Top Four Christmas Plays
Updated November 2021.
While there are so many Holiday themed plays it is hard to count, we try hard to narrow them down to the top four Christmas plays you should see. Each year many people make the trip to the Theater with their families to see the wonderful Christmas and Holiday plays that are being performed briefly this time of year. This is a wonderful time of the year to start attending a performance as with your loved ones and either further or start a new holiday Tradition. Without further adieu here are the top four Christmas plays.
The top four Christmas plays are:
#1 The Nutcracker
I think the most popular Christmas play by far is, “The Nutcracker” by Tchaikovsky. Even if you have never seen the Ballet performed you no doubt know the score and have heard it many times. I think everyone has heard the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”. It is a wonderful Christmas play and part of many people’s own family traditions, including my own. The music is amazing and the ballet is one of the most popular performances of any kind and something not to be missed. It is a story about a young girl who falls asleep on Christmas Eve and has a dream about an evil Mouse King who tries to steal her away but a nutcracker is transformed into a Prince who helps her. It is truly a classic.
#2 A Christmas Carol
Another Christmas tradition is the classic Charles Dicken’s play, “A Christmas Carol” where Scrooge is met by three spirits on Christmas Eve and told he must change his miserly ways and become more generous. He is soon completely transformed but not before you are as you watch the performance with your family and friends each year. This is one of my earliest memories of the Theater and one I surely recommend to everyone. There are performances of this all over the country and my favorite are in Washington D.C. and in Princeton NJ at the McCarter Theatre. I wrote an article on a previous performance at the Ford Theater in Washington D.C, https://theatertickets.com/a-christmas-carol-in-washington-dc-at-fords-theatre.
Update as of November 2021- Unfortunately the two plays above are no longer showing but there are many other productions of A Christmas Carol around the nation. I always recommend seeing it as it is a long time favorite of mine. This year in NYC there is a new production that takes place after A Christmas Carol with Sherlock Holmes investigating a mysterious death of Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve. If you are going to be anywhere near New York City this season you should see A Sherlock Carol.
#3 Radio City Christmas Spectacular
If you are more in for a play that has a little bit of everything, The Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular is one that has it all. It has been a staple of many holiday outings for decades. If you want to see a Christmas themed play on a grand scale with a variety of acts including the Rockettes and Santa this is the show for you. They have an excellent holiday story that has over 140 performers with dance and humor and a little something for everyone. If you want to try a show that should please a everyone in a group this is probably your best bet.
#4 Trans-Siberian Orchestra
If holiday music is more your thing then you don’t want to miss the many choirs touring and of course the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. They are world renowned. They split into several touring companies so that people all around the country have a chance to see them during the Christmas season. You have probably seen them on a holiday special on tv or heard them on the radio. They play music in a unique style and make holiday staples like A Christmas Canon sound wonderful. They almost certainly will be in a city near you, but only during the holiday season. It is a show you will not want to miss and like The Nutcracker, I am sure almost everyone has heard some of their music as it is a holiday tradition many people are a part of.
Whether you see it in a big city or a local town most places will have some Christmas plays during the season. Whatever you decide to see, do it quickly before you need to wait another year. Even if you cannot see one of the top four Christmas plays go out and see something in your area. There is nothing like seeing a live performance. It is something you will always remember and cherish. Your children will remember the times they spent with you and the memories will truly last a lifetime. If you have not already purchased your tickets, what are you waiting for? We hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!
