Looking for what’s happening around town? We’ve got you covered — with theatre, dance, and more.
We try hard to provide updated information, but these showtimes are not official. Please confirm dates/times with the individual theatres via their ticketing pages.
Use Categories or Tags to filter. Click the calendar (MONTH YEAR) to look at one date.
Hosting a show you don’t see listed? Send details, link, and production or rehearsal/promo photos to nwtheatre.org at gmail.com for consideration. Listings are currently limited to theatre, dance, and select comedy/variety shows at theatre companies in King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Thurston counties, with some expansion into Kitsap and up the peninsula.
Written by Charles Dickens
Adapted by Gregory Falls
Directed by John Langs
Music by Adam Stern
Fill your heart with joy! ACT’s Yuletide Dickens classic proudly returns for the 47th year.
On a snowy Christmas Eve brimming with memorable characters, ghostly apparitions, and visits to the past, present, and future, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge discovers the joy of charity and redemption.
Audio described performance scheduled for 12/10 (matinee); ASL interpreted performance scheduled for 12/17 (matinee).
Tickets ($49-$94) here.
Teatro ZinZanni’s original brand of love, chaos, and dinner is making its long-awaited return to Seattle with a limited engagement run of the all-new show, Coming Home. When the world went dark more than two years ago, people everywhere were dispersing and lives turned upside. Today, as we rebuild and focus on our dreams going forward, we find that home is where our hearts reside — and Seattle is our home. So, join us in celebrating this return to home with an incredible cast of phenomenal talents in a limited engagement that will serve up the love, chaos, and dinner we’ve all been missing so very much.
Performers include Kevin Kent, Elena Gatilova (aerialist), Vita Radionova, Rizo (singer), Domitil Aillot (Chinese pole), Manuela Horn (yodeling Dominatrix), Duo Madrona (trapeze), Michael Evolution (basketball freestyle juggler)
Tickets $135+ (includes 4-course meal) here.
Note: New Year’s Eve show begins at 8:30
An Improvised Play Celebrating the Works of Jane Austen
Directed by Dave Morris
Austen Unbound is Book-It Repertory Theatre’s first long-form improvised play. At each performance of this show, the ensemble will create an entirely new story, set in the style and genre of the beloved author’s works. Audiences will feel like they are watching a play based off a never-before published Jane Austen novel, as the improvisational actors transport them to the drawing rooms and manor houses of the Regency era. The wit and wisdom of Jane Austen will resonate with audiences as they experience new characters and stories in this “unscripted” play, which will be a unique story each night (based on suggestions given from the audience).
Tickets ($63.50-$68.50) here.
By Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Karen Lund
In this all-new Jane Austen-inspired story, we return to the world of the Darcys and Bennets! Lydia’s come for Christmas, the halls are decked, and the aroma of everyone’s favorite orange biscuits fills the air. But downstairs the loyal staff scramble to keep a secret that could upend the festivities. Amid the chaos of Christmas, a little yuletide forgiveness might be the one gift everyone needs.
Tickets $26-$54 (depending on location) here.
By Jeff Schell and The Habit
Directed by Mark Siano
Ki Yay! Coming back this holiday season, from the comedy writers that have had Seattle in stitches for years, comes A Very Die Hard Christmas, a musical parody that is sure to blow the roof off the joint. Sketch writers from The Habit team up with Seattle Public Theater to create this holiday comedy perfect for those who like their Christmas entertainment with lots of action, 80s jokes, smooth soft rock jams, and snarky German terrorists.
Tickets ($38) here.
Do you like the old-timey Noble Fir? Or Flocked Silver Fabulousness? How about both?! Nordo’s Holiday Spectacular promises to cram you chock-full of everything you’ve come to love about the season, gift wrapped in bawdy humor, nostalgic Christmas Disco, and a festive feast.
Continuing in the tradition of previous Nordo Nativities, our scribe Scot “Dragatha Christie” Augustson has crafted a story of merry mayhem and murder, festooned with razor sharp riffs on 1980’s pop culture. We’ll finally learn who was responsible for the Death of Disco!
This is the last show in the Culinarium, before Nordo moves to a new location.
Tickets ($116+), including 5-course meal, here.
Read NWTheatre’s coverage of Cafe Nordo shows here.
Jingle All the Gay invites you to join our chosen family of fabulous fruitcakes in a joyful and triumphant celebration of song, dance, burlesque, and holiday hilarity. Light your menorah, stuff your stockings, and revel in the power of live theater again! This deliciously queer and delectably extravagant holiday confection featuring a bombastic all-star cast is guaranteed to make even the most stubborn yuletides gay.
Don’t miss the new surprises and magic of the final run. Exciting new things are in store for next year, so don’t miss your last chance to revel in this iconic cast and production.
Location: Oddfellows Building, West Hall (915 E. Pine St.)
Tickets ($47+) here.
Celebrate the holidays as performers swing from the chandeliers into a show full of classic beauty and flirtatious artistry. A glittering parade of nostalgia exploding with dance, laughter, and all the cheer of yesteryear, this carnival of merriment will mesmerize audiences as soon as they enter Can Can’s theatre turned whimsical winter chalet — making this a holiday entertainment spectacular to remember. In the kitchen and behind the bar, you’ll experience food, wine, and spirit menus carefully crafted with local Market-fresh winter ingredients that will tantalize even the most refined palates.
Admission 21+
Tickets ($83+) here.
Theatre menu is here.
Written by Charles Dickens
Adapted by Gregory Falls
Directed by John Langs
Music by Adam Stern
Fill your heart with joy! ACT’s Yuletide Dickens classic proudly returns for the 47th year.
On a snowy Christmas Eve brimming with memorable characters, ghostly apparitions, and visits to the past, present, and future, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge discovers the joy of charity and redemption.
Audio described performance scheduled for 12/10 (matinee); ASL interpreted performance scheduled for 12/17 (matinee).
Tickets ($49-$94) here.
Teatro ZinZanni’s original brand of love, chaos, and dinner is making its long-awaited return to Seattle with a limited engagement run of the all-new show, Coming Home. When the world went dark more than two years ago, people everywhere were dispersing and lives turned upside. Today, as we rebuild and focus on our dreams going forward, we find that home is where our hearts reside — and Seattle is our home. So, join us in celebrating this return to home with an incredible cast of phenomenal talents in a limited engagement that will serve up the love, chaos, and dinner we’ve all been missing so very much.
Performers include Kevin Kent, Elena Gatilova (aerialist), Vita Radionova, Rizo (singer), Domitil Aillot (Chinese pole), Manuela Horn (yodeling Dominatrix), Duo Madrona (trapeze), Michael Evolution (basketball freestyle juggler)
Tickets $135+ (includes 4-course meal) here.
Note: New Year’s Eve show begins at 8:30
A festival of scenes selected from full-length plays and directed by students of Theatre 313: Directing Class.
Free admission; info here.
Location: UPS campus, Norton Clapp Theatre
Lily Verlaine and Jasper McCann are elated to announce the return of their wintertime spectacle. Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker has delighted tens of thousands of holiday revelers since 2006. All your favorite characters will be back, including Lily Verlaine’s Sugar Plum Fairy, the light-juggling magic of Babette La Fave, the ever-lovable Snowflakes, and of course the swinginest band in the Land, The Nutcracker Nonette.
Not content to rest on their laurels, Verlaine & McCann have been working tirelessly to make 2022’s season memorable and electrifying for our new and returning guests. The cast will feature a number of fresh new faces this year (some from the most recent production of Verlaine & McCann’s Through The Looking Glass) to kick up their heels with superstar veterans like Paris Original and Viola Vector. And who knows, you might be in the audience to see a surprise appearance by a Seattle ballet star in a rotating cavalcade of Rat Kings. Lots of other surprises await, so prepare to be enchanted by Land Of The Sweets like never before.
Admission 17+ for early shows, 21+ for late shows.
Tickets ($80.50+) here.
By Samantha Silva
Developed with and Directed by Braden Abraham
Charles Dickens should be looking forward to Christmas. When his latest book is a flop, putting both his popularity and finances in peril, his publishers give an ultimatum: write a Christmas book within a month or lose everything. Adapted for the stage from Samantha Silva’s critically acclaimed novel, this tale set in the heart of Victorian England weaves a fictional take on Dickens’ past, present, and future into a comedic and poignant new holiday classic. A world premiere.
Tickets ($32-$108) here.
Pay-what-you-choose tickets available for all performances; see info here.
Note the following special dates: opening night (11/30), teen night (12/9), post-show events (12/15, 12/16), Victorian cosplay night (12/20), pre-show book signing (12/21)
And accessible performances: audio described (12/3 matinee), open captions (12/8 night), sensory friendly (12/10 matinee), ASL interpreted (12/17 matinee), mask-required performances (various)
See ticketing page for info
By Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Karen Lund
In this all-new Jane Austen-inspired story, we return to the world of the Darcys and Bennets! Lydia’s come for Christmas, the halls are decked, and the aroma of everyone’s favorite orange biscuits fills the air. But downstairs the loyal staff scramble to keep a secret that could upend the festivities. Amid the chaos of Christmas, a little yuletide forgiveness might be the one gift everyone needs.
Tickets $26-$54 (depending on location) here.
Book by William F. Brown
Music and Lyrics by Charlie Smalls
From the story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Directed and Choreographed by Kelli Foster Warder
Feel the power of love overflowing at this dazzling reimagining of The Wizard of Oz! With a soaring soul, R&B, and gospel score featuring hit songs “Brand New Day,” “Ease on Down the Road,” and “Home,” this fun, fresh 5th Avenue Theatre production is a hit the whole family will enjoy.
When Dorothy finds herself in the fantastical world of Oz, she sets out to seek the aid of the mysterious Wiz, forging powerful new friendships with a Scarecrow, a Tinman, and a Lion along her way down the yellow brick road. But when she battles the devious Evillene to save her new friends, she learns that no matter where you’re from, home isn’t really where you live; it’s who you love.
Tickets ($59-$199) here.
By Jeff Schell and The Habit
Directed by Mark Siano
Ki Yay! Coming back this holiday season, from the comedy writers that have had Seattle in stitches for years, comes A Very Die Hard Christmas, a musical parody that is sure to blow the roof off the joint. Sketch writers from The Habit team up with Seattle Public Theater to create this holiday comedy perfect for those who like their Christmas entertainment with lots of action, 80s jokes, smooth soft rock jams, and snarky German terrorists.
Tickets ($38) here.
Book by William F. Brown
Music and Lyrics by Charlie Smalls
From the story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Directed and Choreographed by Kelli Foster Warder
Feel the power of love overflowing at this dazzling reimagining of The Wizard of Oz! With a soaring soul, R&B, and gospel score featuring hit songs “Brand New Day,” “Ease on Down the Road,” and “Home,” this fun, fresh 5th Avenue Theatre production is a hit the whole family will enjoy.
When Dorothy finds herself in the fantastical world of Oz, she sets out to seek the aid of the mysterious Wiz, forging powerful new friendships with a Scarecrow, a Tinman, and a Lion along her way down the yellow brick road. But when she battles the devious Evillene to save her new friends, she learns that no matter where you’re from, home isn’t really where you live; it’s who you love.
(ASL interpreted and open captioned performance scheduled for 12/11 matinee)
Tickets ($59-$199) here.
By Wayne Rawley
Directed by Rachel Delmar
For the final time, SPT is bringing back the holiday favorite and now Seattle tradition of Christmastown. In this film noir-inspired holiday thriller, hard-boiled detective Nick Holiday investigates some un-holiday-like shenanigans taking place in Christmastown that sends him on a search for the truth about Big Red, with a glamorous elf, a used-Christmas-tree salesman, a muckraking reporter, and a quick-thinking cab driver.
Tickets $5-$50 (sliding scale available to all) here.
Based on the cherished 2003 New Line Cinema hit, this modern-day holiday classic tells the story of Buddy the Elf as he embarks on an unforgettable journey to New York City to find his family. Buddy’s love of Christmas inspires everyone to remember the joy and merriment of the Holiday Season. This heartwarming and hilarious musical is sure to spread Christmas cheer to last all year long!
Tickets ($33) here.
Do you like the old-timey Noble Fir? Or Flocked Silver Fabulousness? How about both?! Nordo’s Holiday Spectacular promises to cram you chock-full of everything you’ve come to love about the season, gift wrapped in bawdy humor, nostalgic Christmas Disco, and a festive feast.
Continuing in the tradition of previous Nordo Nativities, our scribe Scot “Dragatha Christie” Augustson has crafted a story of merry mayhem and murder, festooned with razor sharp riffs on 1980’s pop culture. We’ll finally learn who was responsible for the Death of Disco!
This is the last show in the Culinarium, before Nordo moves to a new location.
Tickets ($116+), including 5-course meal, here.
Read NWTheatre’s coverage of Cafe Nordo shows here.
Jingle All the Gay invites you to join our chosen family of fabulous fruitcakes in a joyful and triumphant celebration of song, dance, burlesque, and holiday hilarity. Light your menorah, stuff your stockings, and revel in the power of live theater again! This deliciously queer and delectably extravagant holiday confection featuring a bombastic all-star cast is guaranteed to make even the most stubborn yuletides gay.
Don’t miss the new surprises and magic of the final run. Exciting new things are in store for next year, so don’t miss your last chance to revel in this iconic cast and production.
Location: Oddfellows Building, West Hall (915 E. Pine St.)
Tickets ($47+) here.
Celebrate the holidays as performers swing from the chandeliers into a show full of classic beauty and flirtatious artistry. A glittering parade of nostalgia exploding with dance, laughter, and all the cheer of yesteryear, this carnival of merriment will mesmerize audiences as soon as they enter Can Can’s theatre turned whimsical winter chalet — making this a holiday entertainment spectacular to remember. In the kitchen and behind the bar, you’ll experience food, wine, and spirit menus carefully crafted with local Market-fresh winter ingredients that will tantalize even the most refined palates.
Admission 21+
Tickets ($83+) here.
Theatre menu is here.
Written by Charles Dickens
Adapted by Gregory Falls
Directed by John Langs
Music by Adam Stern
Fill your heart with joy! ACT’s Yuletide Dickens classic proudly returns for the 47th year.
On a snowy Christmas Eve brimming with memorable characters, ghostly apparitions, and visits to the past, present, and future, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge discovers the joy of charity and redemption.
Audio described performance scheduled for 12/10 (matinee); ASL interpreted performance scheduled for 12/17 (matinee).
Tickets ($49-$94) here.
Hailed as the greatest ghost story ever told, we restage Artistic Director Aaron Lamb’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’s timeless story of transformation, absolution, and grace, updated with new chills and thrills for 2022. Join us for a Holiday classic that’s sure to please, with a healthy dose of cheer and the kind of ghostly special effects that only Harlequin can deliver. Grab the family and start your Holiday season with some theatre magic!
(Preview 11/23, opens 11/25)
Tickets ($53) here.
PWYC rush tickets available for this performances; see info here.
Based on the novel by Charles Dickens
Adapted and directed by Dustin Trabert
Valley Center Stage’s beloved annual tradition returns with a new production of A Christmas Carol. Ebenezer Scrooge is a businessman whose lonely Christmas is invaded by a series of encounters that force him to examine his life. Join us for our celebration of Dickens’ timely and timeless tale about choices and connections, character and community, and ghosts.
Location: Salal Grange (1060 Stilson Ave., North Bend)
Pay-what-you-choose tickets at this performance (Thursday nights); tickets and info here.
Humorist Jean Shepherd’s memoir of growing up in the midwest in the 1940’s follows nine-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher, and even Santa Claus himself. The consistent response: “You’ll shoot your eye out!” All the elements from the beloved movie are here, including the family’s temperamental exploding furnace; Scut Farkas, the school bully; the boys’ experiment with a wet tongue on a cold lamppost; the Little Orphan Annie decoder pin; Ralphie’s father winning a leg lamp; Ralphie’s fantasy scenarios and more.
Pay-what-you-choose performance 12/22 (Thursday night); ASL interpreted performance 12/18 (Sunday matinee).
Tickets ($27) here.
An Improvised Play Celebrating the Works of Jane Austen
Directed by Dave Morris
Austen Unbound is Book-It Repertory Theatre’s first long-form improvised play. At each performance of this show, the ensemble will create an entirely new story, set in the style and genre of the beloved author’s works. Audiences will feel like they are watching a play based off a never-before published Jane Austen novel, as the improvisational actors transport them to the drawing rooms and manor houses of the Regency era. The wit and wisdom of Jane Austen will resonate with audiences as they experience new characters and stories in this “unscripted” play, which will be a unique story each night (based on suggestions given from the audience).
(Previews 11/30-12/2, opens 12/3)
Tickets ($63.50-$68.50) here.
Teatro ZinZanni’s original brand of love, chaos, and dinner is making its long-awaited return to Seattle with a limited engagement run of the all-new show, Coming Home. When the world went dark more than two years ago, people everywhere were dispersing and lives turned upside. Today, as we rebuild and focus on our dreams going forward, we find that home is where our hearts reside — and Seattle is our home. So, join us in celebrating this return to home with an incredible cast of phenomenal talents in a limited engagement that will serve up the love, chaos, and dinner we’ve all been missing so very much.
Performers include Kevin Kent, Elena Gatilova (aerialist), Vita Radionova, Rizo (singer), Domitil Aillot (Chinese pole), Manuela Horn (yodeling Dominatrix), Duo Madrona (trapeze), Michael Evolution (basketball freestyle juggler)
Tickets $135+ (includes 4-course meal) here.
Note: New Year’s Eve show begins at 8:30
As A Christmas Carol with a modern-day twist, Humbug follows the story of Eleanor Scrooge, a ruthlessly ambitious Wall Street executive who has an aversion to Christmas and an insatiable appetite for power. Locked in her office on a snowy Christmas Eve, Eleanor is determined to finish a corporate-takeover proposal until three “advisors” provide her with an eye-opening new appreciation for the holidays and the spirit of Christmas. An upbeat and moving adaptation of Dickens’ holiday classic, Humbug is one for the ages. With a contemporary flair, it is a tale the whole family will enjoy.
Tickets ($26) here.
This holiday season, prepare yourself for sleighing belles, rabid yells, and tidings of joy from New York’s most iconic “octogenarian” lounge act, Kiki & Herb, created and performed by Justin Vivian Bond and Kenny Mellman. This relentlessly fabulous duo will haunt audiences nationwide with a brand-new holiday spectacular.
Bond and Mellman’s signature cocktail of boozy banter, pop-culture shmaltz, and claws-out cultural critique has charmed cities across this nation for more than two decades. The infamous duo make their way through a number of seasonal songs, belting Christmas classics, and slinging enough cheer to choke down this holiday season.
Tickets ($56+) here.
Lily Verlaine and Jasper McCann are elated to announce the return of their wintertime spectacle. Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker has delighted tens of thousands of holiday revelers since 2006. All your favorite characters will be back, including Lily Verlaine’s Sugar Plum Fairy, the light-juggling magic of Babette La Fave, the ever-lovable Snowflakes, and of course the swinginest band in the Land, The Nutcracker Nonette.
Not content to rest on their laurels, Verlaine & McCann have been working tirelessly to make 2022’s season memorable and electrifying for our new and returning guests. The cast will feature a number of fresh new faces this year (some from the most recent production of Verlaine & McCann’s Through The Looking Glass) to kick up their heels with superstar veterans like Paris Original and Viola Vector. And who knows, you might be in the audience to see a surprise appearance by a Seattle ballet star in a rotating cavalcade of Rat Kings. Lots of other surprises await, so prepare to be enchanted by Land Of The Sweets like never before.
Admission 17+ for early shows, 21+ for late shows.
Tickets ($80.50+) here.
By Samantha Silva
Developed with and Directed by Braden Abraham
Charles Dickens should be looking forward to Christmas. When his latest book is a flop, putting both his popularity and finances in peril, his publishers give an ultimatum: write a Christmas book within a month or lose everything. Adapted for the stage from Samantha Silva’s critically acclaimed novel, this tale set in the heart of Victorian England weaves a fictional take on Dickens’ past, present, and future into a comedic and poignant new holiday classic. A world premiere.
Tickets ($32-$108) here.
Pay-what-you-choose tickets available for all performances; see info here.
This performance is listed as a captioned performance (not ASL interpreted). ASL interpreted show scheduled for 12/17 matinee. See accessibility info here.
Note the following special dates: opening night (11/30), teen night (12/9), post-show events (12/15, 12/16), Victorian cosplay night (12/20), pre-show book signing (12/21)
And accessible performances: audio described (12/3 matinee), open captions (12/8 night), sensory friendly (12/10 matinee), ASL interpreted (12/17 matinee), mask-required performances (various)
See ticketing page for info
By Q Brothers Collective
In this hip-hop remix of Dickens’ classic tale, Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the Ghosts of Hip-Hop Past, Present, and Future … and a Jamaican Jacob Marley. As Scrooge is shown the path of rhythm and redemption, will he throw off his selfish chains and join the beat?
Q Brothers Christmas Carol mixes everything from reggae to rock, updating and funkifying this beloved tale of love, forgiveness, and Christmas spirit – and transforming it into something altogether new.
(Preview 11/23, opening 11/25)
Tickets $18.50-$123.50 (sliding scale available for all) here.
By Maggie Lee
With all the stress of the holidays, spending Christmas Eve stranded in an airport with a bunch of strangers is the last thing anyone needs! With endless delays, kids shuttling between step-families, a rogue cat on the loose, an important business deal at stake, and missing your grandson’s first Christmas morning, the holiday spirit can disappear quicker than your lost luggage. But sometimes, all you need is to be a little late in order to truly appreciate what you’re rushing toward.
Location: West of Lenin (203 N 36th St)
Tickets $21-$101 (sliding scale available for all) here.
Choreographed by George Balanchine
Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
As fall settles in, the weather is cooler
You’ve sharpened your pencils, you’ve got a new ruler
Visions of Sugarplums are close behind,
And magic (the sparkly, holiday kind).
Join us for Candy Canes, Snowflakes, and Mice –
A show so fantastic you might see it twice.
The Nutcracker’s coming, this November/December,
A fun family date you’ll be sure to remember!
Sensory friendly performance scheduled for 12/20 (Tuesday matinee)
Location: McCaw Hall (Seattle Center, Mercer St. side)
Tickets ($34-$187) here.
By Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Karen Lund
In this all-new Jane Austen-inspired story, we return to the world of the Darcys and Bennets! Lydia’s come for Christmas, the halls are decked, and the aroma of everyone’s favorite orange biscuits fills the air. But downstairs the loyal staff scramble to keep a secret that could upend the festivities. Amid the chaos of Christmas, a little yuletide forgiveness might be the one gift everyone needs.
Tickets $26-$54 (depending on location) here.
Book by William F. Brown
Music and Lyrics by Charlie Smalls
From the story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Directed and Choreographed by Kelli Foster Warder
Feel the power of love overflowing at this dazzling reimagining of The Wizard of Oz! With a soaring soul, R&B, and gospel score featuring hit songs “Brand New Day,” “Ease on Down the Road,” and “Home,” this fun, fresh 5th Avenue Theatre production is a hit the whole family will enjoy.
When Dorothy finds herself in the fantastical world of Oz, she sets out to seek the aid of the mysterious Wiz, forging powerful new friendships with a Scarecrow, a Tinman, and a Lion along her way down the yellow brick road. But when she battles the devious Evillene to save her new friends, she learns that no matter where you’re from, home isn’t really where you live; it’s who you love.
Tickets ($59-$199) here.
In its eighth year of production, this original adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is rich with traditional carols, alive with color and movement, and created to tell this enduring tale in a fashion that will appeal to people of all ages. Join the SSR family and celebrate this timeless seasonal classic right here in Redmond. After entertaining Redmond audiences for years, 2022 will mark John Clark’s final performance of Scrooge. Surely not to be missed.
Location: Redmond Town Center, upper level
Tickets ($30) here.
Acrobatic Conundrum creates technically rigorous, ensemble-based circus shows that seek to contribute to a more courageous and connected world. The Seattle based contemporary circus company takes up residence in the heart of Capitol Hill for the ninth installment of their adroitly curated cabaret, featuring a spate of phenomenal acts from the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Aerial arts, cyr wheel, acrobatics, clown, musical performances and much more populate the performances.
A door defends. And beckons. It divides. And offers a way in. The circumstances change and an opening we took for granted is lost forever; meanwhile the unexpected saunters in through a window left ajar. In Vol. 9: Thresholds, nine acrobats somersault their way into liminal space, ready to knock on the portal to the unknown. Darting back and forth across the fourth wall, pursuing the thrill of the edge, and pausing only briefly with one hand poised on the knob, Acrobatic Conundrum shares its paean to the doorways of our lives and the opportunities they represent. Because when one door closes, a trapdoor opens.
Featuring: Emma Curtiss, Oliver Donaldson, Dream Frohe, Leah Jones, PJ Perry, Ivanna Wei, Duo Maria & Oli, Jody Poth, Gabby Leiva, and Terry Crane
Tickets ($39) here.
Book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin
Music by Matthew Sklar
Lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Based on the New Line Cinema film written by David Berenbaum
Directed by Craig Schieber
Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh realities that his father is on the naughty list and his half-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern-day holiday classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner elf. After all, the best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear.
Tickets ($30) here.
Get a butter knife and spread the word: Dina Martina is brimming with excitement to be bringing her singular brand of razzle-dazzle entertainment back to ACT for an all-new Christmas show, joined by composer/musician Chris Jeffries.
A beloved Seattle holiday tradition for 25 years, Dina Martina’s Christmas Shows are jam-packed with traditional as well as contemporary holiday tunes, both treated with Miss Martina’s fresh and undeniably surreal comic sensibility. You’ll howl with laughter at her vocal prowess, gasp at her stories, wonder “why?” at her fashion sense, but make no mistake – Dina Martina is an incredibly unique comedian who’ll leave an indelible impression on you in the best possible way.
Tickets ($29-$60) here.
Donald Byrd’s The Harlem Nutcracker Teaser
A Preview Production
The Harlem Nutcracker utilizes Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s “Nutcracker Suite” as a musical starting point. The original story centers around an African-American family in Harlem on Christmas Eve. It highlights the unique warmth and centrality of the grandmother in African-American culture, the resilience of Black American families and Harlem as a center of the African Diaspora.
This year’s Harlem Nutcracker production will be a “teaser” to the final production, which is tentatively scheduled to premiere a little over a year from now. The “teaser” is everything except for the last 20 minutes of the show. It has many of the final costume elements and some of the less elaborate scenic elements. The final moments of the show are a surprise that we are saving for the completed premiere. Students from The School of Spectrum Dance Theater and its Academy Division will also be integrated into the production.
Location: On the Boards (100 W Roy Street)
Tickets ($25-$50, plus pay-what-you-choose option available for all) here.
By Jeff Schell and The Habit
Directed by Mark Siano
Ki Yay! Coming back this holiday season, from the comedy writers that have had Seattle in stitches for years, comes A Very Die Hard Christmas, a musical parody that is sure to blow the roof off the joint. Sketch writers from The Habit team up with Seattle Public Theater to create this holiday comedy perfect for those who like their Christmas entertainment with lots of action, 80s jokes, smooth soft rock jams, and snarky German terrorists.
Tickets ($38) here.
Jingle All the Gay invites you to join our chosen family of fabulous fruitcakes in a joyful and triumphant celebration of song, dance, burlesque, and holiday hilarity. Light your menorah, stuff your stockings, and revel in the power of live theater again! This deliciously queer and delectably extravagant holiday confection featuring a bombastic all-star cast is guaranteed to make even the most stubborn yuletides gay.
Don’t miss the new surprises and magic of the final run. Exciting new things are in store for next year, so don’t miss your last chance to revel in this iconic cast and production.
Location: Oddfellows Building, West Hall (915 E. Pine St.)
Tickets ($47+) here.
Lily Verlaine and Jasper McCann are elated to announce the return of their wintertime spectacle. Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker has delighted tens of thousands of holiday revelers since 2006. All your favorite characters will be back, including Lily Verlaine’s Sugar Plum Fairy, the light-juggling magic of Babette La Fave, the ever-lovable Snowflakes, and of course the swinginest band in the Land, The Nutcracker Nonette.
Not content to rest on their laurels, Verlaine & McCann have been working tirelessly to make 2022’s season memorable and electrifying for our new and returning guests. The cast will feature a number of fresh new faces this year (some from the most recent production of Verlaine & McCann’s Through The Looking Glass) to kick up their heels with superstar veterans like Paris Original and Viola Vector. And who knows, you might be in the audience to see a surprise appearance by a Seattle ballet star in a rotating cavalcade of Rat Kings. Lots of other surprises await, so prepare to be enchanted by Land Of The Sweets like never before.
Admission 17+ for early shows, 21+ for late shows.
Tickets ($80.50+) here.
By Wayne Rawley
Directed by Rachel Delmar
For the final time, SPT is bringing back the holiday favorite and now Seattle tradition of Christmastown. In this film noir-inspired holiday thriller, hard-boiled detective Nick Holiday investigates some un-holiday-like shenanigans taking place in Christmastown that sends him on a search for the truth about Big Red, with a glamorous elf, a used-Christmas-tree salesman, a muckraking reporter, and a quick-thinking cab driver.
Tickets $5-$50 (sliding scale available to all) here.
Written and directed by Vince Brady
Celebrate the most magical time of year with the most magical fairy tale of them all. For 15 years, Centerstage has enchanted audiences with its traditional holiday pantomime (the Panto). Young and old enjoy the sparkle, glitter and chaos of this family-friendly laugh-a-minute traditional British treat. Audience participation is encouraged and enhances the cleverly choreographed mayhem. The Fairy Godmother, Cinderella, Prince Charming and, of course, the Wicked Stepsisters deliver holiday joy to everyone, ages 5 to 95.
Location: Knutzen Family Theatre (3200 SW Dash Point Rd)
Tickets ($42) here.
Based on the cherished 2003 New Line Cinema hit, this modern-day holiday classic tells the story of Buddy the Elf as he embarks on an unforgettable journey to New York City to find his family. Buddy’s love of Christmas inspires everyone to remember the joy and merriment of the Holiday Season. This heartwarming and hilarious musical is sure to spread Christmas cheer to last all year long!
Tickets ($33) here.
Do you like the old-timey Noble Fir? Or Flocked Silver Fabulousness? How about both?! Nordo’s Holiday Spectacular promises to cram you chock-full of everything you’ve come to love about the season, gift wrapped in bawdy humor, nostalgic Christmas Disco, and a festive feast.
Continuing in the tradition of previous Nordo Nativities, our scribe Scot “Dragatha Christie” Augustson has crafted a story of merry mayhem and murder, festooned with razor sharp riffs on 1980’s pop culture. We’ll finally learn who was responsible for the Death of Disco!
This is the last show in the Culinarium, before Nordo moves to a new location.
Tickets ($116+), including 5-course meal, here.
Read NWTheatre’s coverage of Cafe Nordo shows here.
Co-created by Emily McHugh, Donald Palardy, and Lily Raabe
Directed by Luz Gaxiola
Co-production with String & Shadow Puppet Theater
An original winter folk myth
Once upon a time there were two sisters: Sol, a child of Day, and Luna, a child of Night. Every day they played a game of catch in the sky, tossing the sun and the moon between them. Everything changed the day they dropped the sun. Now, the world has been dark for a very long time – an endless winter solstice. Perhaps a young woman named Nyx will be the answer. Part girl, part tree, and raised under the light of the stars, her magic and courage might just save the world.
Tickets $5-$35 (sliding scale available for all) here.
By E.T.A. Hoffmann and adapted by Kathryn Schultz Miller
Directed by Rana Teresa Tan
Clara’s dream unfolds as Christmas Eve arrives. Uncle Drosselmeyer gives Fritz some toy soldiers and Clara a wooden Nutcracker. When Clara kisses the Nutcracker goodnight, little does she know that she has released her prince from his spell! As Clara dreams, the Rat King and his rowdy band of mice arrive to battle the Nutcracker Prince and his loyal Toy Soldiers. At last the Nutcracker Prince defeats the Rat King freeing the house from his tyranny. The Nutcracker Prince leads Clara to the Land of Sweets where the Sugar Plum Fairy rules with love and covers the world with magic. Snowflakes and Flowers delight everyone, spreading their beautiful Christmas spirit. On Christmas Day, Clara awakens to the real world — her glorious dream has passed, yet she has learned a wonderful lesson about Christmas love and joy. This lovely holiday play is deeply moving with a very happy ending.
Tickets ($10) here.
Celebrate the holidays as performers swing from the chandeliers into a show full of classic beauty and flirtatious artistry. A glittering parade of nostalgia exploding with dance, laughter, and all the cheer of yesteryear, this carnival of merriment will mesmerize audiences as soon as they enter Can Can’s theatre turned whimsical winter chalet — making this a holiday entertainment spectacular to remember. In the kitchen and behind the bar, you’ll experience food, wine, and spirit menus carefully crafted with local Market-fresh winter ingredients that will tantalize even the most refined palates.
Admission 21+
Tickets ($83+) here.
Theatre menu is here.
By Lynne Halliday, James Hindman, Arlene Hutton and Craig Pospisil
Directed by Scott Ellgen
It’s Christmas Eve and the Evergreen Mall is buzzing! Two teenagers snatch a baby Jesus from the mall nativity scene, a new salesperson uses a unique technique to sell fishing rods, a shoplifter meets an unusually compassionate security guard, a special snowman donut is missing from the break room, a sad elf needs a friend, two actors argue over roles in A Christmas Carol, a pair of former lovers may reconnect, or not. And just which sweater should you buy for your father’s new wife?
It all comes together in this heartwarming story at the Evergreen Mall.
Tickets ($11-$17, depending on day) here.
Written by Charles Dickens
Adapted by Gregory Falls
Directed by John Langs
Music by Adam Stern
Fill your heart with joy! ACT’s Yuletide Dickens classic proudly returns for the 47th year.
On a snowy Christmas Eve brimming with memorable characters, ghostly apparitions, and visits to the past, present, and future, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge discovers the joy of charity and redemption.
Audio described performance scheduled for 12/10 (matinee); ASL interpreted performance scheduled for 12/17 (matinee).
Tickets ($49-$94) here.
Hailed as the greatest ghost story ever told, we restage Artistic Director Aaron Lamb’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’s timeless story of transformation, absolution, and grace, updated with new chills and thrills for 2022. Join us for a Holiday classic that’s sure to please, with a healthy dose of cheer and the kind of ghostly special effects that only Harlequin can deliver. Grab the family and start your Holiday season with some theatre magic!
(Preview 11/23, opens 11/25)
Tickets ($53) here.
PWYC tickets available for certain performances: 12/3 (Saturday matinee), 12/8 (Thursday evening), 12/18 (Sunday matinee); see info here. Half-price same-day rush tickets available for all; see info here.
Based on the novel by Charles Dickens
Adapted and directed by Dustin Trabert
Valley Center Stage’s beloved annual tradition returns with a new production of A Christmas Carol. Ebenezer Scrooge is a businessman whose lonely Christmas is invaded by a series of encounters that force him to examine his life. Join us for our celebration of Dickens’ timely and timeless tale about choices and connections, character and community, and ghosts.
Location: Salal Grange (1060 Stilson Ave., North Bend)
Pay-what-you-choose performances on Thursday nights.
Tickets ($22) here.
Humorist Jean Shepherd’s memoir of growing up in the midwest in the 1940’s follows nine-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher, and even Santa Claus himself. The consistent response: “You’ll shoot your eye out!” All the elements from the beloved movie are here, including the family’s temperamental exploding furnace; Scut Farkas, the school bully; the boys’ experiment with a wet tongue on a cold lamppost; the Little Orphan Annie decoder pin; Ralphie’s father winning a leg lamp; Ralphie’s fantasy scenarios and more.
Pay-what-you-choose performance 12/22 (Thursday night); ASL interpreted performance 12/18 (Sunday matinee).
Tickets ($27) here.
The Drunken Tenor is back! After sold out performances in 2021, A Very Drunken Christmas Carol returns to Seattle Opera this December. See what new shenanigans occur in this retelling of Charles Dickens’ time-honored holiday classic where, in true Drunken Tenor comedy opera fashion, things get turned upside down. While preparing for a holiday concert, The Drunken Tenor gets hit in the head, knocked out, and wakes up in an alternate reality. He embarks on a journey to understand how he became the person he is and the possible consequences of his choices. Along the way, he is joined by duet partners of the past, present, and future for a mix of opera, holiday favorites, and much more.
Location: Opera Center (Tagney Jones Hall)
Tickets ($55) here.
An Improvised Play Celebrating the Works of Jane Austen
Directed by Dave Morris
Austen Unbound is Book-It Repertory Theatre’s first long-form improvised play. At each performance of this show, the ensemble will create an entirely new story, set in the style and genre of the beloved author’s works. Audiences will feel like they are watching a play based off a never-before published Jane Austen novel, as the improvisational actors transport them to the drawing rooms and manor houses of the Regency era. The wit and wisdom of Jane Austen will resonate with audiences as they experience new characters and stories in this “unscripted” play, which will be a unique story each night (based on suggestions given from the audience).
(Previews 11/30-12/2, opens 12/3)
Tickets ($63.50-$68.50) here.
A mad-capped comedy that’s more fun than a joyride with friends in a one-horse open sleigh! Meet Trina the innkeeper of the Snowflake Inn in Tinsel, Texas. She’s frantically trying to prepare for the holidays while dealing with a mixed bag of challenging guests and employees who leave comedic chaos in their wake.
Tickets ($28) here.
Written and directed by Rebecca Ewen and Katie Richardson
Featuring a variety of different musical and dance performances, WWCA’s Holiday Special is the perfect way to get in the spirit and celebrate the holidays with your family and WWCA.
Tickets ($24) here.
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by Tim Rice
One of the most enduring shows of all time, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a reimagining of the Biblical story of Joseph, his father Jacob, eleven brothers and the coat of many colors.
Tickets ($35) here.
Twelfth Night Production (TNP) is proud to present The Lux Radio Theater version of the classic 1947 film Miracle on 34th Street. TNP’s Holiday Radio plays have become an annual tradition for community members seeking to revel in holiday cheer with friends and family.
Miracle on 34th Street tells the timeless story of an old man who calls himself Kris Kringle and is hired as the Macy’s department store Santa. His claim to be the real Santa Claus becomes a court case and a young child’s belief could make all the difference.
Based on the film of the same name and presented as a live 1940’s radio broadcast, Miracle on 34th Street features a cast of radio players, foley actors, and a wonderful 1929 Wurlitzer pipe organ.
Location: Kenyon Hall (7904 35th Ave SW)
Tickets ($24) here.
By Samantha Silva
Developed with and Directed by Braden Abraham
Charles Dickens should be looking forward to Christmas. When his latest book is a flop, putting both his popularity and finances in peril, his publishers give an ultimatum: write a Christmas book within a month or lose everything. Adapted for the stage from Samantha Silva’s critically acclaimed novel, this tale set in the heart of Victorian England weaves a fictional take on Dickens’ past, present, and future into a comedic and poignant new holiday classic. A world premiere.
Tickets ($32-$108) here.
Pay-what-you-choose tickets available for all performances; see info here.
Note the following special dates: opening night (11/30), teen night (12/9), post-show events (12/15, 12/16), Victorian cosplay night (12/20), pre-show book signing (12/21)
And accessible performances: audio described (12/3 matinee), open captions (12/8 night), sensory friendly (12/10 matinee), ASL interpreted (12/17 matinee), mask-required performances (various)
See ticketing page for info
By Q Brothers Collective
In this hip-hop remix of Dickens’ classic tale, Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the Ghosts of Hip-Hop Past, Present, and Future … and a Jamaican Jacob Marley. As Scrooge is shown the path of rhythm and redemption, will he throw off his selfish chains and join the beat?
Q Brothers Christmas Carol mixes everything from reggae to rock, updating and funkifying this beloved tale of love, forgiveness, and Christmas spirit – and transforming it into something altogether new.
(Preview 11/23, opening 11/25)
Tickets $18.50-$123.50 (sliding scale available for all) here.
An eclectic group of sixth-graders arrives at the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, each eager to win for very different reasons. Sweet and shy Olive brings only her best friend (the dictionary) with her to the bee; bold and hyperallergic speller William Barfee uses his magic foot to propel him to greatness; former champion Chip is struggling with his burgeoning puberty; easily distracted Leaf is unconvinced that he’s smart enough to be a challenger; overachiever Marcy is disappointed by her consistent success; and politically aware Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre only wants to impress her gay dads.
In hilarious, touching, and catchy songs, each speller reveals hopes, struggles, and passions as they make their way through the competition. With an engaging, tuneful score by William Finn and a sweet, funny book by Rachel Sheinkin, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee causes audiences to fall in love, both with the show itself and its perspicacious, jocular, and effervescent spellers.
Location: Shoreline Community College Campus Theater (16101 Greenwood Ave N)
Building 1600
Theatre website here. Tickets ($17) here.
By Maggie Lee
With all the stress of the holidays, spending Christmas Eve stranded in an airport with a bunch of strangers is the last thing anyone needs! With endless delays, kids shuttling between step-families, a rogue cat on the loose, an important business deal at stake, and missing your grandson’s first Christmas morning, the holiday spirit can disappear quicker than your lost luggage. But sometimes, all you need is to be a little late in order to truly appreciate what you’re rushing toward.
Location: West of Lenin (203 N 36th St)
Tickets $21-$101 (sliding scale available for all) here.
Choreographed by George Balanchine
Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
As fall settles in, the weather is cooler
You’ve sharpened your pencils, you’ve got a new ruler
Visions of Sugarplums are close behind,
And magic (the sparkly, holiday kind).
Join us for Candy Canes, Snowflakes, and Mice –
A show so fantastic you might see it twice.
The Nutcracker’s coming, this November/December,
A fun family date you’ll be sure to remember!
Sensory friendly performance scheduled for 12/20 (Tuesday matinee)
Location: McCaw Hall (Seattle Center, Mercer St. side)
Tickets ($34-$187) here.
Book by William F. Brown
Music and Lyrics by Charlie Smalls
From the story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Directed and Choreographed by Kelli Foster Warder
Feel the power of love overflowing at this dazzling reimagining of The Wizard of Oz! With a soaring soul, R&B, and gospel score featuring hit songs “Brand New Day,” “Ease on Down the Road,” and “Home,” this fun, fresh 5th Avenue Theatre production is a hit the whole family will enjoy.
When Dorothy finds herself in the fantastical world of Oz, she sets out to seek the aid of the mysterious Wiz, forging powerful new friendships with a Scarecrow, a Tinman, and a Lion along her way down the yellow brick road. But when she battles the devious Evillene to save her new friends, she learns that no matter where you’re from, home isn’t really where you live; it’s who you love.
Tickets ($59-$199) here.
In its eighth year of production, this original adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is rich with traditional carols, alive with color and movement, and created to tell this enduring tale in a fashion that will appeal to people of all ages. Join the SSR family and celebrate this timeless seasonal classic right here in Redmond. After entertaining Redmond audiences for years, 2022 will mark John Clark’s final performance of Scrooge. Surely not to be missed.
Location: Redmond Town Center, upper level
Tickets ($30) here.
Acrobatic Conundrum creates technically rigorous, ensemble-based circus shows that seek to contribute to a more courageous and connected world. The Seattle based contemporary circus company takes up residence in the heart of Capitol Hill for the ninth installment of their adroitly curated cabaret, featuring a spate of phenomenal acts from the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Aerial arts, cyr wheel, acrobatics, clown, musical performances and much more populate the performances.
A door defends. And beckons. It divides. And offers a way in. The circumstances change and an opening we took for granted is lost forever; meanwhile the unexpected saunters in through a window left ajar. In Vol. 9: Thresholds, nine acrobats somersault their way into liminal space, ready to knock on the portal to the unknown. Darting back and forth across the fourth wall, pursuing the thrill of the edge, and pausing only briefly with one hand poised on the knob, Acrobatic Conundrum shares its paean to the doorways of our lives and the opportunities they represent. Because when one door closes, a trapdoor opens.
Featuring: Emma Curtiss, Oliver Donaldson, Dream Frohe, Leah Jones, PJ Perry, Ivanna Wei, Duo Maria & Oli, Jody Poth, Gabby Leiva, and Terry Crane
Tickets ($39) here.
Book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin
Music by Matthew Sklar
Lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Based on the New Line Cinema film written by David Berenbaum
Directed by Craig Schieber
Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh realities that his father is on the naughty list and his half-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern-day holiday classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner elf. After all, the best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear.
Tickets ($30) here.
As A Christmas Carol with a modern-day twist, Humbug follows the story of Eleanor Scrooge, a ruthlessly ambitious Wall Street executive who has an aversion to Christmas and an insatiable appetite for power. Locked in her office on a snowy Christmas Eve, Eleanor is determined to finish a corporate-takeover proposal until three “advisors” provide her with an eye-opening new appreciation for the holidays and the spirit of Christmas. An upbeat and moving adaptation of Dickens’ holiday classic, Humbug is one for the ages. With a contemporary flair, it is a tale the whole family will enjoy.
Tickets ($26) here.
Adapted and directed by Red Curtain’s artistic director, Scott B Randall, this “modern radio play” is set in December 2020. When Jessie’s elderly father goes into the hospital with COVID, her theatre friends gather on a video call to cheer her and her daughter, Kara, by doing a sort of readers’ theatre performance over Zoom. Being performers, the story is a mix of the true story (as portrayed in the classic movie), improvised lines, and pop culture references, sure to help bring out the feelings of closeness and joy associated with the season.
In this fully-staged production, we’ll see each character in their own “homes,” plus the projected Zoom call high above the stage. This is a unique way to present the classic tale of friendship tinged with holiday magic, perfect for the entire family.
Tickets ($23) here.
Christmas is saved! Come down to TOJ and treat yourself to some holiday cheer while you laugh your Christmas stockings off. But be warned — this show is definitely on the naughty list.
It’s a hilarious night of comedy, songs, dance numbers, delightful videos, and partial nudity. Written by Freddy Molitch and Scott Shoemaker, featuring Ade, Faggedy Randy, Major Scales, and Mandy Price.
A co-production from Shoes and Pants Productions and Theatre off Jackson
Admission 21+
Tickets ($33+) here.
Get a butter knife and spread the word: Dina Martina is brimming with excitement to be bringing her singular brand of razzle-dazzle entertainment back to ACT for an all-new Christmas show, joined by composer/musician Chris Jeffries.
A beloved Seattle holiday tradition for 25 years, Dina Martina’s Christmas Shows are jam-packed with traditional as well as contemporary holiday tunes, both treated with Miss Martina’s fresh and undeniably surreal comic sensibility. You’ll howl with laughter at her vocal prowess, gasp at her stories, wonder “why?” at her fashion sense, but make no mistake – Dina Martina is an incredibly unique comedian who’ll leave an indelible impression on you in the best possible way.
Tickets ($29-$60) here.
Donald Byrd’s The Harlem Nutcracker Teaser
A Preview Production
The Harlem Nutcracker utilizes Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s “Nutcracker Suite” as a musical starting point. The original story centers around an African-American family in Harlem on Christmas Eve. It highlights the unique warmth and centrality of the grandmother in African-American culture, the resilience of Black American families and Harlem as a center of the African Diaspora.
This year’s Harlem Nutcracker production will be a “teaser” to the final production, which is tentatively scheduled to premiere a little over a year from now. The “teaser” is everything except for the last 20 minutes of the show. It has many of the final costume elements and some of the less elaborate scenic elements. The final moments of the show are a surprise that we are saving for the completed premiere. Students from The School of Spectrum Dance Theater and its Academy Division will also be integrated into the production.
Location: On the Boards (100 W Roy Street)
Tickets ($25-$50, plus pay-what-you-choose option available for all) here.
By Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Karen Lund
In this all-new Jane Austen-inspired story, we return to the world of the Darcys and Bennets! Lydia’s come for Christmas, the halls are decked, and the aroma of everyone’s favorite orange biscuits fills the air. But downstairs the loyal staff scramble to keep a secret that could upend the festivities. Amid the chaos of Christmas, a little yuletide forgiveness might be the one gift everyone needs.
Tickets $26-$54 (depending on location) here.