We’re nonetheless making our manner via our conventional vacation stage viewing that opened final month, together with these dancing Nutcrackers and spooky Christmastime ghosts. But, December brings much more theatrical treats. We’ve obtained fairytale enjoyable for the entire household with a brand-new Frozen and Pinocchio. Cabaret corporations ring within the holidays, and Sister is again for a Catechism thriller. And for these wanting to go away the children at house, Houston theater even has just a few reveals doubtless on Santa’s naughty-list.
Vacation Cabaret (now via December)
If you happen to’re within the temper for some nice songs, mild comedy, and maybe some performers to viewers banter, Houston musical theater has some particular cabaret reveals for you. Music Field Theatre brings again A Beatles Vacation Cabaret, their annual December distinctive mashup custom of blending traditional and modern vacation songs with Beatles requirements. After final yr’s success, Paul Hope Cabarets returns with a number of evenings of vacation songs each acquainted and new that function two favourite Yuletide themes, Angels and Bells. And as a part of their Artists Lounge sequence, A.D. Gamers will current Merry Christmas Darling, as Chicago’s favourite main woman Heidi Kettering sings the vacation hits of Karen Carpenter.
Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Thriller of Magi’s Gold at Levels (December 3-22)
After choosing up summer time college and common time period lessons already this season, Houston’s hardest working theatrical nun is again for the vacations with one other catechism session. On this particular Christmas rendition, Sister (Levels favourite Denise Fennell) performs detective as she tries to unravel the thriller of what occurred to all that gifted gold these the clever males dropped at essentially the most well-known child bathe in historical past. Whereas Sister recounts the nativity story in her personal distinctive manner, no texting or gum chewing is allowed on this class. Listen as a result of Sister will name on her college students and typically require energetic participation.
The Evening Shift Earlier than Christmas at Alley Theatre (December 5-29)
The Alley brings again this crowd-pleasing story that they world-premiered in 2022 with a reputation change and a model new script. Scrooge will get a decidedly twenty first century, Tejana new look on this one-woman present from playwright Isaac Gómez. Working the Christmas Eve night time shift at an iconic Texas burger joint, Margot is about to search out out the standard grumpy drive-thru prospects and an equally grumpy robotic Santa are the least of her worries when her useless buddy Jackie Marley stops by with a gaggle of ghostly prospects. Briana J. Resa, who originated the function of Margo, can be again to let the spirits typically actually transfer her.
Panto Pinocchio at Levels (December 6-January 5)
Levels’ takes us on one other vacation journey as they proceed their annual custom of bringing world premiere panto reveals that weave collectively modern fairytale revision with some grownup satire and foolish enjoyable for youths. On this twenty first century model of Pinocchio, the child that simply desires to be actual begins life as an AI boy created by genius inventor Gill Bates. With the assistance of everyone’s favourite trustworthy information, Buttons, Pinocchio embarks on a quest to change into actual and encounters a world of digital mischief and journey alongside the way in which. Will he unlock the secrets and techniques to his identification? Or will the conniving villains Miss Treats and Miss Demeanor disrupt the festivities and thwart Pinocchio’s journey?
Disney’s Frozen from Theatre Underneath the Stars (December 10-29)
Let it go – the vacation stresses that’s – and spend an evening within the winter wonderland of the fairytale Frozen. The stage musical of Disney’s blockbuster animated movie took Broadway by (snow) storm seven years in the past earlier than hitting the highway for a multi-year U.S tour. Now that these excursions have ended, Disney invited Theatre Underneath the Stars to create its personal manufacturing.
Whereas all of the beloved songs and the story of a queendom saved by magic and sisterly love will stay the identical, search for all-new set and costume designs impressed by Scandinavia. It will doubtless be TUTS’ largest self-produced present of the yr and can embody college students from their theater colleges, making it good for the entire household.
Who’s Vacation! from Backyard Theatre (December 13-22)
If you happen to’re searching for a present that’s decidedly adults-only, head all the way down to the MATCH for this irreverent parody concerning the aftermath of the Dr. Seuss traditional How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Cindy Lou Who, the lovely tike who saved Christmas from the Grinch, has reached maturity, lives in a trailer on Mount Crumpit, and boy has she seen some Seussicial stuff in her time. Native fav Chaney Moore, who has appeared on many a Houston stage, performs the bawdy, outrageous Cindy Lou as she prepares to host a tell-all Christmas get together.
“She’s obtained a martini in a single hand, a cigarette within the different, and he or she’s able to lastly inform you her facet of the story,” explains Backyard Theatre inventive director Logan Vaden.
Yippee Ki Yay offered by Performing Arts Houston (December 20-22)
Because the yr winds down, let’s transfer past the talk about whether or not Die Exhausting is definitely a Christmas film and concentrate on the rather more vital new argument: Does a one-man, live-rhyming reenactment of Die Exhausting rely as a vacation present? We’ll discover out as PAH levels this internationally award-winning, action-packed, loving (however nonetheless bizarre) comedian tribute to Die Exhausting. Be there stay as John McClane and Han Gruber (a.ok.a author/performer Richard March) set Nakatomi Plaza ablaze via the magic of theater lighting and creativeness, whereas March additionally tells us a deeper story concerning the pleasure of being a fan.
