As the year comes to a close, many people may be scrambling to figure out how to spend their free time during the cold winter while getting a bit of artistic indulgence.

For those looking to kick the winter blues, there’s nothing like a night at the theater to add a little enchantment to one’s evening. 

Inarguably one of the most time-honored holiday performance traditions is the annual staging of “The Nutcracker.” Alongside “Swan Lake” and “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Nutcracker” is considered to be one of classical ballet’s three masterpieces produced by the incomparable combination of Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa.

More than a century since its creation, “The Nutcracker” remains one of ballet’s most successful productions of all time, garnering a reputation as one of the ultimate classic Christmas tales in any art form. Both the Universal Ballet and the Korea National Ballet will be presenting their rendition of the child-friendly ballet masterpiece. 

Directed by Kang Sue-jin, the KNB’s troupe will once again be showcasing celebrated Russian dancer and choreographer Yuri Grigorovich’s version of the ballet. Known for its majestic stage composition, “The Nutcracker” tells the tale of a boy whose broken nutcracker doll received as a gift comes to life in his dreams and turns into a handsome prince.

On the other hand, the Universal Ballet’s production will take the more traditional approach to its storyline, about an innocent young girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a dynamic battle against a mouse king.

“The Nutcracker” by the KBN will be performed at the Seoul Arts Center’s Opera Theater from Dec. 18 to 27. Ticket prices range from 5,000 won ($4.30) to 90,000 won.

The Universal Ballet’s production will be staged at the Universal Arts Center in Seoul from Dec. 18 to 31, with tickets ranging in price from 10,000 won to 100,000 won.

A special collaboration project between the Beseto Opera and the Teatro Giuseppe Verdi Opera, “Carmen,” will open its curtains on Christmas Day.

A favorite among Koreans, Georges Bizet’s dramatic opera in four acts revolves around the tragic love story of the beautiful Carmen, a Spanish gypsy girl who seduces a young soldier named Don Jose. The soldier gives up everything to be with Carmen, but she quickly loses interest and has her eyes set on a new man -- the charming toreador, Escamillo. This enrages Don Jose and leads to the opera’s tragic ending.

“Carmen” will be staged at the Sejong Center’s Grand Theater from Dec. 25 to Dec. 27. Ticket prices range from 30,000 won to 250,000 won. 

If opera or ballet doesn’t quite tickle your fancy, the thriving Seoul musical scene is currently staging numerous musical productions, from lesser-known musicals such as “The Great Catsby” and “The Orchestra Pit” to Broadway-headlining shows like “Chicago” and “Les Miserables.”

One of the longest running productions in musical history, the heart-wrenching music of “Les Miserables” has made its way back to Seoul, holding daily performances (except Mondays) at Blue Square theater in Seoul.

There is nothing like spending the year’s end shedding tears of emotion as “Les Miserables,” set in late 18th-century France, follows the heroic triumph of peasants revolting against oppression during the French Revolution.

The Korea-language production will star Jung Sung-hwa, Yang Jun-mo, Kim Joon-hyun and Kim Woo-hyung.

“Les Miserables” will run until March 6. Ticket prices range from 60,000 won to 140,000 won.

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)