Houston Holidays 2013: Christmas Family & Kids Shows

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, THE NUTCRACKER,
THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, A CHRISTMAS CAROL,
THE PASS-IT-ON CHRISTMAS, ELF THE MUSICAL

The holiday season is upon us and it’s casting its magical spell on our city! Elevating the excitement are Houston’s theaters with delightful Christmas shows – musicals, plays, the ballet. No matter which show you choose to enjoy, you will surely walk away with a wonderful memory of the whole family experiencing artistry, song and dance, mixed with a profound message about the true meaning of Christmas.

Photo by Mark Kitaoka

To find exact times for each performance day, check our CULTURE CALENDAR.

ELF THE MUSICAL: DECEMBER 6 – 22

Hobby Center, 800 Bagby, 713-558-8887
Presented by Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS), this show comes to Houston after two successful seasons on Broadway. “We are excited to introduce Houstonians to Elf because it is a hilarious story with a great message for the holidays. People will fall in love with this instant holiday classic,” says Sam Byrd, TUTS Public Relations Manager. Buddy is a young orphan who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is brought back to the North Pole. Buddy realizes he is human when he grows much bigger than the rest of the elves, and he could not make toys as well as the other elves. Santa allows Buddy to head to New York City to search for his birth father. When he finds his family, Buddy must convince them that Santa exists and help them find the true meaning of Christmas.

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, HOUSTON SYMPHONY: DECEMBER 14

Jones Hall, 713-224-7575
Celebrate the holiday season with the Houston Symphony orchestra! Santa Claus will join the sing-along and will visit with kids for photos in the Lobby. Conductor Robert Franz engages children with costumes and questions as the orchestra performs the music telling this favorite tale by Dr. Seuss. Kids will meet the grouchy creature the Grinch, his loyal dog Max, and the merry and warm-hearted Whos from Whoville. Featured guests include a vocalist from the Houston Grand Opera studio and a local high school chorus. The holiday song list includes: March of Toys from Babes in Toyland, We Need A Little Christmas from Mame, the Hanukkah songs Dreidle and Oh Hanukkah, Believe from The Polar Express, Here Comes Santa Claus and the Merry Christmas Sing-Along. 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.

THE NUTCRACKER: NOVEMBER 22 – DECEMBER 30

Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas, 713-227-2787
Photo by Amitava Sarkar
The Houston Ballet presents this beloved holiday treasure. More than one million people have seen this Ben Stevenson production since its premiere. This ballet, with music composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, 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. From the growing Christmas tree to the snow scene, this is a memorable family experience.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER: NOVEMBER 16 – DECEMBER 21

Main Street Theater – Chelsea Market, 4617 Montrose Blvd, 713-524-6706.
This family show is based on the charming book by Barbara Robinson. The Herdman children have quite the reputation – church members dread encounters with the ill-mannered kids. So the community is worried when the Herdmans are given roles and take over the Christmas play. But a surprising turn happens when the Herdmans get in the Christmas spirit.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL – A GHOST STORY OF CHRISTMAS: NOVEMBER 15 – DECEMBER 26

Hubbard Stage, Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Avenue, 713-220-5700
Recommended for general audiences and children ages 6 and older. 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. Director James Black says, “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.”

THE PASS-IT-ON CHRISTMAS: NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 21

Grace Theater, A.D. Players, 2710 W. Alabama, 713-526-2721.
This comedy recounts the adventures of a shepherd boy and his lamb crossing the countryside, passing on the news that Jesus is born. The show is a reminder that everyone can tell someone about the miracle of Emmanuel.