There is nothing quite like a live performance to bring out the holiday spirit. If you haven’t done so already, this season is also the perfect time to introduce your child to the performing arts and help foster a life-long love of everything from the live music to the theater to ballet. Thankfully, there are plenty of family-friendly performances this time of year to choose from. Below we list a few of our favorites.
A Christmas Carol
Location: Indiana Repertory Theatre
Dates:Â November 16 – December 26
A delightful ensemble of players brings Scrooge, Tiny Tim, four spirits, and all of Victorian London to life on our snow-covered stage for this holiday treasure infused with music and song. In the darkness of winter, we all need the shining light of forgiveness, redemption, and love. Come celebrate the joy of the season and the spirit of giving. Tickets start at $25. Click here to purchase tickets. (Recommended for 4th grade and older.)
The Magic Snowman
Location: Lilly Theater at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Dates: Select days, November 29 – January 5, 2020
A mysterious stranger arrives at a village where everyone is grumpy, gloomy, and just plain glum. The stranger’s arrival marks one of the most magical days of the year—winter’s first snow. But the freshly fallen snow fails to cheer up any of the grumpy villagers until the stranger decides to make a magic snowman. This interactive musical, based on the children’s classic tale, Stone Soup – offers a delightful message: When everyone makes a contribution to the snowman the collective impact makes a positive difference in all of their lives. An interactive musical with an abundance of warmth, spirit, and goodwill that will delight children of all ages. Tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 10:00am at the Lower Level Ticket Booth. Members can reserve tickets in advance online or by calling 317-334-4000.
A Christmas Story, The Musical
Location: Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre
Dates: November 21 – December 31
Based on the movie classic! Set in the 1940s in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana, the musical follows 9-year-old Ralphie and his quest for the Holy Grail of Christmas gifts — an Official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. Ralphie plots numerous schemes to receive the coveted BB gun. All the iconic scenes from the movie are here, together with a versatile score! Tickets range from $45 to $70 and include a full holiday buffet. Learn more.
A Christmas Carol at Beef and Boards
Location: Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre
Dates: Select days, December 3 – 23
From the pages of Dickens comes this delightful musical adaptation of the holiday classic with traditional carols. Experience the transformation of the miserly Scrooge into someone who understands the true meaning of kindness and love, accomplished with the help of three spirits from the past, present, and future. 10 performances only! Tickets start at $28. Learn more here.
IPL Yuletide Celebration
Location: Hilbert Circle Theatre
Dates: Select days, November 30 – December 23
Get ready to ring in the holidays with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra! This season, we celebrate 34 years of bringing you one of Indiana’s most cherished holiday traditions — IPL Yuletide Celebration! This holiday season, we are pleased to welcome first-time Yuletide host, Frankie Moreno! With four Top Ten albums, an Emmy nomination, and more than one-million record sales worldwide, Frankie will light up the Hilbert Circle Theatre with his unmistakable style and music versatility. Back this year are the whimsical “Holly Jolly Dollies” and so are the traditions of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and the famous tap-dancing Santas. Along with aerialists and a cast of singers and dancers, Indy’s own dance group Expressenz returns to the Yuletide stage after competing in World of Dance in 2017 and earning six national titles together. As always, musical and visual surprises will abound. Learn more.
Elf The Musical
Location: The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts, Carmel
Date: Select days, December 6 – 28
A title known the world over, Elf The Musical is a must-produce holiday musical that can easily become an annual tradition for any theatre. Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Tickets start at $55. Learn more and get tickets here.
Disney Junior Holiday Party
Location: Old National Centre
Date: December 3, 6:00pm
Disney Junior Holiday Party! is a dazzling musical wonderland where children and their families can sing and dance along to their favorite Disney Junior songs plus holiday classics with their favorite Disney friends, including Mickey & Minnie Mouse, the Puppy Dog Pals, Vampirina and many more, plus a special visit from Santa Claus!
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
Location: Clowes Memorial Hall
Date: December 18, 7:00pm
The beloved TV classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical soars off the screen and onto the stage this holiday season. Come see all of your favorite characters from the special including Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and, of course, Rudolph, as they come to life in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. It’s an adventure that teaches us that what makes you different can be what makes you special. Don’t miss this wonderful holiday tradition that speaks to the misfit in all of us. Find details, tickets, and printable coloring pages here.
Indianapolis Children’s Choir Holiday Concerts
Location: St. Luke’s United Methodist Church
Dates: December 13 – 14
Get your popcorn ready, silence your cellphones, and get ready for lights, camera, and action in this showcase of classic holiday film music. Tickets are $13; children 5 and under are free.
When it comes to Nutcracker performances, there are several to choose from – each offering their own unique interpretation of this timeless tale. Find our complete list of Nutcracker performances across Indy here.Â
Know of any family-friendly holiday shows in Indy that we missed here? Let us know at [email protected].
