Holidays take the stage in Bucks County and beyond this season. Shows to check out
In the mood for a live Christmas show to make merry during the holidays? We have you covered, from New York to Philly to New Hope.
Here's seven to consider to put you in the holiday spirit. Pro tip: Best to order tickets online. It's a roll of the dice whether you will get through by calling the larger venues.
Bristol Riverside Theater: A Christmas Story, the Play
Based on the classic holiday movie about a a young boy in 1940s Indiana who wants a Red Ryder Cabrine-Action 200-Shot Rage Model Air Rifle. There's also the leg lamp, the pink bunny suit, the triple-dog-dare and the overworked, short-tempered department store Santa.
The play runs Nov. 29 to Dec. 31. Tickets range from $55 to $60, but there are military and student discounts, and tickets for little kids are $15. Check with the the theater.
Website: Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe St., Bristol
Phone: 215-785-0100
Bucks County Playhouse: Irving Berlin's 'White Christmas'
A successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general. With no snow in the forecast, and no tourists in sight, can they pull off a yuletide miracle? Based on the classic Hollywood movie musical, “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” is a technicolor, Broadway musical extravaganza. Tickets are around $65. Show runs Nov. 17-Dec. 31.
Go: Bucks County Playhouse, 70 S Main St, New Hope, PA 18938
Phone: 215-862-2121
ActorsNet of Bucks County: The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley
The holidays get interesting when Mr. Darcy's sworn enemy shows up univited in this companion play to Miss Bennet, which featured depicted the newlywed Darcys. Show runs from Dec. 1 -17 and tickets are $24. Fridays and Saturday shows 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. Special Matinee on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m.
Go: ActorsNet, 635 N. Delmorr Ave., Morrisville
The Sellersville Theater: Various shows
Throughout the year, this beautiful, small-town theater with 325 seats in Upper Bucks County features some of the most eclectic shows, from the Glenn Miller Orchestra to an Amish comic. For the Thanksgiving through New Year's dates, you have a variety of great shows, from "Beatlemania" for the older crowd, to "Christmas with the Rat Pack" to singer Anthony Nunziata's "My Italian Christmas!"
Go: Sellersville Theater, 24 W Temple Ave, Sellersville, PA 18960
Phone: 215-257-5808
Keswick Theatre, Glenside
The Keswick has varied shows throughout the Thanksgiving to New Year's schedule, which include "The Wizards of Winter" to "An American Celtic Christmas." A lot of the shows have no connection to the holidays, but there's plenty of good music, and good music and merrymaking are good for the holidays. Various shows, prices and times.
Go: Keswick Theatre, 291 N Keswick Ave, Glenside, PA 19038
Phone: 215-572-7650
Wells Fargo Center: Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Make merry with the symphonic metal sounds of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, described by The Washington Post as "Pink Floyd meets Yes and the Who at Radio City Music Hall." This rock band on steroids has been successful in its entertainment niche as a Christmas act, with its signature "Carol of the Bells" a Ukranian folk tune. Two shows on one date only, Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $59 for the cheap seats and about $1,000 for the people who have to be right up front. Pro tip: Bring foam earplugs if you're sensitive to loud concerts.
Go: Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19148
Phone: (215) 336-3600
Wells Fargo Center https://www.wellsfargocenterphilly.com/
Kimmel Center: The Nutcracker
The Kimmel Center, renamed the "Kimmel Cultural Campus" has a variety of Christmas-themed shows this year. But the one most may be interested in is The Nutcracker. This classic Russian ballet set on Christmas Eve at the foot of a Christmas tree is seen through the imagination of a child. The show is Dec. 15-17, and tickets range from $9.50 to $96. Other shows include "Disney Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas" (Nov. 24-26), "A Very Philly Christmas" (Dec. 1-23), "The Glorious Sound of Christmas" (Dec. 14-16), "Christmas from Notre Dame" (Dec. 19), "A Soulful Christmas (Dec. 12), and Matt Rogers "Have You Heard of Christmas?" (Dec. 1).
Address: Kimmel Cultural Center, 300 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 19102
Phone: 215-893-1999
Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, NYC
At least once treat yourself to this all-American show, which is pure family fun. While the Rockettes precision dancing is the show-stopper, it vies with the lesser-publicized tribute to the Nativity, which is respectfully narrated, has live animals, and is accompanied by a chorus singing "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." Tickets range from about $100 to $2,000, but Radio City really doesn't have any bad seats. The Christmas Spectacular runs Nov. 17, 2023 to Jan. 1, 2024, various times.
Pro tip: Plan well in advance and take public transportation to the city.
Go: Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Avenue Of The Americas, New York, NY 10020
Phone: 212-307-7171
JD Mullane can be reached at 215-949-5745 or at jmullane@couriertimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Holiday, Christmas shows take centerstage in Bucks County, NYC
