There’s a lot to be thankful for this month as The Kimmel Center provides a variety of amazing performances for the entire family! Whether you’re a local resident or you’re coming home for the holidays, create unforgettable moments here with loved ones. The November and December calendar brings holiday cheer with theater, celebrations of music, and many more to choose from. Check out our recommendations of must-see shows premiering this month.
Mean Girls
November 19 – December 1 | 7:30 pm
Academy Of Music
Mean Girls hardly needs an introduction. The hilarious hit musical, an adaptation of the original 2004 film, comes from an award-winning creative team including Tina Fey. Be a witness to Cady Heron as she navigates high school as a transfer student from Africa to a suburban town in Illinois. As a naïve newbie, she falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies notoriously known as “The “Plastics.” Come to watch all of your favorite “fetch” moments from the film unfold before your eyes!
The Spongebob Musical
December 3 – 15 | 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 6:30 pm, 7:30 pm, 8:00 pm
Forrest Theatre
He typically lives in a pineapple under the sea, but this December he’s coming to a stage near you. This musical has been declared as “Brilliant!” by The New York Times. Broadway’s best creative minds have brought life to the beloved Nickelodeon series. It’s a show that the entire family will enjoy!
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®
December 6 – 31 | 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm, 7:00 pm
Academy Of Music
It’s not officially the holiday season until George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker debuts. This classic production never gets old, and the Pennsylvania Ballet always does it justice. The show features all of your favorite scenes from the festive family party to the exhilarating battle of the Mouse King. The fairytale continues all the way to the delectable Land of Sweets!
A Soulful Christmas
December 10 | 7:30 pm
Verizon Hall
A Soulful Christmas returns to the Kimmel Center with an inspiring, uplifting communal gathering of regional choristers. They’ll be performing holiday spirituals and gospel favorites. There is no better way to feel the Christmas spirit that to celebrate with co-hosts Dyana Williams (100.3 FM), Patty Jackson (105.3 FM), and Fred Blain (WNAP-AM 1160). Don’t miss out on the holiday cheer and sounds from the following local organizations:
- Arch Street Presbyterian Church
- Citywide Praise Dancers
- Deliverance Evangelical Church
- Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church
- Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church
- Mount Carmel Baptist Church
- PA Commonwealth COGIC Mass Choir
- Philadelphia Heritage Chorale
- Philadelphia Heritage Youth Chorale
- Saint Raymond’s of Penafort Catholic Church
- Universal African Dancers and Drummers
Rupi Kaur
December 14 | 8:00 pm
Merriam Theater
Poet, artist, and writer Rupi Kaur is making her debut appearance at the Merriam Theater stage. Rupi is an international phenomenon who wrote, illustrated, and self-published her first collection, milk and honey. Come to watch Rupi perform her long-awaited second collection of poems, the sun and her flowers, published in 2017.
A Charlie Brown Christmas Live On Stage
December 20 – 21 | 1:30 pm, 5:00 pm, 7:00 pm
Merriam Theater
The holiday classic is gracing the Merriam Theater stage in the all-new touring production. Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the entire Peanuts gang as they create their own Christmas play and learn the true meaning of the season. A good time for the entire family to enjoy, come to witness Charles M. Schulz’s timeless story of the spirit of Christmas.
For a full list of events, visit the Kimmel Center’s website. Follow the Kimmel Center on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates throughout the season.
