This month, you could sit home and
watch the Grinch steal Christmas for the
millionth time, or you can get bundled up in
your holiday finery and head out onto
Boston’s lauded theater scene to enjoy some
suitably joyous and entertaining holiday
productions. Whether your taste ranges from
the sacred to the playful, from pipers
piping to lords a-leaping, it’s a safe bet
that Santa’s got something in his bag for
any theater lover to enjoy. For complete
show dates, times and ticket information,
refer to
holiday events listings.
A Multicultural
Christmas
A
Christmas Celtic Sojourn at Cutler Majestic
Theatre: We all want to be home
for Christmas, but that doesn’t mean one
can’t take a little sidetrip to Ireland
along the way—especially when that “trip”
involves an evening of the best Christmas
music, dancing, poetry and stories the Auld
Sod has to offer. This staged version of
Brian O’Donovan’s popular PBS TV special
unites Celtic musicians like Solas and
Alasdair Frasier with Irish dancers and a
flurry of fiddles, flutes, harps and pipes
for a show that will make your holiday as
green as a Christmas wreath.
Black Nativity at Converse Hall: On a stage filled with children, professional dancers, colorful costumes and the sounds of intoxicating drumbeats, the National Center of Afro-American Artists presents Black Nativity. Now in its 38th year, this annual Boston tradition unites 160 performers in the world’s longest-running performance of Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes’ beloved song-play based on the Gospel of St. Luke.
The Xmas All-Stars
As much a traditional part of the holiday
season as stockings under the mantle,
presents under the tree and mistletoe over
the doorway, these seasonal classics are
time-tested and Santa-approved.
White Christmas at the Wang Theatre:
Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye may be in that
cozy Vermont inn in the sky, but Irving
Berlin’s classic White Christmas
lives on in an acclaimed stage show that
delighted Hub
audiences in 2005 and returns
this December. The tale of two Army
buddies-turned-entertainers is packed full
of classic Berlin songs, including
everybody’s favorite titular carol.
Miracle on 34th Street at Stoneham Theatre: Take a break from your own Macy’s shopping spree to learn the true meaning of Christmas in this classic family favorite about a department store Santa who just might be the real thing. Stoneham Theatre’s version of the classic that puts “Kris Kringle” on trial, yet ends up restoring a whole city’s belief in the magic of Christmas, is like getting the perfect gift this holiday season.
This Wonderful Life at Lyric Stage Company: It just wouldn’t be Christmas without Frank Capra’s uplifting tale of family man George Bailey and the residents of Bedford Falls. This year, though, feel free to skip Jimmy Stewart’s version of It’s a Wonderful Life and enjoy the delightfully dynamic Neil A. Casey bringing everyone from George to Clarence the Angel to Old Man Potter to life in his one-man tour-de-force, This Wonderful Life.
What the Dickens?
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
has probably seen more versions and remakes
than any holiday tale outside of the
Nativity. Still, the story of Ebenezer
Scrooge and his journey from miser to
benefactor never fails to awaken that joyful
optimism in us all.
A Christmas Carol at New Repertory Theatre: New Rep revives its popular musical adaptation of Dickens’ holiday classic, augmenting the production with pre-show caroling concerts, lavish costuming and the added twist of cast members accompanying themselves on over a dozen musical instruments. After all, when was the last time you saw Tiny Tim singing to the beat of his own drum?
Cue the Dancing
Mice...
December is the time that one of the world’s
most cherished ballets—Tchaikovsky’s The
Nutcracker—takes center stage. Here in
Boston, lovers of toy soldiers and midnight
balloon rides have several unique and
creative ways to enjoy this holiday
favorite.
Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker at the
Opera House: Each year,
Bostonians count down the days to what many
consider to be the definitive version of the
original “Toy Story” on their home stage at
the opulent Opera House. Boston Ballet’s
internationally acclaimed dancers plie,
pirouette and show off their grace and
delicate beauty in the city’s most favored
holiday show.
Jose Mateo’s The Nutcracker at Brandeis
University: This Cambridge-based
dance troupe presents a Nutcracker that
places greater emphasis on the dancing and
less on the grandiose theatrics of some
other productions. Dedicated to community
outreach, the Mateo production offers all
the thrills of this timeless tale, a cast of
more than 200 local children and affordably
priced tickets that won’t cut into your
Christmas bonus.
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