Live Holiday Theatre in New Hampshire You Shouldn't Miss!

The holiday season is here and there are so many wonderful things to choose to take part in this season! Among them are the great theatre opportunities that exist in the Lakes Region as well as the rest of the state. How knowledgeable are you about the theatre productions here in New Hampshire? Don’t know? Well, let us do the research for you!

The Palace Theatre

This theatre is a bit of a drive for us Lakes Region-ers, but a private charter to Manchvegas could be an easy fix for a group going to see A Christmas Carol or The Nutcracker this season. Starting this weekend, you can see the Palace tradition of A Christmas Carol until December 22nd. Group rates for tickets are available, but regular ticket prices run from $25-$45. The production has won awards with The Hippo as The Best Theatre Event of the Year in Manchester, and is has been a fabulous telling of the original Dickens tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey to reclamation and humility. The theatre notes that children under six are not permitted to attend night performances of the show, but are welcome for matinee performances.

The Winnipesaukee Playhouse

Though you won’t see a full scale production of A Christmas Carol at this barnhouse venue, there are some fun events lined up for adults and little ones in the coming weeks! On December 5th you can attend An Evening with the Eric Mintel Jazz Quartet and hear music from A Charlie Brown Christmas that is sure to brighten your holiday! You can also choose to take your little ones to see Sleeping Beauty playing here from December 18th to January 2nd. The playhouse’s professional company is performing this holiday "panto" as an ode to its traditional storytelling history in English culture. “King Bumble and Queen Bee want nothing more than a beautiful baby of their own. But when their greatest wish finally comes true, an evil fairy puts a curse on the child. Can Chester Drawers and Nanny Fanny help them keep their princess safe?” With tickets as low as $12 in the balcony to $19 adult tickets in the orchestra, this is a great holiday treat or gift for any big families with little ones!

The Seacoast Repertory Theatre

This theatre, in the heart of downtown Portsmouth, is a great place to visit for the holiday! It’s so close to the historic holiday beauty shared at the Strawberry Banke Museum as well as the lovely downtown streets decorated so nicely by the town. The Seacoast Repertory Theatre is going against the grain this year sharing a different story of Dickens than the usual holiday classic! They have created a steampunk production of Oliver! that runs every weekend up until December 20th. Their actors share the story of a young, orphaned boy who looks to find love and companionship in the dark streets of London. Along the way, he meets many strange characters, befriends thieves, and meets a few kind strangers among the rabble. Tickets are between $22-$30 a piece but a $5 discount is given to seniors and teachers. Among the discount, students receive $12 tickets!

Jean’s Playhouse

Back in our own backyard is a December production of Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite playing the weekend of December 11th. Directed by Vicki Etchings, this piece is a contemporary American comedy much like the comedy seen in the Jean’s Playhouse production of Lend Me a Tenor earlier this year. “Hilarity abounds in this portrait of three couples successively occupying a suite at the Plaza.” Tickets for this production are $15 a piece. There is no note on senior/student discounts or age requirements for the production.

What Live Theatre Are You Seeing This Holiday Season?