By SHARON EBERSON
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, with holiday-themed live performances ramping up throughout the region. It picks up this weekend with Miss Bennet’s Christmas at Pemberley at City Theatre and CLO Cabaret‘s nearly sold-out Who’s Holiday! at the Greer Cabaret.
Here’s a list of highlights in a vast sea of red, green and holiday cheer, on stages near and not too far, leading up to First Night 2024.
PITTSBURGH PUBLIC THEATER I A Christmas Story: The Play I December 7-23 I O’Reilly Theater, Downtown.
The 10-foot inflatable, illuminated leg lamp outside the O’Reilly Theater is a sure sign that the stage version of a holiday movie classic is back for a second year. The cast includes newcomers and returning stars including Sebastian Madoni as Ralphie, PG Performer Of The Year Tim McGeever as the Old Man, John Shepard as Adult Ralph, Jamie C. Agnello as Mother and Hope Anthony as Miss Shields, directed by Tony Award-nominee Michael Berresse. The lavish scenic design is by Tim Mackabee, part of the creative team on Broadway’s Tony-nominated Frozen. In her review of the show last year, Sharon Eberson write: The Public has out-done itself, unwrapping a gift that boasts the most elaborate set pieces I can recall on the O’Reilly Theater stage, with an experience that begins even before you walk through the doors. That’s where you’ll find a giant, fully-lit leg lamp, standing tall as both photo opp and beacon of things to come.”
TICKETS AND SPECIAL EVENTS: visit https://ppt.org/production/87685/a-christmas-story-the-play or call 412-316-1600.
A Musical Christmas Carol. (Image: kgtunney Photography)
PITTSBURGH CLO I A Musical Christmas Carol I December 15-23 I Byham Theater, Downtown
The holiday staple boasts the return of two-time Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris as Ebenezer Scrooge in Pittsburgh CLO’s 32nd annual Christmas Carol at the Byham Theater, where the lobby is adorned with Christmas trees representing 78 years of shows. The stage is filled with local long-timers and newcomers, who execute a beautifully conceived showcase of design and holiday spirit.
TICKETS: visit https://www.pittsburghclo.org/shows/a-musical-christmas-carol or call 412-456-6666.
NOTABLE: For a toy drive partnering with Charlie Batch’s Best of the Batch Foundation, audience members are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy and add it to collection in the inner lobby. On December 23, at noon, there will be a adapted sensory friendly performance: https://www.pittsburghclo.org/plan/amcc-sensory-friendly.
at City Theatre. (Image: Kristi Jan Hoover)
CITY THEATRE I Miss Bennet’s Christmas at Pemberley I Through December 17 I Main Stage, 1300 Bingham St., South Side.
City Theatre turns to Lauren Gunderson (The Revolutionists), among America’s most-produced playwrights, and co-writer Margot Melcon for the first play in a holiday trilogy about the further lives and loves of the Bennet sisters of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Read more about it here, in an onStage interview with director Kyle Haden. TICKETS: visit https://citytheatrecompany.org/play/miss-bennet-christmas-at-pemberley/ or call 412-431-CITY.
with Richard McBride as Scrooge. (Image: Matt Polk)
PITTSBURGH MUSICAL THEATER I A Lyrical Christmas Carol (Young Artist Production) I December 13-17 I Gargaro Theater, 327 S. Main St., West End.
In its 33rd year, PMT’s holiday tradition is based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, in a musical adaptation by Ken and Jane Gargaro. Rob James stars as the grumpy-to-giggly Scrooge in 2023. TICKETS: visit https://pmt.culturaldistrict.org/production/89676/a-lyrical-christmas-carol
LINCOLN PARK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER I The Game’s Afoot: Holmes for the Holiday, December 1-3, 7-10 & 14-17, BlackBox Theater I The Nutcracker, December 14-17 I 1 Lincoln Park, Midland, PA.
In a holiday whodunit, actor William Gillette, leading man in the play Sherlock Holmes, has invited fellow cast members to his castle for a weekend of Christmas revelry. But when one of the guests is murdered, it is up to Gillette, in the persona of Holmes, to track down the killer. TICKETS: visit https://ci.ovationtix.com/35701/production/1157328 or or call 724-576-4644
WESTMORELAND PERFORMING ARTS I A Christmas Story: The Musical I December 22-23 I Palace Theatre, 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg.
The story you know, with songs by Pasek and Paul (Dear Evan Hansen). TICKETS: visit https://www.thepalacetheatre.org/events/a-christmas-story-the-musical/ or call 724-836-8000.
PITTSBURGH SAVOYARDS | Amahl and the Night Visitors & The Gift of the Magi | December 1-16 | Live at Margaret Partee Performing Arts Center, 523 Lincoln Ave., Bellevue, and streaming.
The story of a disabled shepherd boy Amahl, who offers his crutch as a present to the Christ child, is healed and joins the Three Kings on their way to Bethlehem. TICKETS: visit https://www.pittsburghsavoyards.org/
PITTSBURGH BALLET THEATER I The Nutcracker I December 8-28 I Benedum Center, Downtown.
Marie, her Nutcracker prince and hundreds of colorful characters journey through the Land of Enchantment, with sparkling scenery, costumes and the instantly recognizable Tchaikovsky score, TICKETS: visit https://www.pbt.org/performances/the-nutcracker-2023/ or call 412-456-6666.
PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST
More holiday-themed presentations at the Benedum Center:
- A Very Yinzer Christmas Volume 1 I December 11 I Proceeds benefit Band Together Pittsburgh, a local organization that creates music programs for people on the autism spectrum. Performers include: Scott Blasey of The Clarks, Joe Grushecky and the House Rockers, Jeff Jimerson, Clinton Clegg, Johnny Angel and the Halos, Bill Deasy, The Taylor Family and more. TICKETS: visit https://trustarts.org/production/91946/a-very-yinzer-christmas or call 412-456-6666.
- Straight No Chaser – Sleighin’ It Tour I December 12 TICKETS: visit https://trustarts.org/production/88838/straight-no-chaser-sleighin-it-tour
- Sing! An Irish Christmas I December 14 I TICKETS: visit https://trustarts.org/production/91452/sing-an-irish-christmas
- A Magical Cirque Christmas I December 29-30 I A family-friendly variety show full of nostalgia, charm and entertainers performing to holiday music. TICKETS: visit https://trustarts.org/production/90351/a-magical-cirque-christmas
(Image Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Holiday-themed performances at Heinz Hall, Downtown.
- Handel’s Messiah I December 2 I Led by Manfred Honeck and performed with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh. TICKETS: visit https://www.pittsburghsymphony.org/production/85084/handels-messiah or call 412-392-4900.
- The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show I December 6 I “The Queens of Christmas” (Entertainment Weekly) share a new edition of their internationally acclaimed holiday show. TICKETS: visit https://pittsburghsymphony.org/production/90306/the-jinkx-and-dela-holiday-show or call 412-392-4900.
- The Muppet Christmas Carol: In Concert Live to Film | December 9 I A screening of the complete film, with the score performed live by the PSO. TICKETS: visit https://www.pittsburghsymphony.org/production/86829 or call 412-392-4900.
- Highmark Holiday Pops | PSO Pops | December 15-23 I Led by conductor Daniel Meyer, with vocalists Melinda Doolittle and Christopher Sanders, plus The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School. TICKETS: visit https://pittsburghsymphony.org/production/84737/highmark-holiday-pops or call 412-392-4900.
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