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The five family holiday shows you don't want to miss: Lively theater for livelychildren

Main Street Theater cast members in A Little House Christmas
Photo by Kaitlyn Walker
The Houston Symphony presents Hip Hoppin' Nutcracker
Photo by Leah Polkowske
Rhodes Elliott and artists of the Houston Ballet in The Nutcracker
Photo by © Amitava Sarkar
The A.D. Players in Sanders Family Christmas
Photo courtesy of Bara Photography
Jeffrey Bean as Ebenezer Scrooge in the Alley Theatre's A Christmas Carol: AGhost Story of Christmas
Photo by Mike McCormick
The company in the Alley Theatre's A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas
Photo by © T Charles Erickson

What is your favorite childhood memory of the holidays? Playing with cousins while waiting for Santa? Singing carols with friends at school? Sipping hot chocolate with parents while reading holiday books?

In our hearts we carry a range of remembrances from the simplest pleasures to the most lavish spectacles. This holiday season, Houston’s performance halls are offering shows that can delight the whole family and leave indelible impressions of the holiday spirit.

Here are five favorite choices:

A Little House Christmas

When: Through Dec. 22; Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Where: Main Street Theater, Chelsea Market, 4617 Montrose Blvd., 713-524-6706, www.mainstreettheater.com

Storyline: This play is based on the cherished Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Bad weather hampers the Ingalls family’s Christmas Day celebration. Sisters Laura and Mary are disappointed that they are stranded at home and Santa may not make it after all. In this holiday classic, the girls learn the true meaning of the Christmas spirit.

"The Little House books are timeless, and A Little House Christmas is such a warm, genuine portrayal of family and friendship. It illustrates the joys and struggles of life in the early pioneer days on the prairie,” says Vivienne M. St. John, Theater for Youth’s producing director. “I think especially during the whirlwind of the holidays, A Little House Christmas helps us to refocus and appreciate the simpler things and remember what is truly important."

Length: One hour and 15 minutes with intermission

Ticket price: $12- $16; recommended for pre-kindergarten and up

A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas

When: Through Dec. 24, various times.

Where: Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave., 713-220-5700, www.alleytheatre.org  

Storyline: Three spirits visit Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve — the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. This production, Michael Wilson’s adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, offers unusual twists and spectacular sets.

“What’s interesting to me about this tale is that we meet the indifferent and miserly Scrooge," says director James Black, "and he is shown by the Spirits that, ultimately, he has little power or affect on the people in his life and the world around him.

"He wants and needs the rest of humanity to be as miserable as he is. But the people endure and find joy and happiness and love in the simplest things and in the worst of times. Conversely, as we watch Scrooge’s transformation, he is shown that the tiniest act of kindness, compassion and charity can have ripples and reverberations that change lives. Love and generosity win. Every time."

Length: One hour and 47 minutes with intermission

Ticket price: Starts at $25; recommended for general audiences, children 6 and older

Sanders Family Christmas

When: Through Dec. 31, various times.

Where: A.D. Players, 2710 W. Alabama, 713-526-2721, www.adplayers.org  

Storyline: The show spreads holiday cheer through more than 20 Christmas carols and yuletide stories. The Sanders family gathers for Christmas Eve 1941 in Mount Pleasant, N.C. It’s just before American soldiers, including a member of their own family, leave for World War II.

“The show is really all about family. Everyone can relate with at least one member of the Sanders family; the uncle who is a bit of a black sheep, the mother who embarrasses her children, the sister who has to be the center of attention,” says Sarah Cooksey, A.D. Players public relations manager.

“What makes the show even better is the great music and the chance for the families of Houston to enjoy a show together for the holidays. Sanders Family Christmas celebrates the things that mean the most in life: family, faith, and the joy that comes from experiencing them together with the people you love.”

Length: Two hours and 15 minutes including intermission

Ticket price: $32- $41

Houston Ballet’s The Nutcracker

When: Through Dec. 30, Various times

Where: Wortham Theater Center, Brown Theater, 501 Texas Avenue, 713-227-2787, www.houstonballet.org

Storyline: This is the beloved ballet with music composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It tells the story of little Clara who receives a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve. After everyone goes to bed, she travels on a fantastic journey through the Land of Sweets, encountering the Mouse King and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

More than one million people have seen this Ben Stevenson production since its Houston Ballet premiere 25 years ago.

“In keeping with traditions, The Nutcracker signifies the start of the holidays,” says principal dancer Mireille Hassenboehler, “Seeing The Nutcracker is such a magical experience for families, from the growing Christmas tree to the snowy snow scene. What better way to elevate the holiday? The Nutcracker brings such beautiful set designs, amazing costumes, music by Tchaikovsky, and spectacular dancing.”

Length: One hour and 55 minutes with intermission

Ticket price: $25-$110, recommended for children 2 and older.

Hip Hoppin’ Nutcracker

When: Dec. 8; two shows 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Where: Jones Hall, presented by Houston Symphony, 713-224-7575, www.houstonsymphony.org

Storyline: Conductor Robert Franz and the Houston Symphony orchestra join forces with Westside High School’s Inertia Dance Company in this musical holiday celebration with a playful twist. Inertia is an elite performing ensemble that combines different dance elements from ballet to modern jazz to break dancing.

The concert song list includes "Suites from The Nutcracker" and "The Snow Maiden" as well as "Caribbean Sleigh Ride," "Brazilian Sleigh Bells," even the theme from The Pink Panther. Children can chime in during the Christmas Pops Sing-Along. All the wonderful holiday music may just draw Santa away from the North Pole for a break - he’s scheduled to make an appearance on stage!

Families can arrive early before the 10 a.m. concert or stay late after the 11:30 a.m. concert to participate in activities including an instrument petting zoo and arts and crafts.

Length: One hour

Ticket price: $18 for children, $26 for adults

Bernadette Verzosa is founder of ParentsPost.com, a website that covers new and exciting things for families to do in the Houston area.

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MFAH expands

Houston museum acquires historic Masonic lodge property for new greenspace

Holland Lodge No. 1, A.F. & A.M./Facebook

The building at 4911 will be torn down for the new greenspace.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has acquired a prime parcel to expand its campus in the Museum District. On Tuesday, December 23, the museum announced it has purchased a two-acre parcel of land at 4911 Montrose Blvd that will bring its total footprint to 16 acres.

Located just north of the Glassel School of Art, the property will be developed as a greenspace that will serve as a community lawn as well as be utilized for future museum events and parking. MFAH has retained landscape architects Nelson Byrd Woltz — the firm responsible for work at Memorial Park and the recently-opened Ismaili Center — to create the design for the new greenspace.

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston greenspace rendering A rendering offers a bird's-eye preview of the new greenspace.Image by by Cong Nie/Courtesy of Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

At this time, the museum does not have plans to build anything on the property, according to a press release.

To make way for the greenspace, the property’s existing building, Holland Lodge No. 1, will be torn down. Built in 1954 as a home for the oldest Masonic lodge chapter in Texas, the building features a sandstone mural facade. It has been for sale since at least 2005, according to a report in the Houston Chronicle.

Demolition on the site is expected to begin in spring 2026 with the greenspace opening in approximately two years, according to press materials. In addition to the Glassell School, the museum’s campus includes the Audrey Jones Beck Building, the Caroline Wiess Law Building, the Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden, and the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building.

“We are delighted to contribute to Houston’s greenspace access with this new initiative, which will expand the museum’s 14-acre campus to a thoroughly walkable 16 acres,” Gary Tinterow, director and Margaret Alkek Williams chair of the MFAH, said in a statement. “While the primary objective for the purchase of this property is to secure land for any potential future expansion of the museum, our priority now is to create a welcoming community lawn. Thoughtfully designed by Nelson Byrd Woltz, one of the leading firms in sustainable landscape practice, the site will serve as public greenspace and provide additional parking for museum visitors.”

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