Regional Roundup: 'Tis the Season! Top 10 Holiday Stories This Week Around the Broadway World - 12/2; BLACK NATIVITY in DC, A CHRISTMAS CAROL in Austin and More!

**BONUS** Voting is NOW OPEN for the 2016 Regional Awards in ALL regions below:

Appleton, Atlanta, Austin, Australia-Sydney, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Cabaret, Central New York, Central Pennsylvania, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Connecticut, Dallas Delaware, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Israel, Italy, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Long Island, Los Angeles, Louisville, Madison, Maine, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Jersey, New Orleans, Omaha, Orlando, Palm Springs, Philadelphia, Philippines, Phoenix, Portland, Raleigh, Rhode Island, Rockland / Westchester, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Seattle, Sioux Falls, South Africa, South Bend, Spain, St. Louis, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Toronto, UK / West End, Washington, DC, West Virginia, Wichita

Happy Holidays from BroadwayWorld! Let the countdown begin! This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature seasonal stories in Washington, DC, Austin, Portland and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include BLACK NATIVITY in DC, A CHRISTMAS CAROL in Austin, and A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS in Portland, just to name a few.

East/Northeast

1. Washington, DC: Editor Andrew Burrill reviews BLACK NATIVITY at Theater Alliance. He says, "Director and choreographer Princess Mhoon, along with her absolutely genius musical director e'Marcus Harper-Short brings nothing less than an infectious gospel explosion to the Washington D.C. community with this thrilling and uplifting production. Making her directing debut, Mhoon has a pioneering flair for the collaboration of movement and motivation on stage. Her blocking choices, enhanced by the constant journey of interpretive dance, is something to be respected and admired. It will be quite exciting to see where Mhoons' journey takes her next, hopefully it will be to the stages of New York City." Read more here.

Midwest

2. Madison, WI: Editor Angie Stanton reviews A FIRESIDE CHRISTMAS at The Fireside Dinner Theatre. She says, "Especially touching was the tribute to Natalie Hershman, who performed her first Fireside Theatre production back in 2007 at the tender age of seven. Her talent has grown exponentially, and she is certain to have a bright future on the stage." Read more here.

3. Kansas City, MO: Editor Alan Portner reviews SISTER'S CHRISTMAS CATECHISM at Starlight Theatre. He says, "Woe be it to the student who has arrived late for class. Sister will embarrass each one in front of the whole class, demand an apology, and assess a fine. Fines are donated to the Pagan Children's fund. Sister claims this is a real thing. Every time the fund exceeds $5.00, a pagan child is adopted in a poor country and the $5.00 becomes the total cost of raising that child to adulthood." Read more here.

4. Chicago, IL: Editor Misha Davenport reviews THE RIP NELSON HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR at Mary's Attic. He says, "Ed Jones stars as Rip Nelson, a washed-up, closeted, has-been in the vein of Rip Taylor, Charles Nelson Reilly and Paul Lynde. It's a star vehicle for one of HIAH's consistently funny actors and rightfully so. It is hard to imagine anyone else in the company able to pull off the necessary scene-chewing required of the variety show aspects along with the heart and pathos of the behind-the-scenes antics." Read more here.

South/Southeast

5. Houston, TX: Editor Gary Laird reviews Houston Ballet's World Premiere of Stanton Welch's THE NUTCRACKER. He says, "Spectacle. There is no other word for it. As re-imagined by Artistic Director Stanton Welch, the holiday classic pulses with new life and over-the-top theatrics reminiscent of 19th century production at its peak, but brought into the 21st by cutting-edge technology. New sets, new costumes, new choreography combine to present an opulence seldom seen on any Houston stage, or anywhere else, for that matter. This production would be at home in any world capital, and I hope it will be in the future." Read more here.

6. Austin, TX: Editor Lynn Beaver reviews A CHRISTMAS CAROL at the ZACH Theatre. She says, "A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens, adapted and directed by Dave Steakley, currently playing at ZACH Theatre, has become an Austin tradition and is by far the best way to kick off the holiday season. Retooled to include new contemporary songs every year, the musical is performed by a Broadway caliber cast. The Dickens' classic has never been more entertaining, and with the addition of GREATER TUNA star Jaston Williams as Scrooge, this year is an extra special treat with a cherry on top." Read more here.

West Coast

7. Denver, CO: Editor Chris Arneson reviews I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS at Arvada Center. He says, "The vocals are spectacular. Racey and Van De Hey as the Bright parents give you that vintage charm you want from a couple who hosts their own show. Mendes's voice is spectacular as he infuses his numbers with palpable emotion. McClay owns every moment, bringing a spunk that makes her the one to watch in several scenes. Standout Darius Jordan Lee breaks out of the ensemble to fill in for a few numbers, and he nails it." Read more here.

8. Portland, OR: Editor Krista Garver reviews A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS at Artists Rep. She says, "Crystal Ann Munoz, who played somewhere between three and seven different characters and shone in every role. She was also in my hands-down favorite scene, in which Decatur Bronson (the revenge-plotting blacksmith, played by the exquisite Vin Shambry) proposes to his soon-to-be-kidnapped wife, Rose (Ms. Munoz). I could have watched that one scene several times over and been charmed every time." Read more here.

International

9. UK/West End: Editor Gary Naylor reviews ANOTHER NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, Bridge House Theatre. He says, "NOTHER NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS has echoes of It's A Wonderful Life (previously produced at this venue by director Guy Retallack), but it's very much its own fable, contemporary, brimming with wit and very funny jokes (super work from book and lyrics writer, Sean Grennan) and just the right side of sentimental. The music is splendid too, Leah Okimoto's catchy tunes nice and easy on the ear, never more so than in "Kill Der Bingle", a plea to see off... well, no spoilers!" Read more here.

National Tour Highlight:

10. Los Angeles Editor Don Grigware reviews WHITE CHRISTMAS at the Pantages Theatre. He says, "In fact, the entire ensemble are top-notch. Standouts in the featured player category are Krystyn Pope and Elish Conlon as the silly laugh.at.anything dancers Rita and Rhoda and Frank Ridley, who is absolutely hilarious as the poker faced, almost zombied janitor Ezekiel." Read more here.

STUDENT BLOGGERS! We'd like to feature a few of our student bloggers below!

This week, we'd like to welcome our newest contributing writer in Dallas, Jared West, and Sebastian Trevino, our guest blogger in Mexico.

*BONUS* - Interested in joining our team, but not exactly sure what we do? All of your questions are answered, along with every open position from guest and student bloggers, Regional Editors, BWW sites and more! Check it out here!