Holidays 2024: Theater shows range from heartfelt to hilarious
The holidays always inspire a sleigh-full of plays and musicals in the Bay area, ranging from poignant to perfectly silly.
Here are some of the holiday productions being mounted on Bay Area stages. And if you like what you see here, know that most stage troupes offer subscription packages that would make a nice gift tor the theater fan in your life.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley: The Palo Alto-based company has done well with Jane Austen-inspired fare, presenting winning productions of “Pride and Prejudice,” “Sense and Sensibility,” and “Emma.” So it makes sense that its holiday production is “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley,” described as a sequel to “Pride and Prejudice” penned by Bay Area playwrights Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon. This play focuses on bookish Mary Bennett (the middle of the Bennett sisters), whose life changes when a new guest arrives at Pemberley.
Details: In previews Dec. 4-6, main run is Dec. 7-29; Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto; $34-$115; theatreworks.org.
“Truce: A Christmas Wish from the Great War”: It was a decade ago that City Lights Theater Company in San Jose presented the world premiere of the heartfelt play drawn from World War I, when in 1914 the warring factions agreed to lay down their arms in observance of Christmas. Now the hit play is back as City Lights’ holiday production.
Details: Through Dec. 22; City Lights Theater, 529 S. Second St., San Jose; $31-$70; cltc.org.
“A Whynot Christmas Carol Carol:” After presenting the stage version of Dicken’s classic “A Christmas Carol” for years and years, American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco is switching things up and presenting the world premiere of this comedy penned by Obie-winning playwright Craig Lucas. It focuses on a small-town theater company staging “A Christmas Carol” despite a stocking-full of setbacks and poor decisions. Company artistic director Pam MacKinnon helms the new production.
Details: Through Dec. 24; Toni Rembe Theater, 415 Geary St., San Francisco; $25-$130; www.act-sf.org.
Center Repertory Company: Like ACT, this Walnut Creek stage company has for years and years (19 to be exact) been staging a heartfelt and thoroughly entertaining version of the Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol.” But this year marks the production’s swan song — the company has announced it will present a different holiday show starting in 2025. God bless us all. In the meantime, fans of this beloved show are urged to get their tickets now for this version of the holiday staple.
Details: Dec. 12-22; Lesher Center for the Arts; 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek; $22-$79; www.centerrep.org.
Santa Cruz Shakespeare: Dickens fans can also catch an adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” presented by this company known for its popular summer outdoor series.
Details: Through Dec. 24; Santa Cruz County Veterans’ Memorial Building, 846 Front St., Santa Cruz; $22-$66; santacruzshakespeare.org
“The Jewelry Box”: Brian Copeland is a talented performer and writer and this funny and heartwarming tale about how, as a 6-year-old lad, he tried to find and procure a perfect Christmas gift for his mother remains one of his best-loved works. He’s performing it twice for the holiday season.
Details: 12 p.m. Dec. 8 at The Marsh Berkeley; 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley; 5 Dec. 21 at The Marsh, 1062 Valencia St., San Francisco; $25-$100; themarsh.org.
“A Sherlock Carol”: The first thing you need to know about this San Jose Stage holiday production is it’s a chance to watch Bay Area theater icon L. Peter Callender portray Sherlock Holmes. That’s some serious holiday magic right there. The play, written by Mark Shanahan and directed by Kenneth Kelleher, finds the great detective urged by a grown-up Tiny Tim to investigate the death of one Ebenezer Scrooge.
Details: Through Dec. 15; 490 S. 1st St., San Jose; $17-$74; www.thestage.org
“A Thousand Ships”: We’re not even sure this is technically a “holiday” play but it arrives during the holidays and it’s exciting as all heck so we figure people should know about it. Oakland Theater Project is presenting this world premiere by acclaimed playwright Marcus Gardley (“House That Will Not Stand,” “black odyssey,” screenplay for big-screen “The Color Purple”) that follows the evolving friendship between two Black Oakland women and their families. Company co-artistic director Michael Moran will direct the show.
Details: Dec. 13-Jan. 5; FLAX Art & Design, 1501 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland; $10-$60; oaklandtheaterproject.org.
“Sisters Christmas Catechism”: This installment in the “Catechism” solo stage series created by Maripat Donovan is described as a mixture of comedy, mystery and a sure-to-be offbeat Nativity story. The touring show plays one night only in Livermore.
Details: 7:30 pm Dec. 19; Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St., Livermore; $55-$66; livermorearts.org.
“A Very Hitchcock Christmas”: Who doesn’t need a little Hitchcock in their holidays? This production, presented by Bay Area theater nonprofit PlayGround, serves up a series of short comedy skits inspired by Hitchcock classics, including “Santa on a Rope,” “To Catch a Grinch,” “The Birds is Coming,” and more.
Details: 7 pm Dec. 7-8; Potrero Stage, 1695 18th St., San Francisco; free; also available for streaming; playground-sf.org.
“Waitress”: This stage musical, adapted by Sara Bareilles (music and lyrics) and Jessie Nelson (book) from the 2007 movie about a woman making the best out of a trying life is heartwarming enough to smooth over your holiday stress. Plus: pies!
Details: Presented by San Francisco Playhouse; through Jan. 18; 450 Post St., San Francisco; $35-$135; www.sfplayhouse.org.