Searching for a holiday show to see this year? A mix of classics and new performances can be found in the roundup below. Philadelphia offers a variety of performances through the season.
Walnut Street Theatre presents 'A Christmas Story, The Musical' for fans of the classic holiday film (Mark Garvin/Walnut Street Theatre)
The Walnut Street Theatre presents the Tony Award-nominated Broadway hit "A Christmas Story, The Musical" this holiday season. Fans of Ralphie and his lovable oddball family will not be disappointed. Oversized pink bunny pajamas, the Red Ryder BB gun, the leg lamp, the the world’s crankiest Santa and other icons turn up in this song-and-dance version of the classic holiday film.
Tuesday, Nov. 10 through Sunday, Jan. 10
$20-$95
Walnut Street Theater
825 Walnut St.
(215) 574-3550
Scrooge meets with ghosts during the classic holiday story (Walnut Street Theatre/For PhillyVoice)
This hour-long performance brings Charles Dickens' classic to life. Watch as Ebenezer Scrooge gets visits from the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.
Saturday, Nov. 28- Sunday, Dec. 20
$14-$16
Walnut Street Theatre
825 Walnut St.
(215) 574-3550
This two and a half hour show features a special mix of seasonal classics, sing-alongs, gospel music, and a special visitor from the North Pole. The event is always a popular show for the whole family to attend.
Friday, Dec. 4 to Tuesday, Dec. 22
$32-$121
The Kimmel Center
300 S. Broad St.
(215) 670-2300
This year the whole family can view the classic fairy tale in theater. In this version, the father is a successful builder who loses his job in an economic downturn. Feeling like burdens Hansel and Gretel run off and discover a gingerbread house where a wealthy old woman lives.
The show might inspire you to make your own gingerbread house.
Wednesday, Dec. 9- Sunday, Jan. 3
$5-23
The Sedgwick Theater
7137 Germantown Ave.
(215) 987-4450
The Kimmel Center welcomes back Philadelphia’s celebrated modern dance company, Philadanco, as they perform their holiday program "X-Mas Philes." The show will feature new choreography since the last time it was performed, five years ago. Contemporary interpretations of seasonal classics like "Silent Night," "Jingle All the Way," and "White Christmas" will be combined with Philadanco’s trademark innovation and fierce preservation of African-American dance tradition.
Show times over the weekend are Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday 2:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 11-Sunday, Dec. 13
$38-46
The Kimmel Center
300 S. Broad St.
(215) 670-2300
Lauren Fadeley, a principal dancer at the Pennsylvania Ballet prepares for a rehearsal of the Nutcracker (Thom Carroll/For PhillyVoice)
In its 47th year, "The Nutcracker" is a Philadelphia tradition. Many turn out to see the Sugarplum Fairy, the Mouse King, and the Nutcracker Prince. Try to score tickets early to the popular show, which will run through December at various times.
Friday, Dec. 11 - Thursday, Dec. 31
Academy of Music
240 S. Broad St.
(215) 893-1999
A holiday tradition for more than five decades, the Philadelphia Orchestra’s performance of Handel’s Messiah fills the Kimmel Center with the sounds of the season. Usually limited to one performance a year, Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the orchestra will perform three times this year.
Show times over the weekend are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday 2:00 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 11- Sunday, Dec. 13
$40-$135
The Kimmel Center
300 S. Broad St.
(215) 670-2300
This duo is breaking out their yuletide gear for their annual holiday tour. In past years the holiday variety show has played to sold-out crowds on both the East and West Coast, featuring a mixture of Christmas classics, original music, video, sketches, and a host of musical and comedy guests.
The show will begin at 8:30.
Friday, Dec. 11
$60
Union Transfer
1026 Spring Garden St.
(215) 232-2100
Conductor Bramwell Tovey joins the Philadelphia Orchestra for four nights of cheerful holiday songs and arrangements, from traditional holiday carols to Tovey’s own original compositions, including “Rittenhouse Carol.”
Performances Thursday through Saturday are at 7 p.m. and Sunday's performance is at 2 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 17- Sunday, Dec. 20
$35-$105
The Kimmel Center
300 S. Broad St.
(215) 670-2300
Everyone’s favorite reindeer comes to life in the all-new "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical," celebrating 50 years since the television special’s first release.
Thursday, Dec. 17 - Sunday, Dec. 20
$30-$70
The Kimmel Center
250 S. Broad St.
(215) 893-1999
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra show is new this year. The story is about a runaway girl who takes refuge in an abandoned theater on Christmas Eve, meets the Ghosts of Christmas, and learns a few life lessons along the way.
This storyline is actually from the band's first made-for-television film in 1999 and now they are bringing it on tour around the country as a live concert. Musical influences like Pink Floyd are their inspiration, while they add in elements of classical music, heavy metal and just about anything else they want.
Saturday, Dec. 19
Starting at $80
Wells Fargo Center
3601 S Broad St.
(215) 336-3600
Join over 50 Disney character favorites for a special ice skating performance celebrating 100 years. Expect sing-alongs to more than 30 classic songs as well as special moments from films including "Toy Story," "The Lion King," "Beauty and the Beast" and more.
Thursday, Dec. 24-Sunday, Jan. 3
Starting at $15
Wells Fargo Center
3601 S Broad St.
(215) 336-3600
Walnut Street Theatre/PhillyVoice
