Oh Kansas City, how my favorite Christmas memories include going to our favorite shows: Bringing the WHOLE family, grandparents and cousins, to the sold out Christmas shows at The Coterie. Taking my daughters to see The Nutcracker or a nice date night to see A Christmas Carol at the KC Rep Theater. All of these memories have one thing in common, LIVE ONSTAGE PERFORMANCES.
Much of what we love and look forward to seems so different this year! But even without indoor audiences, the tradition can live on as theaters adapt to the post-corona environment by streaming their shows!
Different isn’t always bad. World class performances, in the comfort of my home, even in my PJs. Free – or the equivalent cost of 1 ticket. Now instead of just including my girls – my WHOLE family can enjoy The Nutcracker. And if they get antsy during the long performance, popcorn and candy are readily available.
These Christmas shows are the lifeline of theaters, generating revenues that sustain them throughout the rest of the year. Let’s rally them with our support – to make sure these traditions continue.
KC Rep Theater
Kansas City’s favorite holiday tradition comes directly to you! KC Rep’s “A Christmas Carol” digital stream is not a filmed version of our traditional production, but rather a brand-new experience created just for this moment. It’s a fireside storytelling version of A Christmas Carol, in which four of your favorite KCRep actors will each bring to life a chapter of the book. “We just knew we had to continue,” Stuart Carden said, the artistic director of Kansas City Repertory Theater.
For more Information: https://kcrep.org/a-christmas-carol
The SNOWY Day
The Coterie & Mesner Puppet Theater
The Coterie presents Mesner Puppet Theater’s production of The Snowy Day and other stories by Ezra Jack Keats, which celebrates the magic and boundless possibilities of the first snowfall! Follow Peter and his friends as they romp and play, starting snow ball fights and making snow angels in this uplifting musical play about childhood joys and living life to the fullest each day. Using inventive puppetry, kids of all ages are sure to giggle and laugh!
Streaming on demand, now thru Jan 3: https://thecoterie.org/performance/snowy-day#.X9FAvdhTmUk
And to ALL…A SWIPE right
Theater in the Park – Johnson County Parks & Rec
And if you’re in the mood for an original, new age Christmas show, check out Theater in the Park’s newest Virtual show:
Dating is hard. Especially in the age of virtual meetings and endless swiping. Swipe left? Swipe right? Whew. It’s a crap shoot.
But then… someone catches your eye!
Enter Jordan (a self-professed “Grinch”) and Taylor (owner of a delightful reindeer-antlered-hat… ‘nough said). Is it possible that Taylor can crack Jordan’s bah-humbug crusted heart and plant the seed of Christmas cheer? Or will it end up being just another cheer-less holiday? After an endless stream of left swipes… this might be the “right” one!
Virtual Opening Night is on December 18, 2020 7:30pm!
For more information: https://www.theatreinthepark.org/
Other On Demand Productions
While supporting local is always our goal, we also realize $$$ may be sparse this year! This one-hour production of “A Christmas Carol” from Providence’s Trinity Rep is offering a FREE online version to stream! Check out details here: https://www.trinityrep.com/show/a-christmas-carol-2020/
And really, the options are endless once you start looking. I may never have the chance to watch The Nutcracker performed live in NYC, but thanks to Covid, I can stream it with my whole family present!
The Nutcracker: New York City Ballet has partnered with Marquee TV to make The Nutcracker available for streaming for most of the month of December. Each event is ticketed. Runs from December 11 through January 3.
WRITTEN BY: APRIL CALLISON
