Here are all of the shows we wish we could get out and see this week!  Take your pick from our list of great theatre escapes for the week of December 5th, 2010:

**  Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make Megan, our editor, wish she could clone herself so she could check them all out.

300 Tapes (Public Recordings/Alberta Theatre Projects). Three performers use movement and sounds to bring taped archives to life. Opens Dec 1 and runs to Dec 12, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $22, stu/srs $15. Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen W. 416-538-0988, theatrecentre.org.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Soulpepper). The classic holiday ghost story gets a staging. Opens Dec 6 and runs to Dec 30, Mon-Sat 7:30 pm (to Dec 23; see website for mats and holiday schedule). $40-$76, stu $32; rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

**Beauty And The Beast: The Savagely Silly Family Musical by Lorna Wright and Nicholas Hune-Brown (Ross Petty Productions). A Faustian deal leads to trouble in this farcical version of the fairy tale. Previews Nov 25-Dec 1. Opens Dec 2 and runs to Jan 1, Thu-Sat 7 pm, see website for other times. $27-$85. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge. 416-872-5555, rosspetty.com.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church). John D Huston plays Charles Dickens and the MadriGALS sing in this theatrical adaptation. Dec 8 at 7 pm. $20, child $15 (food bank donations appreciated). 1399 Bayview. 416-485-0329.

**Frankly Speaking: A Caribbean Christmas Dinner Comedy (Kingston 6 Entertainment). Rhoma Spencer and Blakka Ellis present comedy and storytelling alongside a Caribbean folk choir. Dec 10 at 8:30 pm. $20-$30. The Hideaway, 538 Danforth. 416-750-1764 ext 1.

HarbourKIDS: SK8 (Harbourfront Centre). This celebration of skating and winter includes a musical comedy cabaret, Cow Over Moon Theatre’s play Jack Frost and more. Dec 4-5, see website for schedule. Free. 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

Honk Jr by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe (Toronto Youth Theatre). Based on The Ugly Duckling, this all-ages musical looks at finding love and acceptance. Opens Dec 9 and runs to Dec 19, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun 3:30 pm. $30 (ticketweb.ca). Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. 416-915-6747 ext 221, torontoyouththeatre.org.

Mojo by Jez Butterworth (Ezra’s Atlantic Co-op). This dark comedy looks at the backrooms of the British rock scene in the late 50s. Previews Nov 30-Dec 1. Opens Dec 2 and runs to Dec 19, Tue-Sun 8 pm. $15-$20. 326 Carlaw. torontomojo@gmail.com.

Munsch Express (George Brown Theatre School). This family-friendly show is based on popular Robert Munsch stories. Opens Dec 4 and runs to Dec 11, Sat 1 pm. $18, srs $12 stu $7. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666.

Pinkalicious, The Musical by Elizabeth Kann, Victoria Kann and John Gregor (Vital Theatre). A girl turns pink after eating too many cupcakes in this family musical. Opens Oct 9 and runs to Dec 26, Sat 11 am and 1 pm, Sun 1 pm. $29.50-$39.50. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. 416-642-8973, vitaltheatre.ca.

Shakespeare: If Music Be… (Art of Time Ensemble). This multidisciplinary show features theatre, music and dance written and inspired by the Bard. Dec 9-11 at 8 pm. $25-$59. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, artoftimeensemble.com.

The One-Man Hit Parade (Mirvish). Impressionist/comedian André-Philippe Gagnon presents a multimedia music and comedy show. Opens Dec 1 and runs to Dec 5, Fri-Sat and Wed 8 pm, Thu 7 pm, Sun 2 pm. $50-$99. Canon Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz by L Frank Baum (Civic Light Opera Company). This musical is based on the classic children’s novel. Opens Dec 1 and runs to Dec 19, Wed 7 pm, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mats Sun (and Dec 18) at 2 pm. $25. Fairview Library Theatre, 35 Fairview Mall. 416-755-1717, civiclightoperacompany.com.

**The Wrecking Ball 11: Now What? (Theatre Centre). Judith Thompson, Jovanni Sy and other playwrights present new political theatre pieces about Toronto’s future under Rob Ford. Dec 6 at 8 pm. Pwyc (proceeds to the Actors Fund of Canada). 1087 Queen W. thewreckingball.ca.

What Light Is This? (Poculi Ludique Societas). The medieval nativity pageant is based on the York cycle of mystery plays. Opens Dec 8 and runs to Dec 11, Sat and Wed 7 pm, mat Sat 2:30 pm. $20, srs $15, stu $10. St Thomas’s Anglican Church, 383 Huron. 416-978-5096, plspls.ca.

Already Seen By MoT

**A Year With Frog And Toad by Robert Reale and Willie Reale (Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People). Cheerful Frog and grumpy Toad go through the four seasons in this play for kids. Previews Nov 15-17. Opens Nov 18 and runs to Dec 30, see website for schedule. $10-$20. 165 Front E. 416-862-2222, lktyp.ca.

Bethune Imagined by Ken Gass (Factory Theatre). This drama looks at the medical pioneer and three women in his life. Previews Nov 13-17. Opens Nov 18 and runs to Dec 12, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25-$40, previews $15, Sun pwyc. 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, factorytheatre.ca.

**Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott (Mirvish). Three friends take a battered bus across the Australian outback, looking for love and friendship. Previews Oct 12-24. Opens Oct 26 and runs to Jan 2, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $20-$130. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

Rock Of Ages by Chris D’Arienzo (Mirvish). This arena-rock love story takes place LA’s Sunset Strip and features hits from the 80s. Previews Apr 20-May 9. Opens May 11 and runs to Jan 2, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 7 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2 pm. $28-$99. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

**Roshni by Anusree Roy (Theatre Passe Muraille). Two youths beg, steal and dream of a better life at a Calcutta train station. Previews Nov 18-20. Opens Nov 24 and runs to Dec 11, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $30-$35, preview $15, mat pwyc. 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, passemuraille.on.ca.

Studies In Motion: The Hauntings Of Eadweard Muybridge by Kevin Kerr (Canadian Stage Company/Electric Company Theatre). This play looks at the life and work of the 19th-century photographer. Previews Nov 22-24. Opens Nov 25 and runs to Dec 18, Mon-Sat 8 pm, mats Wed 1:30 pm, Sat 2 pm. $22-$99. Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-368-3110, canadianstage.com.

**The Great War: The History Of The Village Of The Small Huts, 1914-1918 by Michael Hollingsworth (VideoCabaret). This satire looks at conquest and the absurdity of war. Previews Oct 26-28. Opens Oct 29 and runs to Dec 5, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $15-$30. Cameron House, 408 Queen W. 416-703-1725, videocab.com.

The Silicone Diaries by Nina Arsenault (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). Transsexual Arsenault performs her solo show about cosmetic surgery. Opens Nov 25 and runs to Dec 11, Tue-Sun 8 pm. $19-$33. 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

The Year Of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (Tarragon Theatre). A woman deals with the sudden loss of her husband and child in this drama. Previews Nov 2-6. Opens Nov 9 and runs to Dec 12, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $23-$44, Fri & Sun rush $10. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

**Wide Awake Hearts by Brendan Gall (Tarragon Theatre). A suspicious producer casts his wife and his best friend as lovers in his latest film. Previews Nov 2-9. Opens Nov 10 and runs to Dec 12, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $23-$44, Fri & Sun rush $10. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

*Listings based on NOW stage listings*