The holiday-show season started Wednesday evening for me, as I trooped out to (OK, took Highway 55 about 15 minutes from my house) to Plymouth to see “Away in a Basement: A Church Basement Ladies Christmas.” I have to say, by the third entry, the jokes and routines are getting pretty thin and the show’s lack of drama overshadows the nice performances and occasional good production number.

“Away in a Basement: A Church Basement Ladies Christmas” runs through Jan. 24 at the Plymouth Playhouse, 2705 Annapolis Lane N., Plymouth. Tickets are $25 to $38. For information and tickets, call 763-553-1600 or visit online.

BNW's 'Brett Favre Spectacular'
One show that promises not to be schmaltzy is the latest holiday offering from the Brave New Workshop. “Brett Favre’s Christmas Spectacular: The Immaculate Interception.” The revue — the 268th produced by the venerable company — mixes new sketches with some old seasonal favorites, including the absolutely classic shrieking moms/angry dads’ version of “The 12 Days of Christmas.” The cast includes Lauren Anderson, Josh Esknight, Mike Fotis, Bobby Gardner and Ellie Hino.

“Brett Favre’s Christmas Spectacular” runs through Jan. 30 at the Brave New Workshop, 2606 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. Tickets are $26 to $29. For information, call 612-332-8620 or visit online.

'Cinderella' at CTC
It’s not exactly a Christmas show, but “Cinderella” is a beloved classic tale. Now the Children’s Theatre Company puts a fresh spin on the piece, with a production featuring the comic talents of Reed Sigmund and Dean Holt as the evil stepsisters, and Maeve Moynihan in the title role. Director Peter Brosius goes for an English “panto” vibe here, which should make for a most unusual holiday show in the Twin Cities.

“Cinderella” runs through Jan. 2 at the Children’s Theatre Company. Tickets are $20 to $44. For tickets and information, call 612) 874-0400 or visit online.

Workhaus 'Sense'
And if all this holiday cheer is already getting you down, the Workhaus Collective has “The Sense of What Should Be,” about a troubled teenage boy’s ultimate plan to get revenge on his small town — becoming a super-villain and wreaking pure comic-book vengeance. The play’s goofy aesthetic never hides the dark undercurrent of the story. The production — helmed by writer Dominic Orlando — looks good, and Dylan Frederick turns in an inspired performance as the geek Adam, who balances a character who is very awkward in human interactions and also deeply psychotic.

“The Sense of What Should Be” runs through Nov. 22 at the Playwrights’ Center, 2301 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis. Tickets are $8 to $15. For information and tickets, call 612-332-7481 ext. 20 or visit online.