Holiday & Christmas Plays in DC

Michael Russotto returns to star for a second holiday season in this solo show that is a masterclass in theatrical storytelling. As he portrays nearly 50 different characters from the Charles Dickens classic, you'll find yourself swept up in a story that is funnier, more timely, and far more familiar to our modern-day circumstances than you could ever imagine. Even more impressive, Paul Morella's beloved adaptation stays true to Dickens' original language - making this perhaps the most authentic Christmas Carol out there. There's a reason our audience has made this part of their holiday tradition for the past 16 years.

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 helps remind us of the true meaning of the holiday season. Don't miss what The New York Times calls "AN EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE! 100 times better than any bedtime story."

AN IRISH CAROL is an homage to Dickens' classic - told as only the Irish can. This comic and touching play, set in a modern Dublin pub, follows one evening in the life of David, a wealthy pub owner who has lost touch with his own humanity in the interest of self-protection and material success. But on this Christmas Eve - challenged by a voice from the past, provoked by those in the present, and faced with the reality of a lonely future - David's life may change forever.

Join the Puppet Co. for our 37th annual The Nutcracker! This time honored seasonal celebration includes Tchaikovsky's familiar story of Clara and her prince, with some Puppet Co. nursery rhyme spin.

Celebrate this holiday season with the Centre Company's annual performance of The Nutcracker. Travel with Clara as she embarks on a journey into the magical Land of Sweets, where she meets dancing Snowflakes and Sugarplums, Dragons and Peacocks, Shepherdesses and Bon Bons, and avoids the tricks of a mischievous naughty little mouse. Featuring breathtaking costumes, stunning dancers, and renowned guest artists, the beauty, elegance, and charm of the Centre Company's full-length performance of the Nutcracker ballet will leave you astounded. Come join us at the Centre Company Nutcracker, for all who want to experience the season with childlike wonder.

When the lights go out during Chanukah, Max and family begin sharing songs, stories, and traditions - only to discover the lights they needed and the miracles they searched for were in their midst all along. Perfect for ages 5 and up.

Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Originally conceived by Michael Baron, this music-infused production captures the magic and joy of Dickens's Yuletide classic, with familiar characters, ghosts and a children's ensemble in the spirit of the holidays. Acclaimed actor Craig Wallace returns to play Ebenezer Scrooge in Ford's annual tradition heralded as a "rich visual and vocal treat" (TheaterMania) and "infectiously jolly" (The Washington Post).

Cirque Dreams Holidaze lights up the stage in this popular and dazzling family holiday spectacular. This annual tradition wraps a whimsical, Broadway-style musical infused with contemporary circus artistry into the ultimate holiday gift for the entire family!

Murray & Peter Present "A Drag Queen Christmas" hosted by Nina West. It's the longest running drag tour in America. Get ready for your favorite queens performing live on stage. We've got Onya Nurve, Jewels Sparkles, Crystal Methyd, Suzie Toot, Bosco and Lydia B. Kollins. VIP Meet & Greet add-on tickets are also available.

Buddy, a young orphan who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts, is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy's size and poor toy-making abilities force him to face the truth. With Santa's permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day holiday classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner ELF.

Do you want to build a snowman? How about watching him spring to life in front of you for one day of adventures before he melts away? In this merry wintertime romp, chock-full of chuckles and comic antics, Frosty gallops into the hearts of kids and adults alike - even the heart of one skeptical cop - through his uproarious antics.

Hershel just wants to celebrate Hanukkah with the community, but the Queen and King of the Goblins have forbidden the lighting of the candles. Can Hershel save the day and lift the curse for this shtetl (village)? Script by Stephen Laughton. Original book written by Eric Kimmel and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman.

A holiday mash-up for the whole family, The Hip Hop Nutcracker returns for another spectacular tour. Directed and choreographed by Tony and Olivier Award-nominated Jennifer Weber, this contemporary dance spectacle is a re-mixed and re-imagined version of the classic, smashing hip hop dance and Tchaikovsky's timeless music together into a heart-stirring and inspirational holiday event. The Hip Hop Nutcracker is brought to life by a powerhouse cast of a dozen all-star dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and MC Kurtis Blow, one of hip hop's founding fathers, who opens the show with a short set.

This holiday season, Julia Masli returns to Woolly with a festive edition of her hit, award-winning show ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, now titled ho ho ho ha ha ha ha. Fresh off a global tour-with stops in New York City (at The Public), and previously in Edinburgh, London, and Melbourne-Masli invites audiences to bring their holiday problems to the stage for a hilarious and surprising solution. A completely different show every night, ho ho ho ha ha ha ha is a production like no other.

Award-winning comedy icons, writers, actors, and drag queen powerhouses BenDeLaCreme & Jinkx Monsoon are coming back to town with the wildly successful, internationally acclaimed, "The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show." Throughout the show's history Jinkx and DeLa have met sentient Christmas treats, twisted space-time with Dickensian Ghosts, escaped the meta clutches of their own holiday traditions, and led a harrowing rescue mission in the Nutcracker's Land of Sweets - You never know what wild and unexpected sleigh ride these queens have in store.

We're naughty. We're nice. But we've got lice! Yep, the alternative Clause with flaws, John Waters is back with his demented holiday show that puts the gag in gagster, the hole in holiday, and the stuffer in your stocking. He not only loves Santa, he eats him raw and regurgitates him back up piping hot to eager-beaver filth-tartar lovers everywhere.

Book and Lyrics by Jennifer Kirkeby, Music by Shirley Mier. A Holiday tradition at Creative Cauldron! "In an old house in Paris, covered in vines, lived 12 little girls in two straight lines." And with that familiar phrase, author and illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans sets in motion the adventures of the brave and resourceful Madeline! In this musical adaptation, Madeline's schoolmates and tutor are all sick in bed on Christmas Eve, unable to go home for Christmas to be with their families. So it's Madeline to the rescue! And with the help of a magical rug merchant she takes her friends on a Christmas journey they will never forget.

A holiday classic from the writer of the musical theatre classic, The Music Man!, and based on the movie of the same name, Miracle on 34th Street features a book and score by none other than Meredith Willson! Single mother, Doris Walker, doesn't want her six-year-old Susan's head filled with romantic notions. Their neighbor, Fred Gailey, tries to woo Doris by charming Susan and taking her to see Santa Claus at Macy's, where Doris works. Doris is not impressed, but when it turns out that Macy's Santa may, in fact, be the real Kris Kringle, a wave of love spreads across NewYork City that melts even the most cynical hearts. Filled with humor, spectacle and such beloved songs as "Pinecones and Hollyberries," "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" and "My State, My Kansas," this joyous, heartwarming musical is pure family entertainment, wholesome without being cloying. Miracle on 34th Street The Musical is the perfect holiday treat for any theatre!

VNB's annual performances of The Nutcracker return to Capital One Hall in Tysons. Our popular productions feature world-class dancing, great choreography, and beautiful sets, costumes, and special effects. Likely to sell out - get tickets soon!

The beloved family tradition is back: NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet! Gather your loved ones for the warm-glow-nostalgia of America's favorite Christmas celebration. Experience the extraordinary international cast and Ukrainian Principal Artists performing at the peak of classical European Ballet. Be transported by the magic of jaw-dropping acrobatics, larger than life puppets and stunning hand-crafted sets and costumes. Don't miss this chance to experience the wonder of NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet.

The Nutcracker ballet is an enchanting holiday tradition. Join us for a magical journey through a winter wonderland filled with enchanting dance, luxurious costumes, and timeless music. This family-friendly performance is perfect for ballet enthusiasts of all ages. This year, we are offering an opportunity for families to enjoy a Nutcracker Tea following the performance.

A "raucous, unbridled" (The Guardian) hit at London's National Theatre, Rules for Living has its American premiere at Round House this holiday season! The holidays are all about family, but what happens when long-standing tensions, buried resentments, and hilariously disastrous coping mechanisms collide at Christmas dinner? In this inventive, high-energy comedy, the internal rules that the characters live by become visible, turning every awkward pause, biting remark, and outburst into a brilliantly choreographed meltdown. Wickedly funny and all too relatable, this is one family holiday gathering you won't want to miss.

A soaring new musical for the holiday season! This follow-up to Raymond Briggs' "The Snowman?" is based on the video of the same name. It is told with breathtaking theatre magic by talented actors, stunning puppetry, and beautiful projections. A boy has moved into a new house and lost his beloved dog. In the garden he builds a snowman and then, to keep it company, a snow dog. They both come to life during the night, and the three embark on a fantastic journey.

Get ready to celebrate-Step Afrika!'s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show is back for its fourth spectacular year at Arena Stage! Bring the entire family to join DJ Nutcracker and his Arctic friends for an electrifying journey packed with high-energy stepping, festive music, and non-stop holiday cheer with the award-winning Step Afrika! performers. This fan-favorite tradition promises laughter, joy, and unforgettable moments. Last year's production sold out, so snag your tickets early.

Everyone's favorite Christmas musical is coming to Riverside Center! Veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil's former army commander. Will the show go on? With a dazzling score featuring well-known standards including "Blue Skies," "I Love a Piano," "How Deep Is the Ocean" and the perennial title song, White Christmas is an uplifting, wholesome musical that will delight audiences of all ages.