 p.m. Dec. 14. Tickets are $15-$75. Call 525-3000.p>

...Nine Flugels Fluging...

The volunteer Germantown Symphony Orchestra and Chorus bring holiday music to the 'burbs.

7 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre, 1801 Exeter Road. Tickets are $12 adults, $10 seniors and students. Call 751-7500.

...Ten grannies grumping ...

Actually, no one except the two actors knows how many grumpy grannies, hick-town sheriffs, dowdy homemakers and drunken barflies there are in "A Tuna Christmas," the quick-change comedy returning to Playhouse on the Square, 51 S. Cooper, for another run.

8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 11. Tickets are $10-$30. Call 726-4656.

...Eleven bahs of "Humbug!"...

"A Christmas Carol" is back at Theatre Memphis for its 31st year. Mark Garrett, last seen in "Oklahoma!" plays the old crotchety scrooge, Scrooge.

And on Dec. 18, Hattiloo Theatre premieres an original rewrite of the Dickens story. In this urban musical update called "If Scrooge was a Brother," Eb Scroo is a landlord demanding all debts be paid by nightfall. The "ghosts" that haunt him look a lot like popular celebrities such as Bob Marley (as Jacob Marley) and Little Richard (as Tiny Tim), among others.

"A Christmas Carol" is Dec. 5-23 at Theatre Memphis, 630 Perkins Ext. 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 3 and 7 p.m. Saturdays and 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $10-$28. Call 682-8323.

"If Scrooge Was A Brother" is Dec. 18-Jan. 4 at Hattiloo Theatre, 656 Marshall. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $15-$20. Call 525-0009.

...Twelve kids a-kidding...

"In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines, lived twelve little girls in two straight lines." Thus begins "Madeline's Christmas," a musical that brings the adventurous tyke of children's fiction to life along with her friends and teacher Miss Clavel.

Dec. 5-21 at Germantown Community Theatre, 3037 Forest Hill-Irene Rd. Times are 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 5 and 7 p.m. Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 students and seniors. Call 754-2680.

-- Christopher Blank: 529-2305