{"id":2179026,"date":"2025-11-27T17:06:23","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T17:06:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2179026"},"modified":"2025-11-27T17:06:23","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T17:06:23","slug":"holiday-arts-and-entertainment-holiday-stage-offerings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/holiday-arts-and-entertainment-holiday-stage-offerings\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday arts and entertainment: Holiday stage offerings"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Whether it\u2019s an old classic (\u201cHow the Grinch Stole Christmas,\u201d \u201cA Christmas Carol\u201d) or a more contemporary production (\u201cRollicking! A Winter Carnival Musical,\u201d \u201cScrooge in Rouge\u201d), Twin Cities theaters have plenty of options for seasonal stage productions (although a few aren\u2019t about the holidays). Here\u2019s a look at what\u2019s on tap this year.<\/p>\n

\u2018Rollicking! A Winter Carnival Musical\u2019<\/h4>\n

Now playing:<\/strong> When St. Paul city architect Clarence \u201cCap\u201d Wigington is tasked with designing an ice palace for the Winter Carnival, he and his wife, Viola, get much more than they bargain for when the magic of the carnival enters their lives. Keith Hovis and Rachel Teagle wrote this new musical, which explores \u201cthe strange and wonderful world of the St. Paul Winter Carnival and the resilience, imagination and heart that make Minnesota such a wonderful place, especially in the snow.\u201d Through Dec. 21; History Theatre, 30 E. 10th St., St. Paul; $78-$30; 651-292-4323 or historytheatre.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018R.L. Stine\u2019s Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium\u2019<\/h4>\n

Now playing:<\/strong> Based on the popular spooky book series, this musical tells the story of Brooke and her best friend Zeke, who land the leads in their middle school\u2019s new musical. They\u2019re thrilled, until strange things start happening around the theater. Whispers of an old legend resurface, warning that the play might be cursed. Through Dec. 14; Park Square Theatre, 20 W. Seventh Place, St. Paul; $65-$15; 651-291-7005 or parksquaretheatre.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018White Christmas\u2019<\/h4>\n
The cast of “White Christmas,” which runs through Feb. 7, 2026, at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. (Dan Norman \/ Chanhassen Dinner Theatres)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now playing:<\/strong> Irving Berlin wrote the song \u201cWhite Christmas\u201d for the 1942 musical film \u201cHoliday Inn\u201d and, at the time, told his secretary that \u201cnot only is it the best song I ever wrote, it\u2019s the best song anybody ever wrote.\u201d Not only was it a massive hit \u2014 Bing Crosby\u2019s version sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide \u2014 it forever changed Christmas music. Berlin later approached Paramount with the offer to write songs to accompany a new movie built around \u201cWhite Christmas,\u201d which became the highest-grossing film of 1954. The stage version did big business for Chanhassen Dinner Theatres last year, so the company brought it back for an encore. Through Feb. 7; Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, 501 W. 78th St., Chanhassen; $131-$98; 952-934-1525 or chanhassendt.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018A Christmas Carol\u2019<\/h4>\n
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“A Christmas Carol” at the Guthrie Theater. (Dan Norman)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now playing:<\/strong> The Guthrie first produced an adaptation of Charles Dickens\u2019 \u201cA Christmas Carol\u201d in 1975 in an attempt to fill some empty December seats. It worked and it\u2019s now a long-established tradition, with this year marking the 51st production. The company is once again staging a new adaptation by the late Lavina Jadhwani from 2021 that includes a new set, costumes and tunes. Through Dec. 28; Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Minneapolis; $148-$19; 612-377-2224 or guthrietheater.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018How the Grinch Stole Christmas\u2019<\/h4>\n

Now playing:<\/strong> Children\u2019s Theatre Company is presenting its adaptation of Dr. Seuss\u2019 seasonal story for the 13th time, having originally commissioned and premiered it in 1994. In Rob Hubbard\u2019s review for the Pioneer Press, he wrote<\/a> that \u201cit seems the 13th time\u2019s the charm for its musical adaptation of Seuss\u2019 book. For this is indeed the most charming version of the story it\u2019s yet presented.\u201d Through Jan. 4; Children\u2019s Theatre Company, 2400 Third Ave. S., Mpls.; $114-$35; 612-874-0400 or childrenstheatre.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Phantom of the Opera\u2019<\/h4>\n
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“Prima Donna,” from left, Melo Ludwig, Christopher Bozeka, William Thomas Evans, Midori Marsh, Daniel Lopez, Carrington Vilmont and Lisa Vromanin from the North American touring production of “The Phantom of the Opera,” Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s gothic horror novel, which runs at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis through Dec. 7, 2025. (Evan Zimmerman \/ MurphyMade)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now playing:<\/strong> Cameron Mackintosh\u2019s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber\u2019s \u201cThe Phantom of the Opera\u201d returns to the road in \u201ca revitalized production of this romantic and haunting tale about a disfigured musical genius known only as the Phantom who haunts the depths of the Paris Opera House.\u201d The longest-running show in Broadway history closed in 2023 after 13,981 performances. Through Dec. 7; Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; $213.90-$58.45; hennepinarts.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018My Fair Lady\u2019<\/h4>\n

Now playing:<\/strong> One of the most-loved musicals of all time, Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe\u2019s \u201cMy Fair Lady\u201d follows Professor Henry Higgins as he takes on the ambitious task of molding flower seller Eliza Doolittle into his vision of refinement. Songs from the show include \u201cI Could Have Danced All Night,\u201d \u201cOn the Street Where You Live\u201d and \u201cGet Me to the Church on Time.\u201d Through Dec. 28; Ritz Theater, 345 13th Ave. N.E., Minneapolis: $92.75-$21.75; 612-339-3003 or latteda.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018Annie\u2019<\/h4>\n

Now playing:<\/strong> Based on the comic strip that debuted in 1924, the original Broadway production of \u201cAnnie\u201d featured a young Sarah Jessica Parker, ran for nearly six years and won seven Tony Awards, including best musical and original score. It has since lived on through various revivals, tours and regional productions thanks to such memorable songs as \u201cIt\u2019s the Hard Knock Life,\u201d \u201cTomorrow\u201d and \u201cYou\u2019re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile.\u201d Through Dec. 14; Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave, White Bear Lake; $43-$23; 651-478-7427 or lakeshoreplayers.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018Scrooge in Rouge\u2019<\/h4>\n

Now playing:<\/strong> Open Eye Theatre\u2019s latest nontraditional holiday production is a quick-change, cross-dressing musical riff on the perennial holiday classic \u201cA Christmas Carol.\u201d Parents should be aware of the show\u2019s double entendres with sexual innuendo that are in the spirit of British humorists Monty Python and Benny Hill, according to the theater. Through Dec. 28; Open Eye Theatre, 506 E. 24th St., Mpls.; $35.20; 612-874-6338 or openeyetheatre.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018Black Nativity\u2019<\/h4>\n
\"Soloist
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Courtesy photo\/ Penumbra Theatre<\/p>\n

Soloist Greta Oglesby in Penumbra Theatre”s 2022 production of \u201cBlack Nativity.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Opens Dec. 2:<\/strong> First staged at Penumbra in 1987, \u201cBlack Nativity\u201d features gospel numbers brought to life under the musical direction of Sanford Moore. In a Pioneer Press review of last year\u2019s production, Hubbard wrote<\/a> that \u201cyou might enter Penumbra\u2019s little theater in the Rondo neighborhood thinking you\u2019re going to a show, but it doesn\u2019t take long to realize that you are in church.\u201d Through Dec. 24; 270 N. Kent St., St. Paul; $45-$10; 651-288-6786 or penumbratheatre.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018Miss Richfield 1981: There\u2019s a Pill for the Holidays!\u2019<\/h4>\n

Opens Dec. 5:<\/strong> Illusion Theater is once again presenting an evening with Miss Richfield 1981, who hails from the town \u201cwhere butter is a spice and gravy is a beverage.\u201d The drag-queen alter ego of Russ King, Miss Richfield 1981 was called \u201cthe must-see act in Provincetown\u201d by the celebrity.land, with the Pioneer Press raving that \u201cin these divided times, Miss R. is tonic \u2014 and gin \u2014 for the soul.\u201d Expect, among many other things, to hear Christmas carols played on a cross-cut saw. Through Dec. 21; Center for Performing Arts, 3754 Pleasant Ave. S., Minneapolis; $77-$49.50; 612-382-6406 or illusiontheater.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018Dinner for One\u2019<\/h4>\n

Opens Dec. 6:<\/strong> Inspired by an iconic slapstick comedy sketch and New Year\u2019s Eve tradition in Europe for more than 60 years, \u201cDinner for One\u201d follows a butler as he attempts to help his employer celebrate her annual dinner party. Many mishaps follow. Through Jan. 4; Jungle Theater, 2951 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls.; $95-$15; 612-822-7063 or jungletheater.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018Jesus Christ Superstar\u2019<\/h4>\n

Opens Dec. 9:<\/strong> This sung-through rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice is loosely based on the Gospel accounts of the Passion. When the composers couldn\u2019t secure the funding to produce the show, they released the score as an album that quickly became a best seller and led to the musical\u2019s Broadway debut in 1971. It has remained a popular show for touring casts and regional theaters seeking to take a fresh look at the classic. Through Dec. 28; Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; $161.50-$46.50; 651-224-4222 or ordway.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Wiz\u2019<\/h4>\n

Opens Dec. 16:<\/strong> This new take on \u201cThe Wiz\u201d launched with a 2023 tour followed by a limited engagement on Broadway in spring 2024. The show reimagines the classic novel with an all-Black cast and music that blends soul, gospel, rock and \u201970s funk. Comic and writer Amber Ruffin updated the show, just as she did for \u201cSome Like it Hot,\u201d which visited Minneapolis in 2024. Through Dec. 21; Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; $203.90-$70.45; hennepinarts.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n