On Stage in December: 'A Christmas Story,' 'Hadestown' and 'Little Women'

This December, Philly theaters are gearing up to bring festive cheer and entertaining performances to the stage.

First off, musical fans will be treated to a special holiday season with various productions of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". Lantern Theater Co.'s take on the classic tale runs from Dec 13-28, while People's Light in Malvern offers a production that spans until January 4. Meanwhile, "A Sherlock Carol" at Stagecrafters Theater brings a unique twist to the traditional story.

Fans of Louisa May Alcott's iconic novel "Little Women" won't want to miss Hedgerow Theatre Co.'s stage adaptation now running through Dec 28. This heartwarming musical explores the coming-of-age journey of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy amidst love, friendship, and loss during the Civil War.

Meanwhile, fans of Pirates can rejoice with Quintessence Theatre's production of Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance" running from now until January 4. The musical follows a young pirate who plans to marry his true love after turning 21 – but fate has other plans for him.

For those in the mood for holiday nostalgia, Walnut Street Theatre is staging "A Christmas Story" – a stage adaptation of the beloved 1983 film – with tickets starting at $31.

Looking for something entirely different? Check out 1812 Productions' annual "This is the Week That Is", an improv comedy show mocking public figures that runs from November 28 to December 31, with ticket prices starting at $55.

Lastly, fans of classic Greek mythology won't want to miss Ensemble Arts Philly's production of Hadestown – a modern retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice – playing Dec 2-7.

On the other side of town, Arden Theatre Co.'s stage adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time" explores the adventures of Meg, Charles Wallace, Calvin, and three witches as they travel through time and space. Tickets start at $40.

As for more intimate performances, Playhouse West Philadelphia is staging "Sunset Baby" – a poignant drama about a daughter reconnecting with her estranged father in modern-day Brooklyn, with tickets starting at $15.

Finally, Philly actor Chris Davis returns to the stage with his one-man performance of "The Nutcracker", playing Dec 9-Jan 5. This condensed ensemble-cast ballet has been reimagined by Davis into a solo show that condenses its magic and charm.

For fans looking for something more contemplative, Theatre in the X presents "Ordinary People" – an adaptation of a North Philadelphia Christmas story during the 1950s about a young girl who finds hope from a mysterious stranger. Tickets are offered at pay-what-you-can prices.

omg I'm so stoked for the holiday shows in Philly!!! I've been waiting all year to see Lantern Theater Co.'s "A Christmas Carol" and Hedgerow Theatre Co.'s "Little Women" adaptation - those are both going to be such a great way to get into the holiday spirit! and I love that they're doing improv comedy shows too, 1812 Productions' "This is the Week That Is" looks hilarious . But honestly, I'm also super excited for Hadestown at Ensemble Arts Philly - it's been on my bucket list for ages! anyways can't wait to get some last-minute tickets and enjoy all these awesome shows

Dude, I'm so hyped for this holiday season! According to SeatGeek, the top 5 most popular Philly theater shows are "A Christmas Carol", "The Pirates of Penzance", and "A Wrinkle in Time" - with all three playing sold-out shows on their opening nights!

Meanwhile, according to Google Trends, the search term "things to do in Philly for Christmas" has seen a 25% increase this year compared to last. Looks like everyone's looking forward to some festive cheer this holiday season!

I also found out that the average ticket price for these shows is around $43, with some productions offering discounts and promotions - making it accessible to more people!

And did you know that according to The Philly Inquirer, the 1812 Productions' annual "This is the Week That Is" has been nominated for a Broadway World Award? Congrats, guys!

omg just saw this and i'm low-key excited ! there's so many awesome shows in philly right now i mean, who doesn't love a good a christmas carol or little women ? and pirates of penzance is always a winner ️! but what really caught my eye was the improv comedy show "this is the week that is" it looks like so much fun and i'm all about supporting local talent also, hadestown is on my list now can't wait to see some of these shows in person

The Philly theater scene is indeed a gem this holiday season! It's fantastic to see such a diverse range of productions tackling classic tales and timeless themes, like Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and Alcott's "Little Women".

Meanwhile, fans of Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance" will get to enjoy the swashbuckling adventure on stage. And for those in the mood for nostalgia, Walnut Street Theatre's staging of "A Christmas Story" is sure to bring back fond memories.

But what really caught my attention was the unique take on "A Sherlock Carol", and Ensemble Arts Philly's modern retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice in "Hadestown". These productions not only showcase the talents of local actors but also demonstrate a willingness to innovate and experiment with classic stories.

It's heartening to see so many intimate performances like Playhouse West Philadelphia's "Sunset Baby" and Theatre in the X's "Ordinary People", which offer a more contemplative experience for audiences. And kudos to Chris Davis for bringing his own reimagined version of "The Nutcracker" to the stage.

Overall, Philly's theater scene is a true reflection of its vibrant cultural landscape – diverse, creative, and inclusive!

I'm really stoked for this December lineup in Philly ! I think it's awesome that Lantern Theater Co. is bringing "A Christmas Carol" back to the stage, and with two different productions running at the same time, there's something for everyone. And can we talk about how awesome it is that Quintessence Theatre is doing a Pirates of Penzance production? It's been ages since I've seen this one live, so I'm super excited to get tickets and sing along with the tunes.

But what really caught my eye was Ensemble Arts Philly's Hadestown production – I've heard great things about this show and I love how it modernizes classic Greek mythology. And for fans of indie music, 1812 Productions' improv comedy show "This is the Week That Is" looks like a total blast from start to finish . Plus, with tickets starting at $55, it's actually pretty affordable too.

On a more serious note, I think what I love most about Philly theater scene is how diverse and inclusive it is – there are productions for every interest and budget, and that's just amazing to see. Whether you're in the mood for holiday cheer, classic literature, or something entirely different, there's always something going on. And with so many talented local actors and companies, I know that Philly theaters are gonna keep putting out some truly unforgettable shows

I love how Philly theaters get into the holiday spirit ! There's something so magical about experiencing live theater during this time of year. I think it's great that they're offering a variety of shows for different tastes and ages . The adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" with Sherlock Holmes sounds like a wild twist, but I'm also excited to see the heartwarming "Little Women" musical . And who can resist singing along to Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance"? It's awesome that there are shows for all budgets too - from $15 to $55! That just makes it more accessible to everyone . I'm also intrigued by the modern retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice in Hadestown ... anything with Greek mythology is always a winner for me

Philly theaters getting all festive and whatnot . I'm loving how they're doing "A Christmas Carol" but honestly, aren't we already in the midst of holiday season? It feels like we're just running through the motions, you know? Like, are we really going to celebrate Christmas the same way every year? Shouldn't we be questioning the commercialization of it all and what impact that has on our society as a whole?

And then there's "Little Women" - now that's a story about female empowerment and family values. I wish more of these classic tales were being adapted to tackle real-world issues like income inequality, social justice, and reproductive rights. We need more stories about women in the 19th century fighting for their rights and speaking out against patriarchal norms!

As for "The Pirates of Penzance" - who doesn't love a good pirate tale? But have you ever thought about how the British monarchy's history with pirates is just as rich as any swashbuckling adventure? The complex web of alliances, rivalries, and power struggles between pirates and royalty... now that's a story worth telling!

And lastly, "This is the Week That Is" sounds like a hilarious sendup of public figures. I'm all for satire and social commentary - it's a great way to keep us on our toes and question our leaders' actions. But shouldn't we also be having more nuanced conversations about politics and governance? I mean, is comedy really enough to address the serious issues facing our society today?

so many awesome shows to catch in philly this dec!

for musical fans, gotta check out lantern theater co's "a christmas carol" or people's light's adaptation

if u r a fan of "little women", hedgerow theatre co's stage adaptation is a must-watch

and dont forget pirates! quintessence theatre's production of "the pirates of penzance" is the perfect holiday treat

for something more low-key, try walnut street theatre's "a christmas story" or 1812 productions' improv show "this is the week that is"

omg have you heard of this production of Hadestown? it's like, a modern retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice but set to this amazing folk-rock soundtrack i'm so down for that it's gotta be one of the most unique shows coming up in philly right now what do you guys think about Ensemble Arts Philly bringing it to town? should we grab tickets ASAP?!

ugh I'm so over this forum's ticket vendor interface it's like they're trying to make us click through 100 pages of ads before we can even see the actual theater schedules I swear, every time I try to search for something specific, I get bombarded with unnecessary "recommended" shows that I've never heard of. Can't they just let me filter by genre or date like a normal website?

The holiday season is upon us, and Philly's theater scene is abuzz with a diverse array of productions to suit every taste . From the classic "A Christmas Carol" to the more modern retellings of Greek mythology in Hadestown, there's something for everyone . I'm particularly intrigued by 1812 Productions' "This is the Week That Is", which promises to be a hilarious send-up of public figures . The fact that it runs from November 28th to December 31st is also a welcome treat for those looking to cap off the year with some laughs . Meanwhile, Walnut Street Theatre's staging of "A Christmas Story" will surely bring nostalgia and cheer to audiences . Lastly, Ensemble Arts Philly's production of Hadestown showcases the timeless power of myth and music . All in all, it promises to be a fantastic holiday season for theater enthusiasts in Philly!

I'm so excited to see all these amazing productions lined up for Philly's holiday season ! "A Sherlock Carol" sounds like an absolute blast, and I love the idea of Pirates getting their swashbuckling on in "The Pirates of Penzance". It's always great to have some good-natured fun during the holidays, but at the same time, it's also wonderful that we have some more serious and emotional shows like "Sunset Baby" and "Ordinary People" that can help us reflect on what's truly important. I'm really looking forward to checking out some of these productions – who else is going to be there?

I gotta say, I'm not feeling the whole "A Christmas Carol" marathon this year . Don't get me wrong, it's a classic and all, but we've got so many other amazing shows coming up that I'm actually kinda excited to skip the usual suspects . Give me something new and quirky like "The Pirates of Penzance" any day! And can we talk about how weird it is that every theater company feels the need to do a musical adaptation of some beloved novel or film? It's like, I get it, they're trying to cash in on nostalgia, but can't we just have some fresh material for once? On the other hand, I'm loving the idea of "This is the Week That Is" - that sounds like a hilarious way to poke fun at public figures and politicians .

omg i'm so hyped for these Philly theater performances this dec!!! first off, it's amazing that they're doing all these different productions of classic stories like "A Christmas Carol" and "Little Women" - it's like they're spreading the holiday cheer in every corner of the city! meanwhile, pirates fans are going to have a blast with "The Pirates of Penzance", but idk why arden theatre co is doing "A Wrinkle in Time"... maybe because it's such an iconic book? i'm also kinda excited for the improv show "This is the Week That Is" - who doesn't love a good laugh, right?! and lastly, hadestown is like, the ultimate holiday treat can't wait to see what all these amazing shows have in store for us!!!

Philly's theatre scene is getting lit this holiday season ! Can't wait to see "A Sherlock Carol" – sounds like so much fun, I love Sherlock Holmes stories . And Hedgerow Theatre Co.'s take on "Little Women" is going to be amazing, I've read the book a million times . Also, who wouldn't want to watch "Pirates of Penzance" with Gilbert & Sullivan's music? It's like musical theatre heaven !

I'm so excited to see all these great shows in Philly this holiday season . I love how there's something for everyone - from classic tales like "A Christmas Carol" to musicals like "Little Women" and "The Pirates of Penzance". And if you're feeling nostalgic, "A Christmas Story" is a great choice too .

I'm also really intrigued by the improv comedy show "This is the Week That Is" - I've never been to one of those before, so I think it could be a lot of fun . And for fans of Greek mythology, Hadestown sounds like an amazing production .

I wish all these shows were more accessible, though - $55 for an improv comedy show is a bit steep for me . But overall, I'm looking forward to seeing what Philly theaters have in store this holiday season ️!

The holiday season is always so packed with performances, but I'm kinda skeptical about this year's lineup... I mean, we've got multiple productions of "A Christmas Carol" and "Little Women", which is cool, I guess, but it feels like the same old story every year. And don't get me wrong, "The Pirates of Penzance" is a classic, but Gilbert & Sullivan's stuff can be a bit hit-or-miss for some people...

Also, I'm not sure if we need another stage adaptation of "A Christmas Story"... wasn't that already done to death (pun intended)? And what's up with the lack of original material? It's like everyone is playing it safe this year. But hey, I guess there's something for everyone – from improv comedy to classic Greek mythology...

I just saw this thread and I'm so behind! There's so many awesome shows in Philly right now, but I gotta say, Hadestown is calling my name ... I've been hearing great things about Ensemble Arts Philly's production and the modern twist on Orpheus and Eurydice sounds fascinating. Anyone going? Also, Chris Davis' "The Nutcracker" solo show is kinda cool, but I'm not sure how he's gonna pull off that condensed ensemble-cast ballet on his own . And yeah, Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time" has been on my list for ages!

seems like philly theaters got all kinds of holiday shows lined up i'm kinda excited for that sherlock carol thing tho, not really into musicals but might give it a shot if it's good enough