Celebrate the season with music, comedy and spectacle at these holiday-themed performances from talented local artists and nationally touring shows in 2014.
Houston’s theater, dance and performance groups love a chance to don a Santa hat, present a classic yuletide tale or provide a fresh modern spin on an old chestnut. Here are some of our favorite productions – both local and touring – that are happening this holiday season.
- Dear Santa at Theatre Suburbia | Friday, October 31 to Saturday, November 29 – Check out the series of short plays about the man in the red suit told from the viewpoint of children in this comedic show. $16; limited discounted $8 tickets available.
- Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold at Stages Repertory Theatre | Tuesday, November 12 to Sunday, December 28 – Denise Fennell returns as Sister in this production where CSI meets Bethlehem in a hilarious musical history lesson. Full price tickets $19 to $40; limited discounted $9.50 to $14.50 tickets available on select nights. 8pm.
- Main Street Theater presents Madeline’s Christmas at Talento Bilingüe de Houston | Sunday, November 16 through Sunday, December 21 – The star of Ludwig Bemelmans’ children’s books experiences Christmas with her classmates “in an old house in Paris that was covered in vines.” Starts at $13.
- Alley Theatre presents A Christmas Carol at UH | Friday, November 21 to Wednesday, December 24 – Follow the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge as he is visited by ghosts of the past, present and future in the Alley Theatre presentation of A Christmas Carol. Tickets range from $25 to $55; $55 seats are available discounted to $30 for a limited time. 7:30pm.
- Houston Ballet presents The Nutcracker at Wortham Theater Center | Friday, November 28 through Sunday, December 28 – For more than 25 years, the Houston Ballet has been telling the story of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince as they fight the Mouse King, travel to the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. Tickets start at $55, but you may find cheaper or better tickets on TicketNetwork’s resale site.
- Alley Theatre presents The Santaland Diaries at UH | Friday, November 28 through Wednesday, December 31 – Todd Waite reprises his role as wry Crumpet the Elf in this play from David Sedaris about his time as one of Santa’s helpers in Macy’s Santaland. $34 to $90.
- Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular at Wortham Theater Center | Tuesday, December 2 – See this holiday celebration that merges some of the world’s greatest and athletic circus performers with a holiday program and music played by a live symphony orchestra. $59 to $69; discounted tickets available for a limited time.
- Ho Ho Humbug at Studio 101 | Thursday, December 4 through Sunday, December 16 – New York’s biggest cynic finds himself in the unlikely job of Macy’s Santa Claus. The heartwarming comedy was written by and stars Scott Burkell of Broadway’s Titanic. $25; limited almost free comped and $12.50 tickets available.
- Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at The Grand in Galveston | Friday, December 5 – Grumpy old Scrooge learns a valuable Christmas lesson after being visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve. $35; discounted $12.50 to $17.50 tickets available.
- The 12 Divas of Christmas: Joy to the Girls at the Kaleidoscope Theater | Friday, December 5 through Sunday, December 7 – Take in Bayou City Theatrics holiday holiday musical showcase filled with the White Christmas,” “You’re a Mean One, Mister Grinch,” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” along with hits from the likes of Aretha Franklin, Beyoncé, Celine and more. $35; discounted $17.50 tickets available.
- The Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the Hobby Center | Friday, December 5 through Saturday, December 27 – Experience the Rockettes high kicks at The Radio City Christmas Spectacular performed at the Hobby Center this holiday season. Times vary. Tickets start at $40, but you may find cheaper or better tickets on TicketNetwork’s resale site.
- The White Christmas Album 3: The Treequel at the Music Box Theater | Friday, December 5 through Saturday, December 27 – Enjoy holiday music, classic Beatles tunes and comedy at the third rendition of this popular program. $27; discounted $10 to $13.50 tickets for select shows.
- A Steampunk Christmas Carol by Stage Door, Inc. | Friday, December 5 through Sunday, December 21 – Catch a quirky steampunk take on Dickens’ classic Victorian holiday tale about Ebeneezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. $15; discounted $7.50 tickets available.
- Making Spirits Bright at the Heinen Theatre in Midtown | Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7 – The Gay Men’s Chorus of Houston and The Bayou City Women’s Chorus join forced to perform as The Bayou City Chorale Iin a program featurng holiday favorites, breathtaking classics and outrageous surprises. $20 to $40; limited discounted $10 to $20 tickets available.
- Houston Symphony presents A Very Merry Pops at Jones Hall | Friday, December 12 through Sunday, December 14 – Enjoy a yuletide evening of traditional standards like “We Need a Little Christmas,” “Angels We Have Heard On High” and “O Holy Night. $25 to $135.
- A Charlie Brown Christmas at the Kaleidoscope Theater | Friday, December 12 through Saturday, December 20 – Relieve the classic Charlie Brown Christmas special with Snoopy, Schroeder, Linus, Sally, Lucy and, of course, Charlie Brown himself. $30; $20 ages 10 and under.
- Chris-ma-hanu-kwanzika at Ovations Night Club | Saturday, December 13 – This variety show mash-up of Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa from the Mosaic Hub features music, dance, improv, theatre and storytelling and celebrated the varied traditions of each winter holidays. $30; limited discount $15 tickets available.
- Houston Symphony presents The Night Before Christmas at Jones Hall | Saturday, December 13 – Enjoy a reading of the holiday tale accompanied by the Houston Symphony and augmented with traditional carols. $32.
- Mannheim Steamroller Christmas at Jones Hall | Saturday, December 27 – Mark the 30th anniversary of Chip Davis’ mega hit Christmas album with this holiday rock concert filled with Mannheim Steamroller’s signature acoustic-electronic holiday songs performed livea gainst impressive multimedia effects. $41 to $76; the same seats are available discounted to $23.50 to $44.50 for a limited time.