With numerous groups on tour, professional companies and neighborhood troupes, Houston is a hub for the performing arts. From reimagined musicals to classic scripts, check out these holiday performances happening throughout the city this season.
Ballet, musicals and theater
‘The Nutcracker’
Performed by the Houston Ballet, “The Nutcracker” follows classic holiday characters Clara and the Prince, and their fight against the Rat King. The show features hundreds of characters, intricate set designs and music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
‘A Christmas Carol’
Encounter the true meaning of Christmas with Ebenezer Scrooge as he visits the past, present and future at Alley Theatre this holiday season. The show lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes with one intermission. Children under 6 years old will not be admitted.
- Dec. 10-28, times vary
- $36-$138 (per ticket)
- Hubbard Theatre, 615 Texas Ave., Houston
- www.alleytheatre.org
Irving Berlin’s ‘White Christmas’
Presented by the Theatre Under the Stars, the Broadway musical features holiday numbers the whole family can enjoy. The show follows two friends as they try to save a snow-dusted Vermont inn and is based on music and lyrics by Irving Berlin.
‘Take The Soul Train To Christmas’
The musical performance by The Ensemble Theatre takes viewers back through time to witness how African Americans have celebrated Christmas throughout history. The show is a G-rated musical featuring African drumming, Harlem Renaissance jazz and hip-hop battle sounds.
‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
Presented by Queensbury Theatre, the 90-minute special follows Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts crew as they discover what Christmas is all about. The show is followed by an encore performance of classic holiday hits.
‘Cirque Dreams Holidaze’
The family-friendly holiday performance blends a Broadway-style musical with contemporary circus artistry and showcases soaring acrobatics, gravity-defying feats and musical numbers.
- Dec. 23-24, times vary
- $46-$126.50 (per ticket)
- Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana St., Houston
- www.cirquedreams.com
Cirque Dreams performs shows at different venues across the country. (Courtesy Cirque Dreams)
Kid-friendly performances
‘A Christmas Carol’ for Kids
The kid-friendly adaptation of the classic holiday show uses 12 large puppets to tell the story of Ebony Scrooge, a teenage millionaire who cares more about her money than the people in her life.
- Dec. 16-17, times vary
- $17.95-$19.95 (per ticket)
- Brown Auditorium, 1001 Bissonnet St., Houston
- www.cmhouston.org
Oh, What Fun!
The holiday concert for kids features sing-alongs to festive favorites, free hot chocolate and a visit from Santa. The event presented by the Houston Symphony will also offer arts and crafts and an instrument petting zoo.
‘The Story’
The Broadway-style musical shows the adventures of a young boy searching for peace within his dreams through exciting dances, holiday hits and original numbers. The show runs for two hours with one intermission, and child care is available for infants.
- Dec. 12-14, times vary
- $13-$38 (per ticket)
- Houston’s First Baptist Church, 7401 Katy Freeway, Houston
- www.houstonsfirst.org
The “Story” at Houston’s First Baptist Church has four different showtimes. (Courtesy Houston’s First Baptist Church)
Concerts, orchestras and symphonies
‘Elf’ In Concert
The Houston Symphony is performing live every note of John Debney’s score in the beloved Christmas movie “Elf”, as the film plays on a giant screen. The movie follows Buddy the Elf, who travels to New York to find his real father.
The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
Performed by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the concert showcases a rock, classical and theatrical spectacle, with pyrotechnics, lasers and holiday storytelling. The orchestra will perform two shows in Houston as part of its Christmas tour.
Carols on the Green
As part of Home for the Holidays at Discovery Green, the Houston Grand Opera is performing a holiday concert sing-along. This year’s show will celebrate Latin American culture and include traditional Spanish songs, carols and mariachi.
Neighborhood talent
‘Our Town’
Presented by 4th Wall Theatre Company, the show explains the small town of Grover’s Corners through daily life, love and loss. The cast uses minimal props and a stage manager as narrator to portray the Pulitzer Prize-winning script.
‘It’s A Wonderful Life’
The live radio play of “It’s A Wonderful Life” by local theatre company Stages features live sound effects, commercial breaks and iconic characters, including George Bailey, Mary Hatch and Clarence the Angel.
A.D. Players is a Christian theater company that was founded in 1967 by Jeannette Clift George. (Courtesy A.D. Players)
‘Narnia, The Musical’
A.D. Players Theater is bringing C.S. Lewis’s “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” to life on stage. With the help of talking animals, brave warriors and a mighty lion, four siblings find the courage to fight for Narnia’s freedom.
- Dec. 10-23
- $25-$66.25 (per ticket)
- The George Theater, 5420 Westheimer Road, Houston
- www.adplayers.org