Now that November is upon us, it’s the perfect time to thank your clients for a banner year and express your gratitude with sleigh bells and whistles—plus an army of hip-hop dancing soldiers and the obligatory trifecta of Christmas ghosts. Take your clients out on the town for a festive evening of holiday entertainment courtesy our local theater community, which in long-standing Twin Cities tradition continues to impress out-of-towners with innovative riffs on timeless holiday stories. —Melinda Nelson

The Brian Setzer Orchestra 14th Annual Christmas Rocks! Tour

♦ If your clients have a taste for vintage flair, kick off the evening at the clubby Capital Grille with ice-cold martinis and fresh oysters on the half-shell before crossing Hennepin Avenue to the State Theatre, designed in 1921 and embellished in the 1940s with a spectacular neon marquee. Enjoy a flashback Friday evening with three-time Grammy winner and Stray Cats founder Brian Setzer and his 19-piece orchestra as they belt out holiday classics and new tunes from their latest album, Rockin’ Rudolph. November 10, State Theatre, Mpls., hennepintheatretrust.org

Snow White

♦ Charm your out-of-town clients with an evening at Old Log Theatre, one of the oldest continuously running theater companies in the country. Warm up in the Cast & Cru restaurant with a round of Old Log Fashions, made with local bourbon and maple syrup, and savory duck-tenderloin poppers before taking your seats in the cozy theater. When the curtain rises, you’ll find yourself in snowy Norway, where director Kent Knutson has provided Snow White with an entourage of amusing Viking dwarfs. November 14-December 30, Old Log Theatre, Excelsior, oldlog.com

A Christmas Carol

♦ Clients who are thespians will be honored to spend an evening at Guthrie Theater, established in 1963 by Sir Tyrone Guthrie. Start with a very unmiserly feast of Champagne and smoked salmon at Sea Change before enjoying A Christmas Carol, directed by Lauren Keating. Now in its 43rd year at the Guthrie, Dickens’ timeless tale about the value of generosity unfolds on the Wurtele Thrust Stage. November 14-December 30, Guthrie Theater, Mpls., guthrietheater.org

The Hip Hop Nutcracker

♦ For an exceedingly urbane evening, jumpstart the fun at Bar Lurcat (cafelurcat.com) with a round of signature Hennepin Avenue cocktails, overlooking the magical wintry landscape of Loring Park. Head over to the State Theatre, where The Hip Hop Nutcracker follows a modern-day Maria-Clara as she travels back in time to discover that her parents met in a nightclub. Directed and choreographed by Jennifer Weber of Brooklyn-based Decadancetheatre, the show includes Tchaikovsky’s famous beats remixed by DJ Boo, dazzling hip-hop moves and other delights. November 21–22, State Theatre, Mpls., hennepintheatretrust.org