There’s no shortage of holiday theater in Tampa Bay in 2024

From fallen angels to trailer trash to high-flying acrobats, and holiday concerts, there’s something under the theatrical tree for everyone. Put some chestnuts on the open fire, grab your ugliest holiday sweater, and dive in.

Wonderful lives

What would the holidays be like without George Bailey? Fans of It’s a Wonderful Life don’t have to consider such a Bailey-esque existential dilemma. In addition to the ubiquity of Frank Capra’s 1946 film on home screens and the obligatory run at Tampa Theatre (Dec. 19-20, 22-23), three local theaters offer stage adaptations, each with its own unique twist.

• ‘Wonderful Life’ at American Stage Dec. 5-22. $38. American Stage, 163 3rd St. N, St. Petersburg
• ‘It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play’ at Carrollwood Cultural Center Dec. 14-15. $15-$20. Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Rd., Tampa
• ‘It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play’: Tampa Rep at the Straz Center Dec. 5-23, $13-$61. Tampa Rep at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Shimberg Playhouse, Tampa

Trashing through the snow

If partyin’ with your gal pals at the trailer park is your idea of the perfect Xmas, you’re in luck. You can double-wide your pleasure, double-wide your fun this season with two count ‘em two unapologetically white-trashy holiday musicals.

• ‘The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical’ at Stageworks Through Dec. 22, $25-$50. Stageworks Theatre, 1120 E Kennedy Blvd., Tampa
• “Who’s Holiday” at The Off-Central Dec. 5-15, $20-$35 (pay-what-you-can starting at $10). The Off-Central, 2260 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg

Immersive merriments

Enchant Christmas is no more, having moved its winter wonder-maze to points west. (A good thing, too, given the Trop’s current rooflessness.) So consider these ambient alternatives instead.

• Tinseltown USA Dec. 5-22. $28. American Stage, 163 3rd St. N, St. Petersburg
• Unchant at FloridaRama Through Jan. 13. $22-$27 (children under four free; group discounts available). FloridaRama, 2606 Fairfield Ave. S, St. Petersburg
• The Polar Express Experience Friday, Dec. 13. 4:30 p.m., no cover. The Plaza at The BayCare Sound, 255 Drew St., Clearwater

Merry miscellany

Depend on our performing arts centers to bring us various undefinable dazzlements this time of year, including two servings of Cirque, everyone’s favorite overgrown elf, and more.

• Derek Hough Dance for the Holidays Wednesday, Dec. 4. 8 p.m. $53.25-$128.75. Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater
• Bowzer’s Holiday Rock n Roll Party Sunday, Dec. 8, 6 p.m., $41.75-$81.75. Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater
• ‘Elf’ in Concert Saturday, Dec. 7, 2 p.m & 7 p.m. $20-$55. Carol Morsani Hall at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa
• Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland Saturday, Dec. 21, 7 p.m., $38-$78. Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater
• Cirque Dreams Holidaze Dec. 26-27, 3 p.m. & 7 p.m.. $33.75-$134.75. Carol Morsani Hall at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N Macinnes Pl., Tampa
• White Christmas at St. Petersburg City Theatre Select nights, Dec. 13-22. $10-$28. St Petersburg City Theatre, 4025 31st St. S, St. Petersburg

Scrooges galore

Dickens’s beloved tale of greed and redemption surfaces in multiple venues.

• St Petersburg City Theatre Saturdays in December (except Dec. 28). 2 p.m. $10. St Petersburg City Theatre, 4025 31st St. S, St. Petersburg
• Carrollwood Players Select dates, Dec. 6-22. $23-$28 (group discounts available). Carrollwood Players, 4333 Gunn Hwy. Tampa
• freeFall Theatre ‘A Christmas Carol in Concert’ Dec. 20-22 & Dec. 24. $20-$35. freeFall Theater, 6099 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
• New Tampa Players & Atlas Modern Ballet: ‘Spirit – A Christmas Carol Adaptation’ Saturday, Dec. 21, 1 p.m. & 8 p.m. $22-$28. New Tampa Performing Arts Center, 8550 Hunters Village Rd., Tampa
• ‘A Christmas Carol’ at Ruth Eckerd Hall Monday, Dec. 23, 7 p.m. $29-$75. Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater

Nuts, cracked

It’s not a holiday without Clara and her Nutcracker. Then again, if you prefer your nuts to be tucked rather than cracked, drag queens incoming!

• St. Petersburg Ballet Presents: The Nutcracker 2024 Dec. 6-8, $30. Hough Hall at Palladium Theater. 235 5th Ave. N, St. Petersburg
• Tampa City Ballet: The Nutcracker TCB’s Nutcracker will dance into view throughout December at the tree lighting on the Riverwalk (Dec. 1, no cover); at USF (Dec. 7-8, $30 & up, and Dec. 10, $18); and at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center (Dec. 13-15. $30-$40)
• Next Generation Ballet’s Nutcracker Dec. 20-23, $21.25-$145.25. Carol Morsani Hall at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N Macinnes Pl., Tampa
• Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet Dec. 28-29. $32 & up. Duke Energy Center for the Arts at Mahaffey Theater, 400 1st St. S, St. Petersburg
• A Drag Queen Christmas 10th Anniversary Tour Dec. 28, 8 p.m. $53.38-$326.43. Carol Morsani Hall at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N Macinnes Pl., Tampa

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This article appears in Nov 21-27, 2024.