You know about last-minute Christmas shopping? Well, welcome to the concept of last-minute Christmas theatergoing. Connecticut theaters and concert halls are wrapping up their holiday shows, though some of these events are popular enough to extend beyond Christmas.
If you act fast, you still have a choice of stone cold wintertime classics from Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” to a “Messiah” Sing-Along (if you can Handel it) to Tchaikovsky’s sugary ballet “The Nutcracker” to Dylan Thomas’ heartwarming “A Child’s Christmas in Wales.”
There are also hybrids like “A Sherlock Carol,” in which Mr. Holmes meets Mr. Scrooge, and Santa’s Circus, in which Mr. Claus meets some somersaulting elves.
Some of these acts are on national tours, including holiday concerts by rock acts such as erstwhile Sun Records recording artist J.D. Williams from Memphis and the metal act Creed. Many, however, are homegrown, Connecticut-fostered holiday shows including TheaterWorks’ raucous “Christmas on the Rocks,” CONNetic Dance’s modernist “Nutcracker Suite & Spicy” and a pair of established Sea Tea Comedy Theater improv events: “An Improvised Christmas Carol” and “Hark! The Harold Angels Sing: A 100% Made-Up Christmas Musical.”
Here are some yuletide shows to consider.
Theater review: TheaterWorks’ ‘Christmas on the Rocks’ offers new laughs with reworked material
Theater
‘A Sherlock Carol’
The artistic director of Westport Country Playhouse, Mark Shanahan, created this mashup of two Victorian-era British icons, Charles Dickens’ transformed miser Ebenezer Scrooge and Arthur Conan Doyle’s consulting detective Sherlock Holmes. This is the third consecutive December that the playhouse has presented the show, which has also had success off Broadway and in London. Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, Westport. $35-$65. westportplayhouse.org.
‘Christmas on the Rocks’
This sassy send-up of classic Christmas TV shows and movies finds grown-up versions of Charlie Brown, Hermey the Elf, Clara from “The Nutcrackers” and others walking into a quiet neighborhood bar on Christmas Eve and sharing their troubles with a remarkably unflappable bartender. The show was conceived and directed by TheaterWorks Hartford’s Rob Ruggiero. This parade of transformed cartoons and kids is accomplished with just three actors: Jen Cody, Matthew McGloin and “Three’s Company” sitcom co-star Richard Kline. Remaining performances (some may already be sold out) are Dec. 21 at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m., Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at TheaterWorks Hartford, 233 Pearl St., Hartford. $63. twhartford.org.
‘A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas’
Hartford Stage has been staging Michael Wilson’s adaptation of “A Christmas Carol,” enhanced with spooky apparitions and thus subtitled “A Ghost Story of Christmas,” since the late 1990s. The show had a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, so this year is the 25th year Hartford Stage has done it. Guiesseppe Jones plays Scrooge. Remaining performances are Dec. 21 at 2 p.m., Dec. 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 24 at 2 p.m., Dec. 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. at Hartford Stage, 50 Church St., Hartford. $32-$115. hartfordstage.org.
‘White Christmas’
The classic Bing Crosby/Danny Kaye/Rosemary Clooney/Vera-Ellen movie, packed with Irving Berlin songs, was turned into a stage musical in the 1980s. The production that closes the 2025 season at the Goodspeed Opera House is bright and breezy and features some swell dancing. Remaining performances are Dec. 21 at 2 p.m., Dec. 23 at both 2 and 7:30 p.m., Dec. 24 at 2 p.m., Dec. 26 at 2 and 8 p.m., Dec. 27 at 3 and 8 p.m. and Dec. 28 at 2 and 6:30 p.m. at the Goodspeed Opera House, 6 Main St., East Haddam. $47-$78. goodspeed.org.
‘All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914’
An extraordinary real-life tale of a peaceful respite amid warfare was turned into a choral drama performed by actors and opera singers on the intimate Playhouse on Park stage. There are two final performances on Dec. 21 at 2 and 5:30 p.m. $38.50-$458.50. playhouseonpark.org.
‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’
The intimate Buttonwood Tree performance space on Main Street in Middletown has been offering an annual recitation of Dylan Thomas’ immortal dramatic prose piece “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” for decades. The nostalgic lyrical work is brief yet intense and was created for a British radio broadcast in 1952. Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. at the Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown. buttonwood.networkforgood.com.
Rebecka Jones as the Spirit of Christmas Past in Hartford Stage’s annual production of “A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas.” This year Scrooge’s struggle extends past Christmas, with the show running through Dec. 28. (T Charles Erickson)
Comedy
‘An Improvised Christmas Carol’
Sea Tea Improv has been doing their open-ended take on the Dickens classic for around a decade now, with most of the cast members returning each year. Of course no two shows are ever alike, since each the audience determines a place and playing style for the story. The final performance of this year’s run is Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. at Sea Tea Comedy Theater, 15 Asylum St., Hartford. $10. seateaimprov.com.
‘Hark! The Harold Angels Sing: A 100% Made-Up Christmas Musical’
Sea Tea Improv’s other Christmas tradition besides “An Improvised Christmas Carol” is this improv Christmas musical devised using the well-known longform improv structure affectionately known as The Harold. Dec. 22 at 8 p.m. Sea Tea Comedy Theater, 15 Asylum St., Hartford. $10. seateaimprov.com.
Theater review: Goodspeed’s ‘White Christmas’ unexpectedly exhilarating despite shaky start
Caroling
Community Carol Sing
This is the 78th annual Community Carol Sing held at the historical museum Mystic Seaport. You’re certain to know most of the songs. Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. at Mystic Seaport, 75 Greenmanville Ave., Mystic. Free. secure.mysticseaport.org.
‘Messiah’ Sing or Listen
The Capella Cantorum MasterWorks Chorus leads this sing-along version of Handel’s “Messiah.” Hallelujah! You can lend your voice or just listen. Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. $19. thekate.org.
Dance
‘Nutcracker Suite & Spicy’
The CONNetic Dance company concocted this delirious modern take on the famous ballet about a girl and her dancing toothy toy. The show is scored with jazz and pop versions of Tchaikovsky’s familiar melodies and works in modern Christmas iconography like ugly sweaters and exercise balls. The final performance this year is Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. at the downstairs theater in the Wadsworth Atheneum and Museum, 600 Main St., Hartford. $52.50. thewadsworth.org.
Connecticut Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’
Connecticut Ballet’s rendition of the classic, featuring guest artists from major ballet companies and, for the first time in decades in Hartford, Tchaikovsky’s score performed live by the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. The final performances are Dec. 21 at 1 and 5 p.m. at The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford. $92.50-$132. bushnell.org.
World Ballet Company: ‘Nutcracker’
An internationally touring production of the ballet hits Connecticut post-Christmas. Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford. $40-$95. palacestamford.org.
Creed does its “Creedmas” show at Mohegan Sun Arena just one day before New Year’s Eve on Dec 30. (Courtesy of Mohegan Sun Arena)
Music and magic
Santa’s Circus
A touring circus act that brings new meaning to “the North Pole” since it features acrobats and aerialists. Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford $49.75-$98.25. palacestamford.org.
Rockabilly Christmas with Jason D. Williams
Memphis rockabilly star Jason D. Williams rocks some holiday tunes on Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge Road, Ridgefield. $61-$70. ridgefieldplayhouse.org.
Christmas in Killarney
The national tour of Irish dancers, vocalists and musicians present an evening of Irish songs and stories with a Christmas theme. Dec. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Warner Theatre, 68 Main St., Torrington. $41.50. warnertheatre.org.
Creedmas
The Christian metal band Creed does its “Creedmas” holiday set, with fellow 1990s rockers Sevendust as the opening act. Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville. $158.75-$299.70. mohegansun.com.