Another movie-to-musical adaptation, Elf is based on the Will Ferrell movie about a boy who stows away in Santa’s sack, only to find out later that he is a regular human. As family holiday fare goes, this show is hard to beat, and will be running simultaneously on Broadway this season.

Dec. 1–30, $27-$95, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, St. Paul, 651-224-4222, ordway.org