No Holiday Party Invites? Make Theater Reservations!

From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos on Picplz and at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.

Nothing to do this weekend? All your holiday party invites got stuck in your spam filter? The dog ate them after you brought the mail into the house? Take in a show at a local theater before last-minute Christmas shopping or heading out of town.

Another option: The Santaland Diaries runs at Fort Fringe, 607 New York Avenue NW, through December 24. Go to City Artistic Partnerships for show times and tickets. Look for Kate Hays’ review on Monday.

If you are in the mood for a holiday-related theme the Washington Improv Theater’s Seasonal Disaster runs through December 31 at the Source: “We’re putting together a hot mess of improv comedy just in time for the holidays. We know it’ll be improvised and will NOT exploit an injured orphan to invoke the spirit of holitimes charity and togetherness. Cuz that’s wrong.” (Source)

At the Lincoln, you can catch the Holiday Comedy Jam on Saturday, December 10.

Closing: This is your final chance to see The Golden Dragon at Studio Theatre; it closes this Sunday, December 11.

Full details below.

Keegan Theatre at Church Street at 1742 Church Street NW

• An Irish Carol runs through December 31. “Set in a Dublin pub, this world premiere by Matthew Keenan is a homage to Dickens’ classic — told as only the Irish can. An Irish Carol follows one evening in the life of David, a wealthy pub owner who has distanced himself from others and lost touch with his own humanity in the interest of self protection and material success. But on this Christmas Eve — challenged by a voice from the past, provoked by those in this present, and faced with the reality of lonely future – David’s life may change forever.  An Irish Carol is a modern fable, told with the biting humor and incisive candor of its Irish playwright – a new holiday tradition for Keegan audiences.” (Keegan Theatre)

Lincoln Theatre at 1215 U Street NW

• Don’t Tell Grandma I Met Him Online, Deccember 7-9. “Roselonda Productions presents the hillarious stage play.” (Lincoln Theatre)
• Holiday Comedy Jam, December 10. “Hayes Entertainment presents the 2011 Holiday Comedy Jam. Featuring The DC Comedy Dream Team with Mike Brooks, Tony Woods, and Teddy Carpenter. Hosted by Lazee Lamont.” (Lincoln Theatre)
• Javier Colon – Winner of NBC’s The Voice, December 13: “Winner of the first season of NBC’s The Voice, Javier Colon has been singing and writing songs since the age of 13.” (Lincoln Theatre)

Source at 1835 14th Street NW

• Seasonal Disaster runs through December 31. From the Washington Improv Theater: “We’re putting together a hot mess of improv comedy just in time for the holidays. We know it’ll be improvised and will NOT exploit an injured orphan to invoke the spirit of holitimes charity and togetherness. Cuz that’s wrong. Also: No dancing mice. Cuz that’s scary… and sort of gross.” (Source) Check back for times.
• Every Tuesday night at the Source is Harold Night! with the Washington Improv Theater. Overview: “Each week is a demonstration, celebration and experiment in the world-famous improv longform, Harold. It starts with an audience suggestion and explores whatever themes emerge through a series of scenes. All of the action is brought to life by WIT’s own Harold Teams right before your eyes.” (WIT)

Studio Theatre at 1501 14th Street NW

• The Golden Dragon closes Sunday, December 11. “A kaleidoscopic look at a globalized world, this play by one of Germany’s most innovative and adventurous writers unfolds in brief and fierce comic scenes. Five actors cross age, race, and gender to play fifteen characters in this vicious, poetic, and surprisingly moving investigation of how intertwined our lives really are.” (Studio Theatre)
• Bust runs through December 18. “With one foot in Hollywood and the other in jail, the former Daily Show correspondent careens wildly between the two worlds, taking us on a hilarious, poignant, and completely unforgettable ride.” (Studio Theatre)

Theater J at 1529 16th Street NW

• The Kinsey Sicks in Oy Vey in a Manger, December 24-26. “America’s favorite Dragapella Beauty-Shop Quartet brings its irreverent humor and harmonies back to DC just in time for the holidays. With gut-busting parodies and raucous schtick, The Kinsey Sicks offers wholesome favorites like “I Had a Little Facial,” “Harried Little Christmas,” and “‘Tis the Season to Drink Stoli”! (Theater J)
• The Religion Thing runs January 4-29: “”Mo and Brian are a picture-perfect DC couple: they’re smart, they’re witty, and they have a beautifully remodeled kitchen. But when Mo’s best friend Patti announces she’s found Jesus and is putting her own career on hold, Mo must take a closer look at the harder truths surrounding her own marriage. A brand new comedy about relationships, faith and the fine line between compromise and regret.” (Theater J)