It seems there is a Nutcracker on every corner this time of year, but live holiday performances in and near Philadelphia run the gamut from traditional to modern. Here is the 2019 schedule of family Christmas shows along with dates, prices and special programming notes, including sensory-friendly performances.
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Sussex County
Philadelphia
The Snow Queen $$$$
The Arcadia Stage: 40 N 2nd St., Philadelphia 19106
Adapted from Hans Christian Anderson’s children’s tale about the four seasons' fight against the evil monarch.
Nov. 27–Dec. 1/ Show times vary
Prices from $125
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol $$
Walnut Street Theatre: 825 Walnut St., Philadelphia 19107
Nov. 30–Dec. 22/ Show times: 10:30 and 11am
Prices from $30
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker $$$
Academy of Music: Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 1420 Locust St., Philadelphia 19102
Dec. 6–Dec. 31/ Show times: Noon, 2, 5, and 7pm
Prices from $50
SK Sensory Friendly Performance, Dec. 30, Noon
Prices from $20
Philadanco: Xmas Philes $$
Annenberg Center: 3680 Walnut St., Philadelphia PA 19104
A holiday contemporry dance performed by Philadanco.
Dec. 12–Dec. 15/ Show Times: 2, 7:30 and 8pm
Prices from $25
A Philly Pops Christmas: Spectacular Sounds of the Season $$$$
Version Hall: Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 260 South Broad St., Philadelphia 19102
Mandy Gonzalez (from Hamilton), Philly POPS festival chorus, the Philadelphia Boys Chorus, and African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas Gospel Choir together with 300 more performers to celebrate the holidays.
Dec. 7–Dec. 21/ Show Times: 3 and 8pm
Prices from $95
Carols in Color 2019 – 28th Anniversary Season $$
The Kurtz Center for the Performing Arts: 3000 West School House Lane, Philadelphia 19144
A production by Leon Evans based on Black Nativity by Langston Hughes and its 1960s musical adaptation by Vinnette Carrol, as a retelling of the Gospel according St. Matthew.
Dec. 21–Dec. 22/ Show Times: 3, 4, 6:30 and 7:30pm
Prices from $26
The Philadelphia Dance Academy’s 10th Annual Nutcracker $$
Drexel University’s Mandell Theatre: 3220 Chestnut St., Philadelphia19104
Dec. 14–15/ Show Times: Noon, 2, 5:30pm.
Prices from: $15
A Charlie Brown Christmas Live On Stage $$
Merriam Theater: 250 S Broad St., Philadelphia 19102
Dec. 20–Dec. 21/ Show Times: 1:30, 5 and 7pm
Prices from $33
Cirque Dreams: Holidaze $$$
Merriam Theatre: 250 S Broad St., Philadelphia 19102
A circus extravaganza that celebrates Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s with acrobatics.
Dec. 26–Dec. 29/ Show Times: 11, 2, 3, 7 and 8pm
Prices from $40
Philly Nutt Crak-Up
Philly Nutt Crak-Up $$
Venice Island Performing Arts Center: 7 Lock St., Philadelphia 19127
Come see the ‘nut’ take of the classic Nutcracker with references to local Philadelphia places, personalities, and foods with music combining comedy, hip-hop, ballet and modern dance.
ContempraDANCE Theatre Company will host the Youth Regional Dance Festival immediately after the Philly Nutt Crack-Up performance.
Dec. 14–Dec. 15/ Show Times: 2 and 7:30pm
Prices from $30
Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker $$
The Met Philly: 858 N Broad St., Philadelphia 19130
Dec. 19/ Show Time: 7pm
Prices from $32.50
Nutcracker 1776 by The Rock School for Dance Education $$$
Annenberg Center for the Performing Center: 3680 Walnut St., Philadelphia 19104
Dec. 6–Dec. 7/ Show Times: 1, 4 and 7pm
Prices from $40
The Lady Hoofers Tap Ensemble, The Tapcracker 2019 $$
Suzanne Roberts Theatre: 480 S Broad St., Philadelphia 19146
A full-length, all-tap version of a holiday favorite, The Nutcracker. Performances are set to the music of Tchaikovsky and Duke Ellington as the audience is transported to Paris in a rhythmic performance.
Dec. 14–Dec. 15/ Show Times: 2, 3, and 7pm
Prices from $25
Sundays on Stage: The Nutcracker FREE
Parkway Central Library: 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia 19103
Closes with a ballet lesson for the whole audience.
Dec. 8/ Show Time: 2pm
FREE
Disney on ICE: Road Trip Adventures $$
Wells Fargo Center: 3601 S Broad St., Philadelphia 19148
Mickey and the gang visit friends.
Dec. 27–Jan. 5/ Show Times vary
Prices from $25
PENNSYLVANIA SUBURBS
Bucks County
Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Playhouse Christmas Show $$$
Bucks County Playhouse Theatre: 70 S. Main St., New Hope PA
A theatrical reimaging of a series of holiday classics.
Dec. 6–Dec. 29/ Show Times: 2, 7:30 and 8pm
Prices from $55
Ebenezer Scrooge's Big Playhouse Christmas Show
Chasing Santa, A Christmas Musical $
McCoole’s Arts & Events Place: 10 South Main St., Quakertown, PA
Join news anchors Chase and Lilac on the hilarious trip to the North Pole.
Dec. 13–Dec. 22/ Show Times: 2 and 7:30pm
Prices from $16
Chester County
The Bullies Christmas Carol & Holiday Cheer Concert $
Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center: 226 N. High St., West Chester PA
Bullying twins Ebbie and Neezer go on an adventure when three goofy ghosts show them the consequences of their awful deeds and another perspective of their life and choices.
Dec. 6–Dec. 7/ Show Times: 1:00 and 5pm
Prices from $10
Delaware County
UDPAC's The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker by the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet Society $
Upper Darby Performing Arts Center: 601 N. Lansdowne Avenue, Drexel Hill PA
Nov. 22–Nov. 24/ Show Times: 11am, 1:30, 3, 5:30 and 7pm
Prices from: $10
Shooting Stars Holiday Spectacular
Shooting Stars Holiday Spectacular $
Upper Darby Performing Arts Center: 601 N. Lansdowne Avenue, Drexel Hill PA
Dancers and singers perform seasonal favorites in Broadway-style production numbers.
Dec. 20–Dec. 21/ Show Times: 2 and 7:30pm
Prices from $10
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol $$
Hedgerow Theatre Company: 64 Rose Valley Rd., Rose Valley PA
Nov. 29–Dec. 24/ Show Times: 2, 3, 6:30 and 7pm
Prices from $25
Join the cast 30 minutes before any performance for caroling.
Lancaster County
2019 Christmas Show: Joy to the World $$$
American Music Theatre: 2425 Lincoln Hwy E, Lancaster PA
Taking to a stage dressed as a small-town winter carnival, a large ensemble cast of vocalists, dancers and musicians bring to life classics and carols.
Nov. 14–Dec. 30/ Show Times: 3 and 7pm
Prices from $55
Cinderella's Christmas
Lancaster Marionette Theatre: 126 N. Water St., Lancaster PA
Robert Brock performs a one-man holiday-themed performance with marrionettes created.
Back-stage tour available 20 minutes before curtain call.
Nov.29–Dec. 27/ Show Time: 11am
Prices from $15
Montgomery County
Mikey The Elf and The Case of the Missing Mistletoe $
Act II Playhouse: 56 E. Butler Ave., Ambler PA
Toyland’s magical mistletoe has been stolen and detective Mikey the Elf is on the case.
Dec. 17–Dec. 31/ Show Times: 11am, 2 and 5pm
Prices from $10
Plymouth Whitemarsh's The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker $$
Plymouth Whitemarsh High School: 201 E Germantown Pk., Plymouth Meeting PA
Dec. 21–Dec. 22/ Show Times: 2 and 6:30pm
Prices from $20
NEW JERSEY
Atlantic County
Atlantic City Ballet – The Nutrcracker
Stockton Performing Arts Center: 101 Vera King Farris Dr., Galloway NJ
Dec. 13-Dec. 14/ Show Times: 10:30am and 3 and 7pm.
Prices from $12
Atlantic City Ballet The Nutcracker
Burlington County
A Christmas Carol Dinner Theatre! $$$
Braddock's Tavern: 39 S Main St., Medford NJ
Dec. 8-Dec. 22/ Show Time: 2 and 4pm
Prices from $84
Camden County
Scrooge: The Musical $$
Ritz Theatre Company: 915 White Horse Pike, Haddon Township NJ
Dec. 12–Dec. 22/ Show Times: 2, 7:30 and 8pm
Prices from $19.50
A Christmas Story: The Musical $$
Brooklawn Community Center: 101 2nd St., Brooklawn NJ
Dec. 6–Dec. 14/ Show Times: 2 and 7:30pm
Prices from $25
Cape May
Elaine's Dinner Theater: How Rudolph Got His Glow Back $$
Elaine's Cape May: 513 Lafayette St., Cape May NJ
Nov. 19- Nov. 23/ Show Time: 6:30pm
Prices from $20
Gloucester County
The Broadway Theatre of Pitman: 43 S Broadway, Pitman NJ
Multiple holiday events:
Express Train to the North Pole
Dec. 4–Dec. 28/Show Times: 10 and 10:30am, 1 and 7pm
Prices from $7
Frosty the Snowman
Dec. 11–Dec. 22/ Show Times: 10 and 10:30am, 1 and 3:30pm
Prices from $7
Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical
Dec.6–Dec. 22/ Show Times: 2, 7 and 8pm
Prices from $28
Angelina Ballerina
Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts: 1 College Dr., Toms River NJ
Multiple holiday events:
Angelina Ballerina: The Very Merry Holiday Musical $
Dec. 22/ Show Times: 1 and 4pm
Prices from $12
A Christmas Carol $
Dec. 7/ Show Time: 1pm
Prices from $10
The Nutcracker $
Dec. 14/ Show Times: 1 and 4pm
Prices from $10
Mercer County
Twas The Night Before Christmas $
Kelsey Theatre: 1200 Old Trenton Rd., West Windsor Township NJ
From Dec. 7–Dec. 10/ Show Times: 9:45am, 1, 4 and 7pm
Prices from $10
Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker $$
The College of New Jersey’s Kendall Main Stage Theater: 2000 Pennington Rd., Ewing NJ
Nov. 30–Dec. 8/ Show Times: 10am, 1:30, 2 and 4pm
SK Nov. 30: Sensory Friendly Performance
Prices from $22
A Christmas Carol at McCarter Theatre Center
American Repartory Ballet – The Nutcracker $$
McCarter Theatre Center: 91 University Pl, Princeton NJ
Nov. 29–Dec. 1/ Show Times: 1, 2 and 7:30pm
Prices from $35
A Christmas Carol $$
McCarter Theatre Center: 91 University Pl, Princeton NJ
Dec. 10–13/ Show Time: 7:30pm
SK Dec. 27: Sensory Friendly Performance
Prices from $25
DELAWARE
Kent County
Elf, The Musical, Jr. $
The Schwartz Center for the Arts: 226 S State St., Dover DE
Dec. 7–Dec. 8/ Show Times: 2 and 7pm
Prices from $10
New Castle County
Carols in Color
Carols in Color 2019: 28th Performance Season of Carols in Color
The Grand Opera House: 818 North Market St., Wilmington DE
A production by Leon Evans based on Black Nativity by Langston Hughes and its 1960s musical adaptation by Vinnette Carrol, as a retelling of the Gospel according St. Matthew.
Dec. 15/ Show Time: 4pm
Prices from $25
A Christmas Carol
Delaware Theatre Company: 200 Water St., Wilmington DE
Dec. 4–29/ Show Times: 2, 6, 7 and 8pm
SK Dec. 22: Sensory Friendly Performance
Prices from $20
A Christmas Story: The Musical
The Everett Theatre: 47 W. Main St., Middletown DE
Dec. 6-Dec. 15/ Show Times: 2 and 7:30pm
Prices from $14
Christmas by Candlelight $$
Candlelight Theatre: 2208 Millers Rd., Wilmington DE
Nov. 16– Dec. 22/ Show Time: 11am and 1 and 6pm
Prices from $33
Disney’s Frozen Jr. $$
Delaware Children’s Theatre: 1014 Delaware Av., Wilmington
Nov. 16–Dec. 15/Show Time: 2pm
Prices from $15
A Christmas Carol $
The Copeland Hall, The Grand Opera House: 818 N Market St., Wilmington DE
Dec. 3/ Show Times: 9:30am and Noon
Prices from $8
The Nutcracker $$
First State Ballet Theatre: 818 N Market St. #3R, Wilmington DE
Dec. 21–22/ Show Times: 1, 2, 4:30, and 7pm
Prices from: $20
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical $$
The Playhouse: 818 N. Market St., Wilmington DE
Dec. 23/ Show Times: 2 and 6:30pm
Prices from $30
Live Performance of A Christmas Carol $$
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library: 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur DE
Charles Dickens’ great-great-grandson, Gerald Charles Dickens, performs a one-man show.
Dec. 11/ Show Time: 1pm
Prices from $15
University of Delaware's The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker $$
Mitchell Hall, University of Delaware: Newark, DE
Dec. 20–22/ Show Times: 2 and 7pm
Prices from $15
The Velveteen Rabbit: A Christmas Musical $
Glasgow Christian Academy: 2880 Summit Bridge Rd., Bear DE
Nov. 22–Nov. 23/ Show Time: 7pm
Prices from $5
Elf Jr.: The Musical $
Everspring Church: 1701 S Dupont Hgwy, St. Georges DE
Dec. 13–28/ Show Times: 11am, 2 and 7:30pm
Prices from $10
Sussex County
The Grinch
Rehoboth Beach Library: 226 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach DE
Dec. 21/ Show Time: 1pm
Elf: The Musical $$
Riverfront Theater: 2 South Walnut St., Milford DE
Nov. 29–Dec. 15/ Show Times: 2 and 7pm
Prices from $20
Christmas From The Heart $$
Possum Point Players: 441 Old Laurel Rd., Georgetown DE
Nov. 29–Dec. 8/ Show Time: 2 and 7:30pm
Prices from $24
