Holiday shows

There's no place like the theater for the holidays, including Pittsburgh CLO's "A Musical Christmas Carol," starring Tom "The Chief" Atkins at the Byham Theater, Downtown, through Dec. 23. And there's no time to lament the departure the Rockettes and the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular" when Pittsburgh Ballet's "Nutcracker" gets under way tomorrow and runs through Dec. 27 at the Benedum Center.

More shows for the holidays include:

• "Madeline's Christmas" returns to Little Lake Theatre, Canonsburg, with a story known to little girls everywhere: "In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived 12 little girls in two straight lines . . ." Book and lyrics by Jennifer Kirkeby with music by Shirley Mier; based on the book by Ludwig Bemelmans. Remaining performances Dec. 12, 13, 19 and 20; adult $14; children 15 and under $12; 724-745-6300 or LittleLake.org.

• Also at Little Lake, there's fun on the program if you're spending the holidays with the "Christmas Belles," continuing this weekend and Dec. 17-19. The play by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten tells the story of the chaotic Christmas Eve show at the Tabernacle of the Lamb in Fayro, Texas, where Santa has a kidney stone and Joseph has food poisoning, and there's an Elvis impersonator in the manger.

• "Babes in Toyland" has marched into the Gemini Theater in Point Breeze, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 27. Tickets: $9.50; 412-243-5201 or www.geminitheater.org.

• If you're in the mood for a little "bah humbug" followed by a little "God bless us, everyone," New Olde Bank is staging "A Christmas Carol" with Rich Kenzie as Ebenezer Scrooge. Performances at the Verona theater are Dec. 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12; reservations required at 412-251-7904 or www.newobt.com.

Doo-wop time

There are few groups with as confusing a history as the Drifters. Without dredging up the whole tale, Charlie Thomas was a member of the New Drifters, with Ben E. King, which debuted in 1959 with "There Goes My Baby," leading to a string of hits including "This Magic Moment" and "Save the Last Dance for Me." He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

He leads "The Drifters Featuring Charlie Thomas" into Mellon Arena Friday as the headliner of Doo Wop Holiday Reunion VIII. He's joined by Gene Chandler ("Duke of Earl"), The Duprees ("You Belong to Me"), Emil Stucchio & The Classics, Kenny Vance & The Planotones, Lenny Welch, The Marcels and Kathy Young.

It begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 to $75. Call 800-745-3000.

Handmade gifts

Gift shoppers in search of the unusual and the creative should head for Handmade Arcade, an independent craft fair featuring works by 90 artists -- both local, regional and national.

Handmade gifts will include jewelry, hair accessories and decorative items along with imaginative recycling efforts such as pillows made from vintage t-shirts and clocks made from bicycle cogs.

They're also selling 150 Early Birdie passes for $15, which will get shoppers in an hour early at 10 a.m. They're available at the Handmade Arcade Web site: http://www.handmadearcade.com.

The sale is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Hunt Armory, 324 Emerson St., Shadyside.

Gory retelling

Terence Hawkins attended Yale when a year at the Ivy League school cost $8,000, roughly the same price as his father's Chrysler Newport.

After graduating in 1978, the Uniontown native became a lawyer. A resident of New Haven, Conn., he specializes in medical malpractice cases. His other passion is writing and at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Penguin Book Shop in Sewickley, Mr. Hawkins will read from his new book, "The Rage of Achilles." It's a rather gory retelling of Homer's classic tale, "The Iliad."

But there's no need to read the original or pull out your Cliffs Notes to understand this fresh update of Homer's classic tale about the armies that clashed outside the walls of Troy. All your favorite characters will be there, too, including Odysseus, Agamemnon, Prince Hector and Achilles.

Undead holiday

It seems like things would get quiet in zombieland after Halloween. But the undead are all about coming back. And they really seem to like Monroeville Mall, where the original "Dawn of the Dead" was filmed in 1978.

This Sunday they'll celebrate the season at the annual Monroeville Mall Zombie Holiday Party.

Leonard Lies, who played the "machete zombie" in the original "Dawn" will be on hand, and will be inducted into the Maul of Fame. It's an honor similar to having a star on Hollywood Boulevard, except that in this case, inductees leave bloody handprints on the Maul of Fame wall.

Other attractions including a walkthrough boiler room with life-sized zombies, and Zombie Gallery, a model of the Mall as it was in '78.

Party-goers can have their pictures taken with Zombie Santa for $10, or ride the Living Dead Experience motion simulator ride for $3.

Party time is Sunday from 6 to 10 p.m. at Time and Space Toys, Mon­roeville Mall. Admission is free.

Information: 412-373-4303.

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Botti's back

Chris Botti, whose warm trumpet tone has graced the work of Andrea Bocelli, Sting, Paul Simon and many others, brings his holiday show to Heinz Hall on Sunday.

Botti, currently nominated for three Grammys, is known for his sophisticated blend of jazz, classical and pop, particularly on ballads.

"Well, I think that my whole life I recognized that the great trumpet players primarily did ballads," he recently told Montclair Times. "Those are the kinds of records that people relate to. In other words, when you went and saw Miles Davis live, they would play with all the energy and virtuosity that you would want to hear from an instrumentalist. But when he made records -- the records that really crossed over for him -- "Sketches of Spain" and "Kind of Blue" -- they were primarily mood albums. But when you go to see somebody play live, that's a different thing. So when I play live, it's much more energetic than the records because we want it to be an entertaining, fun night and also filled with the roller-coaster of energy that a live show can give you."

Times are 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 to $55.50. Call 412-392-4900.

Say Wu

Mr. Small's opens its chapel doors Sunday night to one of the members of the esteemed Wu-Tang Clan.

Raekwon the Chef was around when the Staten Island crew debuted in '93 with "Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers" and had his acclaimed solo debut, "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx ...," the story of a mafioso don, on the block two years later. After two more solo discs, he continues the narrative with "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx ... Pt. II," in which the mafioso embraces his criminal life. The sequel debuted at No. 4 on the charts and has drawn rave reviews. In September, he was voted the #10 hottest MC in the game by MTV.

The local openers are Bassick Sickness, Boaz, The Commonwealth Family, Gene Stovall, and T-LAWS. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. Go to www.ticketweb.com/mrsmalls.

Historic hangout

See how pioneer families in the late 18th century prepared for the holidays by stopping for a visit at the Oliver Miller Homestead Sunday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

The historic home and site will be decorated with greens, pinecones and berries. In the kitchen, they'll be preparing Christmas puddings. Musicians and singers will perform ancient and traditional carols.

Visitors can tour the Stone House, Log House, springhouse, forge and barn.

Oliver Miller Homestead is in South Park on Stone Manse Drive. Information: 412-835-1554.

Family cheer

Citiparks invites families to Skate with Santa Sunday at the Schenley Park Skating Rink. The session runs from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and includes music, refreshments and skating and photos with Santa. Bring your kids and cameras. Admission is $4; $3 for youth (17 and younger) and seniors (60 and older). Skate rental is $2.50, and skate sharpening is $3.50. For more information, call 412-422-6523 or visit www.SchenleyRink.com

• Pittsburgh Mercy Health System rings in the holidays with the 6th Annual Reindeer Ball, a holiday gala for families featuring "A Candyland Christmas," a holiday revue produced by New York-based RWS Productions. Guests can dance with Mrs. Claus and Jingles the Elf, craft holiday art projects, decorate holiday cookies, get their face painted and partake of the child-friendly buffet. It runs Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Westin Convention Center Ballroom and it benefits A Child's Place at Mercy. Tickets are $80 for adults and $45 for children. To register, call 724-934-3537.

• The Pittsburgh Philharmonic Orchestra welcomes members of the South Hills Chorale to perform John Rutter's "Magnificat," but there will be plenty of traditional music and sing-a-longs in its holiday program, "A Winter's Eve." The concerts take place Friday, at 8 p.m. at Succop Theater on the campus of Butler County Community College and Saturday at 7 p.m. at North Hills Junior High School auditorium in Ross. Tickets are $5-$15, 412-394-3353.

-- compiled by Scott Mervis, Adrian McCoy, Sharon Eberson, Andrew Druckenbrod and Marylynne Pitz

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