IN THE ARTS The Performing Arts Ensemble, celebrating its 25th anniversary, will present its annual production of the beloved holiday classic, "The Nutcracker" ballet, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 1 and 2 at 1 and 4 p.m. at the Two River Theater, 21 Bridge Ave., Red Bank. Tickets are $25. For reservations, call the dance company at (732) 671-9655. The Holmdel Theatre Company will present a one-man adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," starring Michael Kroll, Dec. 7, 8, 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. in the Duncan Smith Theater, 36 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel. Kroll portrays an ensemble of unforgettable Dickens characters in an evening that combines the theatrical with the art of storytelling. Tickets are $15 for students and seniors and $20 for all others. For reservations, call (732) 946-0427. For more information, visit www.holmdeltheatrecompany.org. Students of Brookdale's directing and voice courses will combine their talents in a first-time theatrical experience. Twelve different one-act plays, billed "festivALL 2007," featuring students as directors and actors, will open this month, with vocal performances between acts. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 7 and 8 at 8 p.m. and Sundays, Dec. 2 and 9, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 per show. For more information, contact Brookdale's Performing Arts Center box office at (732) 224-2411. Michael Kroll A special performance at Eatontown Playhouse Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. will feature Lisa Sherman Dow, Broadway actress and Rockette, and Julia Muench, a recital pianist and teacher. The event will also include live and silent auctions, wine and hors d'oeuvres. Due to space restrictions, only 85 seats are available. Tickets are $100 each. For reservations call (732) 888- 0339. The playhouse is located on Route 35, north of the Monmouth Mall. The Middletown Main Library will present poets Tom Plante and Sander Zulauf at the free Last Thursday Poetry Reading Thursday at 7 p.m. Poetry enthusiasts and aspiring poets will find this an opportunity to listen to other poets, and to be heard at the open mic. The library is located at 55 New Monmouth Rd. Phone: For information, call (732) 671-3700 or visit www.mtpl.org. The Monmouth Players Not Necessarily the Players production of "Glengarry Glen Ross" is showing at the Navesink Library Theater at the corner of Sears and Monmouth Avenues in the Navesink section of Middletown. Shows at 8:15 p.m. Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 7, and 8. Matinees at 2 p.m. Dec. 2 and 9. Tickets $12. Go to monmouthplayers. org for more information. As part of its holiday programs, the Monmouth Museum will present "Songs of the Season with Maureen McCrink" Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. Enjoy a free family program and visit the annual holiday exhibition at the museum, located on the campus of Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. The museum's Light Lunch and Lecture series will present "Watch, Taste, Learn and Celebrate!" Monday, Dec. 3, 11 a.m., when Don Magee of Amuse Bouché Productions will demonstrate cooking holiday appetizers, hors d'oeuvres and desserts. A light lunch is included in the fee, which is $25 for museum members and $30 for nonmembers. For more information, call (732) 747-2266. or e-mail info@monmouthmuseum.org. - Compiled by Gloria Stravelli