24 Fantastic Seattle-Area Shows to See Before 2024 Ends

“George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker”

For generations of local families, it’s just not the holiday season without a trip to Seattle Center to watch Pacific Northwest Ballet perform “The Nutcracker.” At this point, the traditional “first ballet” has literally introduced tens of thousands of children to the art form. This may be the year your child will join their ranks.

Date: Nov. 29–Dec. 28
Cost: $30 –$165
Location: McCaw Hall, Seattle

“Miracle on 34th Street, The Play”

This season, Edmonds Driftwood Players, one of the oldest theater companies in the region, presents the classic holiday movie adapted for the stage. Whether you’re a cynic or a dreamer, the story of a department-store Santa whose noncommercial approach to Christmas restores a little girl’s faith in the merry old elf, and her mother’s faith in others, will warm your heart.

Date: Nov. 22–Dec. 15
Cost: $25–$28
Location: Wade James Theatre, Edmonds

“A Christmas Carol”

Harlequin’s own adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic holiday ghost story is a South Sound tradition. In addition to the noteworthy special effects, there’s plenty of holiday music and cheer (aided, perhaps, by the hot buttered rum from concessions) to be found.

Date: Nov. 29–Dec. 24
Cost: $33–$55
Location: State Theater, Olympia

“It’s a Wonderful Life”

Lakewood Playhouse’s ensemble cast presents the holiday classic as a live radio broadcast. Although it’s a beloved traditional Christmas story of hope and redemption, when deciding if it’s appropriate for your family, remember that the plot involves George Bailey considering suicide on Christmas Eve.

Date: Dec. 13–29
Cost: $25–$30
Location: Lakewood Playhouse, Lakewood

“White Christmas”

Enjoy MainStage Theatre Company’s theatrical adaptation of the old black-and-white classic musical live and in full color. In Irving Berlin’s double romance, two pairs of performers join together to save a failing Vermont inn with classic song-and-dance numbers “Blue Skies,” “Sisters” and, of course, “White Christmas.” Children younger than 4 will not be admitted.

Date: Dec. 6–22
Cost: $33
Location: Liberty Theatre, Puyallup

“Black Nativity”

So much of Seattle’s past has been lost in recent years, but last year Seattle families gave a collective shout of joy at the return of Langston Hughes’ “Black Nativity.” After a decade-long hiatus,“Black Nativity” was brought back by Intiman Theatre in a reimagined production led by Valerie Curtis-Newton, Sam Townsend Jr. and Vania C. Bynum. This soulful retelling of the Christmas story combines actors, dancers, a rousing gospel choir and a sing-along.

Date: Dec. 4–29
Cost: $30–$110
Location: Broadway Performance Hall, Seattle

“Happy Holidays!”

The Cascade Symphony Orchestra’s holiday concert has a wide-ranging program that includes classic Christmas carols together with orchestral pieces by composers as different as Vivaldi (“The Four Seasons”) and John Williams (“Star Wars”). The Sunday performance will feature guest musicians from local high schools.

Date: Dec. 15–16
Cost: $10–$30
Location: Edmonds Center for the Arts, Edmonds

“A Christmas Carol”

Like Pacific Northwest Ballet’s “Nutcracker,” ACT Contemporary Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol” is a long held holiday tradition for many local families. For 49 years, ACT has presented Charles Dickens’ beloved story of hope and redemption with a dose of spookiness. The performance during that climactic part may be too intense for some sensitive youngsters, but the 90-minute runtime is a piece of cake for even the shortest attention spans.

Date: Nov. 29–Dec. 27
Cost: $10–$105
Location: ACT Allen Theatre, Seattle

“Ho Ho Ho!”

Seattle Men’s Chorus’ annual holiday concert is a Northwest tradition that has become even more family-friendly in recent years with the addition of a special, abbreviated children’s show on select dates. Whether you opt for the one-hour show with extra dancing, extended sing-along and general-admission seating or the full monty (so to speak), you can expect seasonal classics mixed with songs like “Pink Christmas,” and a new holiday version of “Holding Out for a Hero,” as well as Christmas comedy, dancing Santas and a sing-along for the whole family. (Note that children younger than 5 are not permitted at Benaroya except for the kids’ show on Dec. 21.)

Date: Dec. 1–21
Cost: $19–$104
Location: Benaroya Hall, Seattle
Pantages Theater, Tacoma
Everett Civic Auditorium, Everett

“A Charlie Brown Christmas”

If you’ve had enough of commercialism and need a reminder of what Christmas is all about, make an all-ages family outing to watch Taproot Theatre Company bring the beloved “A Charlie Brown Christmas” holiday-special cartoon to life.

Details: Dec. 5–30
Cost: $7–$30
Location: Taproot Theatre, Seattle

Up next: Holiday-ish winter shows