A decade after that Christmas-and Who-hating Grinch first raged across the Old Globe Theatre stage, the old meanie has gotten a makeover, with a hairier costume that looks like rancid seaweed and – ready for this? – pixie boots.

Jack O’Brien’s production of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas has since gone on to Broadway, where a judge recently ordered it to go on despite the striking stagehands. But the Grinch and his friends have never left San Diego, where they’ve become a fixture on the local Christmas scene. This year’s show plays through Dec. 30 on the Old Globe stage, now directed by Benjamin Endsley Klein.

In honor of the 10th anniversary, the show has been spiffed up with three new songs and an expanded dance sequence by Bob Richard. The show opens with the carol “Welcome Christmas (Fah Who Doraze),” from the animated Grinch film. “This Time of Year,” a duet for Old and Young Max (Martin Van Treuren and James Royce Edwards) is a sprightly comedy number. “It’s the Thought That Counts,” (replacing “Last Minute Shopping”) is a full company number done in rotating duets and trios about the joys and horrors of Christmas shopping. And this year the audience gets to sing along with “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” Even the orchestrations sound different – fuller and, well, a little more strange.

Playing the Grinch this year is last year’s Old Max, Kevin Bailey, cutting a hilarious figure as he grumps around the stage, plotting the demise of Christmas and explaining to Mama Who (the always-delightful Melinda Gilb) that he’s “from Whoston.”

The kids’ parts are double cast. Skylar Starrs Siben, the Cindy-Lou Who I saw, is absolutely winning, and she shares a great stage moment with the Grinch as she attempts to soften the famous heart that’s two sizes too small. As she prepares to sing “Santa for a Day,” the Grinch turns his eyes heavenword and deadpans, “Oh no! It’s a ballad!”

Let’s face it, no matter what they do with it, the Grinch is a winner.

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas plays through Dec. 30 at the Old Globe Theatre. Shows Tuesday through Sunday at 7:30; matinees Saturday and Sunday at various times. For tickets call 619-23-GLOBE or visit www.TheOldGlobe.org.

As Christmas classics go, It’s a Wonderful Life is up there near the top. There’s something profoundly human about the story of George Bailey (Tom Andrew), who gives up his dreams of college and travel in order to help the little people in his home town of Bedford Falls, and is then saved from suicidal depression by a rookie angel trying to earn his wings.

The source of It’s a Wonderful Life was a 1943 short story by writer Philip Van Doren Stern. Unable to find a publisher, Stern printed it on Christmas cards and sent it to 200 people, hoping it would catch on. Director Frank Capra happened to read it at a friend’s house, loved it, and the rest, as they say, is history.

On Cygnet Theatre’s visual smorgasbord of a set, actors assemble for a ’40s radio presentation (in addition to the 1946 film, the story also had a life as a radio play). This second incarnation of the show, an adaptation of the original radio script, complete with commercials and jingles, plays through Dec. 30, directed by Sean Murray.

Augmented by Jeanne Reith’s wonderful period costumes, old-fashioned mikes and the pièce de résistance – a set of amazing items for Foley artist Scott Paulson to create sound effects with – this show is as much fun to watch in production as it is to hear.

And check out those singing jingles for Kreml Hair Tonic for gents whose hair resembles “a dried-out bird’s nest” and Lux Toilet Cake (soap) “cleaning up the U.S.A.” Ah, those were the days.

Andrew and Brenda Dodge, as George’s wife Mary head a terrific supporting cast (most returnees from last year’s production) including Melissa Fernandes, David Gallagher, Trevor Hollingsworth, Veronica Murphy, Shane Simmons and the real star – Scott Paulson, with those fascinating sound effects.

It’s a Wonderful Life: a Live Radio Play is fast becoming a Christmas tradition – get your fix at Cygnet Theatre, whereIt’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play plays through Dec. 30. Shows Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m.; Dec. 24 at 5:30 p.m. For tickets call 619-337-1525 or visit www.cygnettheatre.com.

Mary Karr once wrote, “A dysfunctional family is any family with more than one person in it.”

What is it about the holidays that intensify the dysfunction in families? Is it propinquity, the forced cheer, the niggling fear that the magic of this truly special time is beyond our grasp?

New Village Arts Theatre presents the world premiere of its first commissioned play, Off the Ground, by local playwrights Amy Chini and Tom Zohar. Directed by Joshua Everett Johnson, Off the Ground plays through Dec. 23.

Wannabe writer Joel (Francis Gercke), suffering the pain of divorce and the concomitant loss of day-to-day fathering of 4-year-old Grace to his wife’s new boyfriend, moved in “temporarily” with Grandpa Dick (Charlie Riendeau) some time ago. He’s still there.

Now it’s time for the annual gathering of the clan. Joel’s attempts to pry Dick off the couch to push the vacuum cleaner around having proven fruitless, he sets the old man the task of decorating the mantel with a strand of green tinsel. The clumsy result prompts him to note that “we are men performing a task not given to us by nature.”

Ready or not, the family arrives. First is Joel’s anal retentive sister Susan (Wendy Waddell), early as always, with a Christmas tree and husband Luke (Terry Scheidt) in tow. Then Joel and Susan’s mother Ginny (Sandra Ellis-Troy) sweeps in with much noise, another Christmas tree and husband Jim (Jack Missett). To Joel’s mortification, Ginny’s brought something for him – a stranger named Donna (Amanda Morrow). Good old mom.

Everybody wants something, and over the course of this raucous evening of food, drink, conversation and mutual overtalking, all will realize that despite their differences and disappointments, aggravations and annoyances, ultimately it’s better to be part of a family than not.

Chini and Zohar have a good feel for the virtues and horrors of family dynamics. Riendeau’s grouchy grandpa, Susan’s controlling Susan, Ellis-Troy’s meddling mom, Gercke’s tentative Joel – it’s like a real family reunion. The second act is particularly strong; the first would benefit from a shorter opening dialogue between Joel and Dick.

The New York-bound Johnson directs a stellar cast with a light but sure hand. He will act in one more local play (Kenneth Lonergan’s This is Our Youth at NVA) before leaving us for the Big City.

Off the Ground plays through Dec. 23 at New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad. Shows Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m.; matinees Saturday at 3 and Sunday at 2 p.m. For tickets call 760-433-3245 or visit www.NewVillageArts.org.