Airman Gable graduates from basic training

“Food, Glorious Food” sets the scene as hungry little orphans line up for a meager meal. Among their number is plucky, pint-sized Oliver Twist, who manages to prevail over the system. Charles Dickens” timeless characters will fill the Town Hall stage as “Oliver!” the musical by Lionel Bart, plays through Dec. 27, directed by the multi-talented Christopher Willard, with musical direction by Donna Debreceni. Town Hall Arts Center offers this family show in its historic theater at 2450 W. Main St., downtown Littleton. 303-794-2787 ext. 5; www.townhallartscenter.com.

Act I opens with scruffy, depressed, kleptomaniac Maggie (Sara Mae Johnson) clutching a shopping bag filled with her latest acquisitions. With her is preachy 12 Step advocate Paul (David Harms), formerly an expert in safe-cracking, who declares that he has been “theft-free” for 686 days. He wants to enlist her in one of his many 12 Step programs: this one is for recovering thieves.

Welcome visions of sugarplums — and lovely Sugarplum Fairies — dance in my head this time of year. A visit to a performance of “The Nutcracker” with excited little girls dressed in party finery is a happy memory, followed up by granddaughter outings. Local families have a number of choices, dates, locations to enjoy this holiday classic. These arrived on our desk:

Chaparral grad completes basic military training

In a sea of homes where “married with children” is the top demographic, Douglas County could be one of the most difficult places for a single adult to meet other singles.

Chocolate Rum Icebox Cake, Key Lime Pound Cake, Kathy’s Cinnamon Breakfast Cake, Lemon Curd Icebox Cake, Mindy’s Jack Cake with Tennessee Drizzle, Large Wedding Cake, Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Cupcakes, Houdini Bars... are you salivating yet?