A Christmas Carol (photo by Don Ipock)
The 2024-25 theater season rolls into the holidays with more great productions. Support our local stages and the actors, designers and technicians who make them run with these year-end events.
AN OLD-FASHIONED FAMILY MURDER
Now through Nov. 17 | New Theatre Restaurant
Sally Struthers stars in this Agatha Christie-style whodunit by Tony® Award winning playwright Joe DiPietro. When a junior detective stumbles upon the murder of a famous mystery writer, it’s just his luck to be trapped in a mansion with a number of suspects. Thankfully, his mystery-loving mom (Ms. Struthers) came along for the ride. Tickets at www.newtheatre.com.
FINDING NEMO
Nov. 6 – Dec. 30 | The Coterie
Based on everybody’s favorite Pixar fish tale, this children’s version features new music by Tony ® Award winning songwriters Kristen and Robert Lopez, who gave us “Frozen.” Clownfish Marlin struggles to keep
up with his kid Nemo, who longs to explore the world beyond their anemone home. Troubles ensue and everything comes out fine in the watery end. Tickets at www.thecoterie.org.
SONGS SUNG BLUE
Nov. 7–11 | Ruby Room at MTH
The songs of Neil Diamond and Barry Manilow — both recently represented on Broadway — take center stage in this nifty review from the folks at Music Theater Heritage. With more than 50 Top 10 hits between them, Tin Pan Alley veterans Diamond and Manilow created a remarkable number of timeless, chart-topping tunes that had us dancing one moment and crying the next. Be prepared tosing along to “Mandy” and, of course, “Sweet Caroline.” Tickets at www.musictheaterheritage.com.
NUNSENSE
Nov. 20 – Feb. 2 | New Theatre Restaurant
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Nov. 23 – Dec. 28 | Spencer Theater at UMKC
The beloved holiday tradition returns as Ebenezer Scrooge once again embarks on his redemptive journey with Christmas Past, Present and Future to discover the true meaning of Christmas. Cratchits, Fezziwigs and Tiny Tim will be there — how about you and your family? Starring the indefatigable Gary Neal Johnson in his 23rd year as Scrooge. Tickets at www.kcrep.org.
EBENEZER SCROOGE’S BIG KC MO CHRISTMAS SHOW
Nov. 26 – Dec. 22 | Unicorn Theatre
Our favorite off-Broadway style theater’s entry into the big holiday musical marathon is directed by the Unicorn’s new Artistic Director Ernie Nolan. Five actors play dozens of roles in this fast-paced retelling of the world’s most famous holiday story, plopped down in KC for good measure. Tickets at www.unicorntheatre.org.
MAXINE’S CHRISTMAS CAROL
Nov. 29 – Dec. 22 | City Stage at Union Station
Hallmark’s popular holiday greeting card character — the curmudgeonly old Maxine herself — comes to grumpy life in the able hands of KC’s favorite comedienne Cathy Barnett. Expect ghosts, carols and all the usual holiday shtick filtered through the dim view the other Divine Miss M reserves for such saccharine sentiments. Tickets at www.maxinechristmas.com.
THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER
Nov. 29 – Dec. 24 | City Stage at Union Station
Alternating performance schedules with “Maxine’s Christmas Carol,” Theatre for Young America presents its annual holiday fare at City Stage in Union Station. Tickets at www.tya.org.
CHRISTMAS IN SONG
Nov. 29 – Dec. 22 | Quality Hill Playhouse
Kent Barnhart and company offer up their annual holiday tradition and a Kansas City favorite! From sacred to secular, traditional to popular, with some new gems and gospel favorites, this celebration of the season has something for the whole family. Tickets at www.qualityhillplayhouse.com.
FUNNY GIRL
Dec. 3 – 8 | Music Hall
The bittersweet story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a plain-looking Jewish girl from the Lower East Side who became one of the funniest and most beloved performers in Broadway history. Her love life didn’t go quite as well as her routines for the legendary Florenz Ziegfeld: Therein lies the pathos in this Broadway hit, featuring the Streisand chestnut “People” and a load of great Jule Styne-Bob Merrill showstoppers. Tickets at www.kansascity.broadway.com.
JAWBONE CRACK QUICK
Dec. 5 –14 | Just Off Broadway Theatre
KC Melting Pot Theatre offers up this new play, delving into the intricacies of family dynamics, patriarchy and female empowerment, all while shedding light on the challenges faced by generations of African American families. When a small-town community grapples with the aftermath of a tragic event, the tensions and secrets that lie beneath the surface of their seemingly idyllic lives tests folks’ resilience and resolve. Tickets at www.kcmeltingpot.com.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Dec. 5 – 23 | Music Theater Heritage
Frank Capra’s holiday classic gets the radio play treatment in this reimagined staging of a live 1940s radio broadcast. Return to the heartwarming tale of George Bailey and his affable helper angel, Clarence, as they put parsimony in its place and welcome the holidays in fine fettle. Tickets at www.musictheaterheritage.com.
CHRISTMAS AIN’T A DRAG
Dec. 10 – 14 | Black Box Theatre
Head down to the historic West Bottoms for this holiday favorite from David George and Fishtank Theatre. Katie Gilchrist directs this musical tale of four partygoers seeking love and connection at a nightclub on December 24th. Love prevails, proving once again that Christmas is never a drag. Tickets at www.theblackboxkc.com.
