best December theater

The Nutcracker and holiday classics lead Houston's 10 best shows this month

Whether you’re looking for something naughty or nice, Houston theater companies have a show in their bag of musical, dramatic, and comic goodies for you. December brings a diversity of shows for all ages, from an inebriated version of A Christmas Carol or an adult comedy about the highs and lows of holiday dating to dance and acrobatic spectaculars for the whole family. As 2025 draws to a close, every Houstonian deserves some theatrical treats.

The Nutcracker from Houston Ballet (now through December 28)
One of Houston’s most beloved traditions returns, as Houston Ballet invites us to a very magical night at the bustling Stahlbaum Christmas party. And one adventurous girl will receive a rather mysterious food preparation gift, in Houston Ballet co-artistic director Stanton Welch’s sugarplum dreamy Nutcracker Ballet.

Dancing to the beloved Tchaikovsky score, all our favorites – the Nutcracker Prince, Sugarplum Fairy, Rat King. and the international ambassadors – will take a turn at the magical winter court. In Welch’s imagining, Clara becomes the hero of this enchanting story where the all the animals dance as well as the weather, in the form of lovely snowflakes. With hundreds of characters, a 39-foot Christmas tree, a two-story Georgian mansion set, and 75 pounds of falling snow, this Houston-born production is renowned as one of the grandest versions of The Nutcracker ever staged.

Drunk Christmas Carol at Emerald Theatre (now through December 28)
From the inebriated crew that brought us Drunk Shakespeare, and just a month ago Drunk Dracula, comes this latest experiment in acting while sloshed. One thespian takes five shots of whiskey and attempts to take part in an epic retelling of one of the greatest holiday stories of all time. When one humbug-uttering, but still hot, silver fox is visited by three ghosts, will he change his ways, or get totally scrooged? The Drunk Shakespeare Society is decking the halls with a tipsy and twisted toast to the big Dickens himself, and the season of spirits (the alcoholic kind). Will the drunk actor be playing a ghost of Christmas, Tiny Tim, or even the grumpy Scrooge himself? We can’t predict, but we’re pretty sure it will be a night of caroling like we’ve never seen before.

It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play at Stages (now through December 28)
In this retelling of the classic Frank Capra film, as adapted by Joe Landry and based on the story 'The Greatest Gift' by Phillip Van Doren Sternad, some of our favorite Houston stage actors play 1940s radio actors attempting to broadcast a live radio performance of the It’s a Wonderful Life story. Six stage actors will play radio actors portraying dozens of Bedford Falls characters, while also creating live foley effects, from thunder and walking in snow to ice breaking, doorbells, and slamming doors, all layered with period-inspired design. Stages artistic director, Derek Charles Livingston, helms the staged and heartwarming radio chaos.

The Night Shift Before Christmas at Alley Theatre (now through December 28)
In this very contemporary Texas take on A Christmas Carol, we spend Christmas Eve with a lonely night owl taking a late night shift at a burger joint. The company gave the show a world premiere in 2022, but last year the script and name went through some changes from playwright Isaac Gómez to keep the laughs timely and story emotionally poignant.

In this very 21st century twist of a Carol, Scrooge becomes Margot. Flipping burgers and women-ing the drive-thru mic, Margot is about to find out the usual grumpy customers and an equally grumpy robotic Santa are the least of her worries. To bring a bit of Christmas spirit into her life, her dead friend Jackie Marley stops by with a gaggle of ghostly customers. Briana J. Resa, who originated the role of Margot with gusto, is back playing all the characters in this one-woman show.

Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance from Houston Ballet (December 5)
For 20 years, this annual one-night-only celebration always brings back some of the HB highlights from the last few season, while also offering a peek of what’s to come. The lineup of short works and excerpts from epic ballets also gives dance lovers a chance to relive the highlights, while the performances showcase the artistry and athleticism of HB’s stellar company. The Jubilee also gives audiences a chance to see the occasionally revival of rarely seen works pulled from the vault.

Some works to look forward to will be Vasily Vainonen’s rarely performed Flames of Paris and a premiere by emerging choreographers Ilya Kozadayev, who will be debuting his work Echoes. And to celebrate the work of former HB executive director James Nelson and his retirement, Stanton Welch has choreographed a special piece to “Dream A Little Dream.”

A Long Night from Cone Man Running Productions (December 5-20)
For those looking for some sugarplum-free thrills, here’s a world premiere psychological twisty tale, perfect for December’s long, dark nights. A Long Night is the story of a family harboring relationship-ending secrets and devastating truths they’ve hidden from one another. But when unexpected visitors arrive on Christmas Eve, the façade begins to crack, and what spills out is anything but festive. Cone Man says this brand new play by Matt Elliott and Debra Schultz explores themes of the terrifying cost of silence, the bleak consequences of greed, and the sometime dangers of trust.

White Christmas from Theatre Under the Stars (December 9-24)
TUTS always makes its holiday show one of the biggest, most joyous of the year, and this season is no different with this classic Irving Berlin musical. In this story, two tapping army buddies, Bob and Phil, turned song-and-dance sensations, team up with a pair of talented sisters to save a snowy Vermont inn. Inspired by the beloved 1954 film, this festive Broadway musical sparkles with romance, nostalgia, and show-stopping numbers like “Blue Skies,” “I Love a Piano,” and “White Christmas.” Along with a huge cast of local favorites actors and nationally-acclaimed performers, look also for a very talented teen ensemble made up of students from TUTS Humphreys School and The River. With a full orchestra and Broadway-worthy sets and costumes, it wouldn’t be a surprise if a bit of “snow” falls upon audiences with this family favorite.

The Twelve Dates of Christmas at Stages (December 12-28)
'Tis definitely the season for comic one-woman shows, as Stages rings in the holidays with the hilarious heartbreak of modern dating. After seeing her fiancé kiss another woman at the televised Thanksgiving Day Parade, Mary’s life falls apart. Over the next year, she stumbles back into the dating world, where “romance” ranges from weird and creepy to absurd and comical. It seems nothing can help Mary’s growing cynicism, until the charm and innocence of a five-year-old boy unexpectedly brings a new outlook on life and love. This charming one-woman play offers a comic and modern alternative to the old standards of the holiday season. Dynamic local actor Jaime Rezanour plays Mary, and staged in the very intimate Levit Stage, audiences will be up close for all the failures and wins of this show’s romance hijinks.

Who's Holiday! from Garden Theatre (December 18-21)
In honor of their fifth anniversary, Garden Theatre is bringing back some audience favorites, including this decidedly adult holiday show, an irreverent parody about the aftermath of the Dr. Seuss Grinch Who Stole Christmas classic. Cindy Lou Who, the adorable tike who saved Christmas from the Grinch in the original story, has reached adulthood, lives in a trailer on Mount Crumpit, and boy has she seen some Seussicial – let’s say – stuff in her time. Local fav Chaney Moore, who has appeared on many a Houston stage, plays the bawdy, outrageous Cindy Lou as she prepares to host a tell-all Christmas party. “She’s got a martini in one hand, a cigarette in the other, and she’s ready to finally tell you her side of the story,” says Garden Theatre AD, Logan Vaden.

Cirque Dreams Holidaze presented by Performing Arts Houston (December 23-24)
Take a break from the holiday pace with this show perfect for visiting family and friends of all ages. This whimsical family holiday spectacular wraps a Broadway-style production around an infusion of contemporary circus arts, including soaring aerial acts, tumblers, dancers, and clowns. With a child’s perspective, a fantastical cast of holiday storybook characters come to life on stage in a production that features an original musical score, twists on holiday classics sung live, new sets, scenery, and storylines.

$\u200bHouston Ballet presents The Nutcracker$

Photo by Alana Campbell (2025). Courtesy of Houston Ballet

Houston Ballet presents The Nutcracker.

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raise the curtain

Harry Potter and Wicked star in Broadway at the Hobby Center's new season

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child North American tour

Photo by Matthew Murphy

Broadway at the Hobby Center presents Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Something supernatural stirs within the just announced Memorial Hermann Broadway at the Hobby Center 2026-2027 season, as blockbuster shows like Death Becomes Her, Wicked, Beetlejuice, and yes, the record breaking Harry Potter and the Cursed Child bring their mesmerizing magic to Houston.

Photo by Matthew Murphy

Broadway at the Hobby Center presents Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Beyond these musical and dramatic enchantments, the season offers the freshest Broadway sensations like Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen, Buena Vista Social Club, Boop! The Musical, and The Notebook. Plus, the Hobby Center will come alive with a new revival of The Sound of Music and the return of Jersey Boys.

“What a season! In recent years, an incredible volume of new musicals have opened on Broadway. The 2026-2027 Memorial Hermann Broadway at the Hobby Center Season brings the very best of those to Houston with hits like Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, and Hell’s Kitchen, a few of my personal favorites,” Hobby Center president and CEO Mark Folkes said in a statement. “We balance these productions with return visits of much-loved shows like Jersey Boys and Wicked and a timeless production of The Sound of Music. One of the things that makes Houston unique is our Broadway audiences love plays. For that reason, and more, we’re thrilled to welcome Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Hobby Center audiences are in for a well-balanced season we know they'll love.”

Let’s take a closer look at what Broadway at the Hobby Center will conjure up for Houston beginning in the fall.

The Sound of Music (September 29-October 4, 2026)
One of the most beloved musicals of all time, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music tours the country again with new direction from three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien (Hairspray). But Sound fans shouldn’t worry, because, while a new generation of actors take on the roles of Maria, Captain von Trapp, and the von Trapp kids, the story of love, family, and bravery in the face of evil remains the same — and so do the songs. Prepare to sing along (quietly) to “Climb Every Mountain,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and, of course, “The Sound of Music.”

Buena Vista Social Club (November 17-22, 2026)
It wouldn’t be a new season of Broadway at Hobby without a few recent Tony award winners, and Buena Vista garnered five last year. Putting a story to the Grammy-winning iconic album of the same name, the show transports audiences into the heart of Cuba, beyond the glitz of the Tropicana. Here, they’ll discover a place where blazing trumpets and sizzling guitars set the dance floor on fire. Inspired by true events, one woman discovers the music that will change her life forever. A world-class band joins a sensational cast of actors and dancers from across the globe for this Buena Vista experience.

The Notebook (January 5-10, 2027)
The season gets literary in the new year with this musical adaptation of the best-selling Nicholas Sparks novel that later became the ultimate romantic film about a love that conquered obstacles and time itself. The show is directed by Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, Rent) and Schele Williams (The Wiz, Aida), with a book by Bekah Brunstetter (NBC’s “This Is Us”). Allie and Noah’s iconic love story also inspired beautiful music by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson.

Boop! The Musical (January 19-24)
Based on the 1930s animated character Betty Boop, the musical teleports super-celebrity, cartoon Betty from her black and white world to a colorful, three dimensional New York City. Though at first overwhelmed to journey into the vivid real world, Betty soon sets off on an adventure and maybe even finds romance and love. Boop! comes from an award winning creative team, including Tony winning director Jerry Mitchell, with music from Grammy winner David Foster and book from Tony winner Bob Martin.

Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen (March 5-14)
The multi-Grammy winning superstar, Alicia Keys, used her own life, music, and community as inspiration for this critical sensation. The show tells the story of 17-year-old Ali growing up in Hell’s Kitchen, New York in the 90s, as she strives for her independence and looks for her place in the world. The music she encounters daily and the artists of her community inspire her to dream and make her own musical mark. Listen for a mix of some of Keys’ greatest hits and new songs she wrote exclusively for the show, all brought to life through exhilarating choreography

Death Becomes Her (April 20-25)
It also wouldn’t be a Broadway season without at least a few shows based on blockbuster movies. The bitting satire and supernatural elements of the original Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis 90s blockbuster makes for hilarious material to build this deadly funny show. Some people will do anything to look eternally fabulous. But famous actress Madeline Ashton and her best frenemy Helen Sharp are about to go too far — thanks to a mysterious woman named Viola Van Horn and a secret potion that’s to die for.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (June 1-13)
The boy who lived grew up to have a magical son of his own. Now, as Harry’ head-strong son Albus sets off for his own adventures at Hogwarts, it sets the stage for the next generation of magical stories and some of the most spectacular theatrical special effects you’ll see live and in person. When Albus befriends the son of Harry's fiercest rival, Draco Malfoy, it sparks an unbelievable new journey for them all, and maybe they'll find the power to change the past and future forever. While this show is sure to thrill the kid in all of us, it also cast a spell during award season, winning six Tony Awards, including Best Play.

Jersey Boys (August 17-22)
The boys are back in town, bringing in one of the most successful biographical musicals of all time. Celebrating 20 years, this show that’s become a musical legend tells the story of those singing guys from Jersey who put together a little group called Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Relive their onstage harmonies and offstage drama, while dancing in your seat to all their hits including “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Oh What a Night,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” and “Working My Way Back to You.”

Along with these eight main selections, the 2026-2027 Broadway package brings back two favorites as season options.

Beetlejuice (November 3-8)
Say his name, say his name, say his name and prepare for chaotic, ghostly fun in this musical based on the '80s Tim Burton film. (BTW, that film now could be seen as a timely exploration of property rights and home renovations when the previous owners won’t move on — because they’re dead).

While the two movie showstoppers “The Banana Boat Song” and "Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)” will still have us dancing in our Hobby Center seats, listen for brand new songs written for the show by Eddie Perfect.

Wicked (June 23-July 24)
Everyone's favorite witches fly to Houston for an extended stay when Wicked, the show that defied musical history to become a global phenomenon and film sensation returns. Inspired by The Wizard of Oz, the musical tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a woman with emerald-green skin and a bubbly blonde — until the world decides to call one good and the other wicked. The thrilling score includes the hits “Defying Gravity,” “Popular” and “For Good.”

Broadway at the Hobby Center 7-show and 8-show subscription packages go on sale beginning at 11 am on Tuesday, February 3. Prices start at $331 for 7-show packages and $369 for 8-show packages. Subscribers may add the return of one or both of Beetlejuice and Wicked as season options.

On-sale dates for individual shows will be announced throughout the year.

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