My kids are older now — 17 and 14 — but there’s still the requisite privilege of engaging in and absorbing as much Christmas magic as we can around town before the sleigh bells fade into a cold, silent January. Granted, we can’t see and do it all. Nor would we want to. But isn’t it nice to have options from the get-go?

Fort Worth has so many theatrical productions to delight your family during the holiday season. And imagine! There are kid-free date night options, too, even in the dead center of the Christmas crush, courtesy of a cabaret offering (thanks, Casa!). There’s even a non-Christmas theme show for anybody needing a break from it all (smiling at you, Stage West). Yes! You officially have our permission to mix it up and make this twinkly swath of the year what you need it to be (kind of like when you, um, enhance your eggnog in the corner of Aunt Connie’s living room).

Now, get thee to your calendars because it’s time to set the stage for the most entertaining holiday season yet. Whether you’ve got littles, bigs, a group of friends, or just your jolly self, the holidays are tops in Fort Worth!

Courtesy of Theatre Off The Square

A Twisted Christmas Carol

December 6 – 22
Theatre Off The Square, Weatherford

On Christmas Eve, barbecue restaurant owner Buford Johnson argues with his wife, Darla. Fed up with the holiday season, he proclaims he’s skipping Christmas before storming out. As he drives away, his pickup is hit by a twister. In a coma, Buford is visited by his late business partner, Hank Walker, who leads Buford on a Dickensian journey (with a Texas twist) to holiday joy.

Courtesy of Amphibian Stage

A Winter’s Cabaret: An Evening with Mick Lynch

December 6 & 7
Amphibian Stage

Originally from Dublin, singer/songwriter Mick Lynch has been writing songs for his bands The Guggenheim Grotto and Storyman, as well as for television, for decades. For two nights only, you can enjoy an intimate concert of music and storytelling that will be sure to warm your heart and make you smile.

Courtesy of Stage West

The Play That Goes Wrong

November 29 – December 22
Stage West

The holiday season, while wonderfully magical, can be a bit overwhelming. Tinsel overload, am I right? Why not take a night off? You are invited to the opening night of a play called The Murder at Haversham Manor, where Murphy is being proved right: everything that can go wrong is going spectacularly wrong. The leading lady is unconscious, the corpse can’t play dead, and the actors trip over everything (including their lines). The evening is full of mayhem, mishaps, and misadventures, making a perfect break from the holiday madness.

Courtesy of Casa Mañana

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

November 29 – December 23
Casa Mañana

Molly seems to have lost her Christmas spirit, and Molly’s mother is determined to help her find it again. To that end, Molly and her mother go on an extraordinary scavenger hunt through New York City. From Radio City Music Hall to Macy’s, Molly and her mother search for Molly’s Christmas spirit. This family-friendly show features holiday parodies of today’s most popular songs and will make even the Scroogiest of Scrooges smile!

Courtesy of Jubilee Theatre

Auntie Explains X-mas

December 6 – 15
Jubilee Theatre
Performing at the W.E. Scott Theatre at Arts Fort Worth

This delightful family musical brings the magic of Christmases past and present. Written by Jubiliee Theatre’s Founding Artistic Director, Rudy Eastman, the play embodies everything that makes the holiday season special. With toe-tapping music, unforgettable characters, and a message of unity and joy, Auntie Explains X-mas is sure to become a cherished holiday tradition for audiences of all ages.

Courtesy of Stolen Shakespeare Guild

Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley

December 6 – 22
Stolen Shakespeare Guild
Performing at the Sanders Theatre at Arts Fort Worth

Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley is a charming continuation of Jane Austen’s beloved characters that comes to life through the wit and warmth of Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon. Besties Georgiana Darcy and Kitty Bennet step out from the shadows of their older siblings to forge their own path in a tale of sisterhood, music, and holiday cheer. Directed by Lauren and Jason Morgan, join the Guild members on a delightful journey to Pemberley, filled with romance and the spirit of Christmas!

Courtesy of Theatre Arlington

Holiday Inn

December 6 – 22
Theatre Arlington

The beloved 1942 film classic starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire and adapted for the stage comes to Theatre Arlington in a charming crowd-pleaser featuring one glorious Irving Berlin number after another, each celebrating a different Holiday. Here’s a little bit of holiday trivia: Irving Berlin wrote Bing Crosby’s iconic holiday classic “White Christmas” for the film. This production is a perfect holiday treat suitable for the whole family.

Courtesy of Texas Ballet Theater

The Nutcracker

December 13 – December 29
Texas Ballet Theater
Performing at Bass Performance Hall*

Since its first performance in 1892, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker has evoked the wonder and joy of the holiday season. Texas Ballet Theater’s spectacular production, choreographed by Artistic Director Emeritus Ben Stevenson, O.B.E., has become a Fort Worth holiday tradition. Children and their adults may visit the Kingdom of Sweets before the show to meet a real ballerina, write a letter to the dancers, and learn all about the ballet.

*Dallas performances will take place at the Winspear Opera House from November 29 – December 8, if you must know.

The post The Stages of Christmas first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.