There’s a lot of fan service out there for theater buffs this December, whether it’s heading to the movies for a sing-a-long of Wicked (I mean, come on, if you’re a Broadway person you’ve already seen it once at least, or will have by the end of Thanksgiving weekend), booking your tickets to Once Upon A Mattress with the incredible Sutton Foster at the Ahmanson, or seeking out some of the hidden gems in the local theater scene — and I promise this holiday season, those are plentiful.
We’ve put together a short list of some of the best things to take your friends, family, or just yourself to in the coming weeks.
Some people say L.A. isn’t a theater town, but I beg to differ! A ticket to any of these shows would make a great holiday or December birthday gift and you’ll support the arts at the same time.
It’s All Your Fault, Tyler Price
Last weekend, I had the pleasure of seeing one of those gems, It’s All Your Fault, Tyler Price, at the Hudson Backstage Theater in Hollywood. The musical is ambitious and punches well above its black box theater weight, telling the story of a family whose daughter Lucy has epilepsy. The family’s struggles are seen through the eyes of their middle school-aged son, Jackson, who stages a musical following a bullying incident at school.
Reminiscent of recent hits like Dear Evan Hansen and Next to Normal, Tyler Price has serious Broadway power behind it in the form of director and co-writer Kristin Hanggi (Rock of Ages). Catch it before it wraps on Dec. 15.
Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical
If you have a 7- to 10-year-old in your life, you’re probably only too familiar with the phenomenon that is Cat Kid Comic Club (and its erstwhile companion, Dog Man). After the success of last season’s Dog Man: The Musical at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, the TheaterWorksUSA crew is back with Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical, which teaches kids about imagination and creativity through Dav Pilkey’s popular characters. I took my favorite 10-year-old who is a fan of the books, and he gave it a glowing review but thought kids younger than him would like it even more. It’s on until Jan. 5.
Once Upon a Mattress
It’s not every day that we get the original Broadway cast members in L.A. for a touring production. This December, we get a double bill for the revival of Once Upon a Mattress, with Sutton Foster (Anything Goes, The Music Man) and Michael Urie (whom I last saw in Buyer and Cellar at the Taper back in 2014) on stage for the better part of a month in Once Upon a Mattress. The fun retelling of The Princess and the Pea was praised during its NYC run, particularly the “zany” energy between Foster and Urie, says the NY Times. It plays at the Ahmanson Dec. 10 through Jan. 5.
Back to the Future: The Musical
Great Scott! Perfect for kids and '80s-nostalgic adults alike, the Broadway tour of Back to the Future: The Musical is playing at the Pantages through Dec. 1 and then heads south to Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa from Dec. 26 through Jan. 5.
I saw the show in London last fall and while it sticks mostly to the film’s story (and avid fans will definitely sit there and point out all the overlaps and differences for you), it thrives on its breaks from the movie with some truly out-there numbers that had me dancing in my seat. And I won’t spoil it, but the special effects rival a ride at Universal Studios.
La Cage Aux Folles
The hottest drag club in town is the Pasadena Playhouse — at least until the delightful production of Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein’s modern classic La Cage Aux Folles closes on Dec. 15. Starring Cheyenne Jackson (Call Me Kat, American Horror Story: Apocalypse) and Kevin Cahoon (Shucked!), this show is the serotonin hit we all need this fall.
New Works Festival
One of my favorite theater events of the year is the New Works Fest at IAMA Theatre Company in Atwater Village, running from Dec. 5-15. Showcasing new plays by local talent, this year’s crop features readings of several new plays including Hit Machine (or True Wes) by IAMA favorite Jonathan Caren and Chloe Hung’s Care Less.
Fiddler on the Roof
And get in while you can — Jason Alexander (Seinfeld, The Producers) takes his last bow as Teyve in Fiddler on the Roof at La Mirada on Dec. 1. Taking on the role originated by Zero Mostel on Broadway, Alexander steps in as the village elder, seeing his Jewish family through hardship, change, and love in rural Anatevka. Fun fact: Fiddler was the first musical I ever saw (I was 7), so let’s say it’s good for all ages!
Waiting for Godot
Just the mention of Waiting for Godot can elicit a strong reaction. People either remember reading the tragicomic Beckett play in school fondly and appreciate its long-lasting cultural relevance or they groan at the memory of making it through, finding it tedious. While a challenging play for sure, this production at the Geffen in Westwood has been getting great reviews and stars Aasaf Mandvi (Ghosts) and Rainn Wilson (The Office) as Estragon and Vladimir through Dec. 21.
Wicked
If you haven’t gotten your fill of Wicked at the movies, the Broadway version is coming to the Pantages starting Dec. 4. Go see it and be that person comparing every scene and difference from the stage to film.
The Lythgoe Family's Panto franchise
One of my favorite things about holiday time in England is the ubiquitous tradition of going to see a pantomime. Every neighborhood puts on their own version of a twisted fairy tale, with tropes that have withstood the test of time. Here in L.A., we have one of our very own each year — and this year, two! — produced by Lythgoe Family Panto. Peter Pan & Tinkerbell is on at the Scherr Forum Theater in Thousand Oaks from Dec. 13 to Dec. 29, and Rapunzel’s Holiday Wish stars Sally Struthers at Laguna Playhouse Dec. 7 through 29.
Pacific Overtures
East West Players just extended the run of their latest, Pacific Overtures, through Dec. 8, so you have a few more chances to catch the Sondheim musical at the Asian-American theater company’s home stage in Little Tokyo. The vintage 1976 show may not be Sondheim’s most well-known, but the musical, about Japan's westernization following a period of isolationism, was the first to play at East West Players back in 1979. This iteration features well-reviewed performances from West End vet Jon Jon Briones (The Reciter) and Gedde Watanabe.
Kooza
Cirque du Soleil is always a crowd-pleaser. The Canadian acrobats’ latest, Kooza, is on here under the big top at the Santa Monica Pier through Jan. 5.
BATSU
The Bourbon Room is curated exquisitely. If there’s a quirky show promoted there, I will always try to see it, and this December is no exception. BATSU is a Japanese game show- slash-theater-slash-improv event that will make its L.A. debut with five performances at the Hollywood venue next month. Playbill videographer Ethan Treiman called the experience, which premiered at Edinburgh Fringe “maybe my favorite thing I’ve ever seen.” Count me in.
Christmas and beyond
For more traditional holiday fare on stage, there’s a wealth of Christmas delights, from the sublime to the silly. Debbie Allen Dance is putting on Hot Chocolate Nutcracker in Redondo Beach, A Noise Within is doing A Christmas Carol, the L.A. Ballet also has the Nutcracker on and the American Ballet Theatre will visit Segerstrom with their version of the Tchaikovsky holiday classic as well. If you haven’t had enough of Clara and the Mouse King, Bob Baker’s Marionette Theatre is putting on a charming show at Sierra Madre Playhouse. On the comedy side, Bob’s Holiday Office Party is at the Odyssey and the musical White Christmas is in Simi Valley. Plus, don’t miss the annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration with a wide range of free performances at the Music Center on Christmas Eve.
And as we head into the new year, the theater scene only gets better. Keep an eye out for the new Larissa Fasthorse play Fake it Till You Make It at the Taper, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Pantages, and Sondheim’s final show Old Friends premiering in a pre-Broadway run at the Ahmanson with Broadway superstars Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga.
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