Looking for something entertaining and fun to do with the family this holiday season? We made it easy to find the best shows being offered at popular theatres in the city and the ‘burbs. Plus, tickets to shows make unique gifts that create lasting memories.
Suburban Theatres:
Peter Panto: A Musical Panto, People’s Light Theatre, Malvern
Come and explore the whimsical world of Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, and Captain Hook! People’s Light continues its winter holiday tradition with a cast of Lost Boys, pirates, fairies, and a trio of card-playing dogs. Meanwhile, a TikTok-famous croc is on the loose, hunting down dance moves, followers, and Captain Hook’s right hand. Cheer the heroes, boo the villains, clap, and sing while eating all the Swedish Fish you can catch. Join Wendy, Michael, and John in this “Darling” trip to Neverland for ages 5-105.
November 20, 2024 – January 5, 2025, Tickets: $35 and up
Philadelphia Dance Theatre Presents The Nutcracker, Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell
Philadelphia Dance Theatre presents the holiday favorite “The Nutcracker” performance highlights, including the magical Kingdom of the Sweets scene, set to the nostalgic score by PytorIllyich Tchaikovsky. This is a special performance specifically designed for a sensory friendly audience. Start a new holiday tradition!
December 13-15, 2024, Tickets: $12 – $60
The Wizard of Oz, Jr, The Media Theatre for the Performing Arts, Media
The classic story comes to the stage this holiday season. Follow Dorothy and Toto as they are transported to the magical Land of Oz and travel down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard of Oz – and learn all of the wonderful lessons along the way!
December 13 – December 29, 2024, Tickets: $19 – $25
Annie, Steel River Playhouse, Pottstown
Step into a world where dreams come true, and optimism shines bright! Annie’s story is one of hope and resilience in the face of abandonment and hardship. This timeless musical will warm your heart and leave you with a smile that lasts “Tomorrow” and beyond! Experience the magic of this classic musical, filled with laughter, toe-tapping tunes, and a message that resonates across generations. Don’t miss the chance to witness the sun come out on the stage and join Annie in spreading joy to all for the 2024 holiday season!
December 6-22, 2024, Tickets $17 – $29
Once Upon A Mattress, Delaware Children’s Theater, Wilmington
A funny update of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Princess and the Pea,” Once Upon A Mattress sets an unapologetic free spirit loose in a repressed kingdom, reveling in a swamp princess’s ability to charm and transform with willpower, honesty, and a little bit of help from her friends.
November 23- December 15, 2024, Tickets: $18 – $20
Anastasia, The Musical, Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope
Featuring the popular songs from the original animated feature and more, Anastasia is a sweeping musical adventure that transports its audience from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s. A brave young woman named Anya sets out to discover the mystery of her past but is pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her.
November 22, 2024 – January 5, 2025, Tickets: $32 – $78
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, SALT Performing Arts, Chester Springs
The enchantment never ends in this unique and magical take on the classic tale. A perfect family experience to complete your holiday season! Step into the spectacular world of Broadway’s classic, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, an international sensation that has been produced in 37 countries worldwide. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature, the stage version includes all of the wonderful songs and characters we’ve grown to know and love. Join us for this TALE AS OLD AS TIME!
November 15 – December 15, 2024, Tickets: $27 – $40
Winter Wonderland, The Media Theatre for the Performing Arts, Media
The holiday season has come to life on The Media Theatre stage! This music-revue style production features all of your favorite wintery classic songs with some of the finest singers & dancers to bring it to life. After opening a holiday storybook, join our favorite seasonal characters on a truly one-of-a-kind theatrical journey! There’s a chill in the air, chestnuts are roasting, and scents of hot chocolate and cinnamon swirl about. Experience the magic of the music, right here in Media, and fill your heart with holiday cheer! Appropriate for all ages.
December 6-29, 2024, Tickets: $25 – $45
Christmas in The Catskills 2: A Star is Borscht, Act 2 Playhouse (Ambler Playhouse), Ambler
Back by popular demand! Following last year’s completely sold-out run, Tony Braithwaite returns to celebrate the greatest comedians of the Borscht Belt including Joan Rivers, Rodney Dangerfield, Henny Youngman, and many, many more! A hilarious evening of jokes, stories, and songs, Christmas in the Catskills is “a verbal tornado of humor from some of comedy’s greatest talents…The laughter begins with the very first line and never stops.”
December 3-29, 2024, Tickets: $35 – $49
Classic Nutcracker, performed by Rock School West, The Miller Theater (formerly the Merriam Theatre)
Enjoy this performance of the Classic Nutcracker as you usher in the spirit of the holiday season. Clara’s fairytale is brought to life on the Miller Theater stage. Toy soldiers come to life and battle enchanted mice under the tree until an enchanted snowstorm transports Clara to a mystical Land of the Sweets ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy. Children of all ages delight in the charm and beauty of this beloved holiday classic featuring a cast of over 100 performers and award-winning dancers from around the world.
December 6-8, 2024, Tickets start at $10
Philadelphia Theatres:
Peter Pan, The Arden Theatre, Philadelphia
Join Peter Pan on an adventure to Neverland, a magical island where there are no parents, no chores, and fairies and pirates rule! Introduce your children and grandchildren to the characters you love from J.M. Barrie’s timeless masterpiece: Wendy Darling, Tinker Bell, Captain Hook, a horde of Lost Boys, and one very hungry crocodile. With fairy dust and your child’s imagination, the Arden flies to Neverland this holiday season! Arden Children’s Theatre presents a brand-new production that celebrates the joy of storytelling and the power of imagination! Most enjoyed by ages 6 and up.
November 27, 2024 – January 19, 2025, Tickets: $25 – $46
ELF The Broadway Musical, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia
ELF The Broadway Musical is the story of Buddy, who mistakenly crawled into Santa’s bag as a baby and was raised as an elf! Buddy is 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, he embarks on a journey to New York City with dreams to find his birth father and discover his true identity. What’s an adopted elf to do when he realizes his father is on Santa’s ‘naughty’ list and his half-brother doesn’t believe that there is a Santa Claus? It’s up to Buddy to save Christmas in this hilarious and charming Broadway musical!
November 19 – December 29, 2024, Tickets: $97 and up
George Balanchine’s Nutcracker, Academy of Music, Philadelphia
It simply isn’t the holidays without a trip to the Academy of Music for a performance of The Nutcracker! For decades, this amazing production has been Philadelpha’s most beloved holiday tradition. Set to Tchaikovsky’s famous score, the incredible dancing and lavish sets and costumes bring to life a story of a young girl’s magical dream—a dream that never loses its appeal.
December 6-29, 2024, Tickets: $27 – $241
Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Miller Theater, Philadelphia
Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical is the record-setting Broadway holiday sensation which features the hit songs “You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas” from the original animated special. Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is “two sizes too small,” decides to steal Christmas away from the Holiday loving Whos. Magnificent sets and costumes inspired by Dr. Seuss’ original illustrations help transport audiences to the whimsical world of Whoville and help remind us of the true meaning of the holiday season.
November 26 – December 1, 2024, Tickets: $45 – $125
STOMP, Miller Theater, Philadelphia
The international percussion sensation has garnered armfuls of awards and rave reviews and has appeared on numerous national television shows. The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps – to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms. Year after year, audiences worldwide keep coming back for more of this pulse-pounding electrifying show. As the Boston Globe says, “If you haven’t seen STOMP, GO! If you have seen it, take someone and share the pleasure!” STOMP. See what all the noise is about.
December 26 – 29, 2024, Tickets: $49 – $99
Updated October 2024