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Sandra Tsing Loh is the writer and performer of “Sugar Plum Fairy.”

With Halloween over and Thanksgiving quickly approaching, it’s time for typical holiday plays like “The Nutcracker” to run their course. Playwright Sandra Tsing Loh, however, prefers to tell the tale of trying out for “The Nutcracker.”

“Sugar Plum Fairy” is an unconventional Christmas play about a clumsy, overweight girl who dreams of winning the lead role of Clara in her dance school’s production of “The Nutcracker.” Written and performed by Loh, this one-woman show, directed by David Schweizer, is currently running at the Geffen Playhouse.

“The play is a metaphor about trying to fit into a box that you just don’t fit into,” said Loh. “But once you stop trying to fit into that box, you find some other beautiful thing that you can do.”

The 12-year-old in the play is also a metaphor for every girl who ever wanted to be the princess, only to be cast as the tree. Loh drew from her personal childhood experiences for inspiration in writing the sarcastic play.

“It’s based on an actual experience of mine from growing up in Southern California and going into ballet when I was little,” said Loh. “When I was a teenager, I auditioned for the local ‘Nutcracker,’ hoping to be Clara but ended up being a flower because I happened to have hit puberty early and was towering over the boys.”

As a one-person performance, “Sugar Plum Fairy” poses many physical and mental challenges for Loh, but she enjoys the experience.

“It is certainly physically demanding,” said Loh. “But hopefully the audience will laugh because that gives me space to breathe and catch my breath so I can go on. Also it’s a very elaborate set - like a character in itself - with lots of costumes and stuff, so it doesn’t feel very lonely up there at all.”

Loh is a bit of a chameleon herself, able to switch from full-time mom to regular NPR contributor to actress without much trouble. According to Loh, each vocation has its advantage.

“Performing is fun, but it’s also nice to know that when you’re up there, that hour and a half is going to be done no matter what,” said Loh. “Writing is a great thing to do in sweat pants on your own schedule at home. In a way having those two poles is a nice back and forth thing for me to be able to do.”

Loh is hoping to get the same positive response from California audiences as from those in Seattle, her last performance stop. The Malibu native is excited to perform “Sugar Plum Fairy” in Southern California at such a festive and apropos time.

“(The time) is very ‘Christmas in Southern California,’” said Loh. “The cactus with the little ornament hanging off of it, or the dead palm tree with a string of lights. I’m very excited to perform this play.”

“Sugar Plum Fairy” plays at the Geffen Playhouse from Nov. 11 to Dec. 21. Tickets are $10 for UCLA student. For more information, call (310) 208-5454.