With the holidays quickly approaching, the city transforms into a more magical place. Christmas markets open, sparkling lights cover the city (even more than usual), and decorations take over. The stages even transform as Christmas shows come for a limited time. Watching a broadway show is a great way to experience NYC, especially when the weather gets cold, so we’ve put together a guide specifically for the seasonal shows this Christmas.
Note: Shows are not currently running due to the pandemic. Once they restart, we’ll update this post with new information.
This post may contain affiliate links, where we receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked at no additional cost to you. All opinions are always our own. Read our full disclosure for more info. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Local Adventurer possible.
Last Updated: Nov 22, 2019
20 Christmas Shows in NYC to See This Season
MUSICALS & PLAYS
Radio City Music Hall, 1260 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020, map
Dates: Nov 8, 2019 to Jan 5, 2020
Length: 90 minutes
Purchase Tickets
The Radio City Rockettes have been a part of NYC since 1932. Every year, their Christmas Spectacular is one of the most popular shows and attractions in the city. Set in the iconic Radio City Music Hall, watch them sing and dance in perfect synchronization.
- Christmas Spectacular Starring The Radio City Rockettes
- How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
- The Dead, 1904
- A Christmas Carol at the Merchant’s House
- Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol
- All is Calm
- A Child’s Christmas in Wales
- Christmas in Hell
- The Truth About Santa
- Cirque Dreams Holidaze
- New York City Ballet: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
- Dances Patrelle: The Yorkville Nutcracker
- Mark Morris Dance Group: The Hard Nut
- Moscow Ballet: Great Russian Nutcracker
- New York Theatre Ballet: Keith Michael’s The Nutcracker
- Company XIV: Nutcracker Rouge
- The Bang Group: Nut/Cracked
- The Hip Hop Nutcracker
- The Magic Flute
- The Illusionists – Magic of the Holidays
Lyceum Theatre, 149 West 45th Street, New York, NY 10036, map
Dates: Nov 7, 2019 to Jan 5, 2020
Length: 2 hr 15 min
Purchase Tickets
Watch this classic holiday masterpiece from Charles Dickens as it comes to Broadway for 8 weeks only! This adaptation truly gets the Broadway treatment.
The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street, New York, NY 10012, map
Dates: December 1 to 30, 2019
Length: 60 minutes
Purchase Tickets
Here’s another rendition of A Christmas Carol that has been running for 10 years!
Stephen Sondheim Theatre, 124 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036, map
Dates: Nov 11, 2019 to Jan 5, 2020
Length: 100 minutes
Purchase Tickets
This show has received international acclaim. It’s a romantically wistful adventure that engages all your senses.
SOHO Playhouse, 15 Vandam Street, New York, NY 10013, map
Dates: Dec 13 to 31, 2019
Length: 90 minutes
Purchase Tickets
A comedy of Latina proportions. Get ready to laugh as you watch what real family drama looks like.
Harvey Theater at Bam Strong, 651 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217, map
Dates: Dec 12 to 14, 2019
Length: TBA
Purchase Tickets
Coming to NYC after its sold-out run in London, this is a dazzling holiday show with original music and hilarious satire.
Jerry Orbach Theater, 1627 Broadway, New York, NY 10019, map
Dates: Nov 15, 2019 to Jan 14, 2019
Length: 90 minutes
Purchase Tickets
Everyone’s favorite Christmas movie is not coming to stage in an unauthorized musical parody. After all, “love is all around.”
National Opera Center of America, 330 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10001, map
Dates: Nov 30 to Dec 22, 2019
Length: TBA
Purchase Tickets
An annual epic show by opera singer and entertainer, David Serero, singing Chanukah and Christmas songs.
The Actor’s Temple Theatre, 339 West 47th Street, New York, NY 10036, map
Dates: Dec 7 to Dec 15, 2018
Length: 60 minutes
Purchase Tickets
Celebrate the diversity of the holidays with Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Chinese New Year, & Schichigosan.
Hulu Theater, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10001, map
Dates: Dec 12 to 29, 2019
Length: TBA
Purchase Tickets
A beautiful and exhilarating Christmas show that only Cirque du Soleil could imagine.
Teatro Circulo, 64 East 4th Street, New York, NY 10011, map
Dates: Dec 3 to 22, 2019
Length: 80 minutes
Purchase Tickets
A play about a series of heartfelt letters to Santa Claus helping him realize that he is different.
Access Theater, 380 Broadway, New York, NY 10013, map
Dates: Dec 4 to 22, 2018
Length: 135 minutes
Purchase Tickets
A unique take on a classic story, it’s going to take some seious fabulosity to turn Ebenezer Scrooge.
Dance & MISC
David H. Koch Theater, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023, map
Dates: Nov 23 to Dec 30, 2019
Length: 135 minutes
Purchase Tickets
In it’s 63rd year, this is one the most magical performances of the classic there is. 90 dancers, 62 musicians, 32 stagehands, and 50 students from the School of American Ballet bring this story to life. There’s even an onstage blizzard and a Christmas tree that grows from 12 to 40 feet.
The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College 695 Park Ave, New York, NY 10065, map
Dates: Dec 13 to Dec 15, 2019
Length: 120 minutes
Here is another option for seeing the Nutcracker in NYC. This performance is set in 1895 New York, and features two dancers who have been New York City Ballet principals.
Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226, map
Dates: Dec 7, 2019
Length: 120 minutes
Purchase Tickets
Here is another take on Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. In this rendition, the second act takes Masha and the Prince to the Land of Peace and Harmony instead of the Sugar Plum Fairy. One of the most elegant numbers includes two performers acting as a single bird with a wingspan of 20 feet.
Florence Gould Hall, 55 E 59th St, New York, NY 10022, map
Dates: Dec 13 to Dec 15, 2019
Length: 60 minutes
Purchase Tickets
Check out this Art Nouveau version of the classic ballet. There’s even an owl that flies over the audience!
photo: Julieta Cervantes
Théâtre XIV, 383 Troutman St, Brooklyn, NY 11237, map
Dates: Nov 14, 2019 to Jan 26, 2020
Length: 150 minutes
Purchase Tickets
Leave the kids at home if you’re headed to see this risqué version of the classic tale. The erotic reimagining of the story uses dance, circus performers, singers, and partial nudity to spice things up.
Broadway Comedy Club, 318 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019, map
Dates: Nov 30 to Dec 22, 2019
Length: TBA
Purchase Tickets
If you enjoy improv, this is a great show where you can help guide the show. Plus, fill your bellies with a full Continental Breakfast.
The Metropolitan Opera, 30 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023, map
Dates: Dec 15, 2019 to Jan 4, 2020
Length: 102 minutes
Purchase Tickets
Composed by Mozart just before his death, this opera is brought to life in NYC through a mix of animation, dialogue, and singing. It’s a great introduction opera and it’s easy to follow the struggle between light and dark.
Marquis Theatre, 210 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036, map
Dates: Nov 29, 2019 to Jan 5th, 2020
Length: 130 minutes
Purchase Tickets
Celebrate this magical time of year with some actual magic! The amazing cast will use illusions, mentalism, technology, and more to make you question reality. See Shin Lim, Darcy Oake, Adam Trent, Colin Cloud, Chloe Crawford, and Light Balance.
Essential Tips
- NYC gets extremely busy during the holidays so pick up tickets as soon as you know you want to go to one of these shows.
- Looking for other Broadway shows? Check out our post.
- Trains tend to run slow or late when the weather is bad. If it’s snowing, give yourself plenty of time to get to the venue.
Best Places to Stay Near the Theater District in NYC
Have you seen any of the Christmas shows in NYC?
Did you enjoy this post? Pin it for later
Esther + Jacob
The Tank, 312 W 36th St, New York, NY 10018, map
Dates: Dec 5 to Dec 20, 2018
Length: 70 minutes
This dark comedy by Greg Kotis (Urinetown) tells the story of what happens when Santa brings hi mistress and their kids to the North Pole to an unwelcoming Mrs. Claus.
The Tank, 312 W 36th St, New York, NY 10018, map
Dates: Dec 5 to Dec 20, 2018
Length: 70 minutes
This dark comedy by Greg Kotis (Urinetown) tells the story of what happens when Santa brings hi mistress and their kids to the North Pole to an unwelcoming Mrs. Claus.
