Theater Critic Picks

These are the 12 can't-miss shows in Dallas-Fort Worth theater for December

The Firehouse Theatre presents Elf the Musical

The Firehouse Theatre brings Elf outside to The Sound at Cypress Waters.

Photo by Jason Anderson Photography

For the Twelve Days of Theater, Dallas-Fort Worth is gifting audiences holiday spectaculars (check November's round-up for even more), regional premieres, Broadway tours, returning favorites, and concerts and cabarets aplenty.

In order of start date, here are 12 local shows to watch this month:

Have Yourself a Broadway Little Christmas
MainStage Irving-Las Colinas, through December 3
Irving’s own Amy Stevenson and Craig Boleman are back with an all-star cast of Dallas-Fort Worth’s best musical talents to perform favorite holiday songs made famous by Broadway shows and movie musicals. The production will include hits from a variety of musical favorites, including White Christmas, Mame, Holiday Inn, Elf, and more. The evening concludes with a holiday sing-along as well as auction and raffle opportunities.

Elf
The Firehouse Theatre, through December 12
Based on the beloved holiday film, this hilarious, fish-out-of-water comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity. Faced with the harsh realities of the human world, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. The production takes place outdoors at The Sound at Cypress Waters.

Black Nativity
Bishop Arts Theatre Center, through December 18
Directed by Zetra Goodlow and Albert Wash II, this hand-clapping, toe-tapping, finger-snapping theatrical wonderment, inspired by Langston Hughes' retelling of the Nativity story, returns to the BATC stage for its 17th anniversary.

Scrooge in Rouge
Stage West, December 3-24
The Royal Music Hall Variety Players' production of A Christmas Carol is in a pickle after 20 members of the company suddenly fall ill. This leaves the three remaining members to plow through a musical performance of the Dickens classic. Expect missed cues, unfamiliar characters, and costume mishaps aplenty. With cheeky puns and bawdy songs, this quick-change, cross-dressing version of the Christmas tale is a hilarious holiday treat.

Paddington Saves Christmas
Dallas Children's Theater, December 5-23
When Paddigton and the Browns' housekeeper, Mrs. Bird, run out of sugar for the seasonal marmalade jam they are preparing, Paddington heads next door to borrow some from Mr. Curry. Unfortunately, the usually grumpy Mr. Curry is even more short-tempered than normal as he prepares for a visit from his great-aunt, who is a stickler for tidiness. Paddington volunteers to help him with his chores, but his good intentions end up leading to chaos. Will Paddington be able to fix everything in time for everyone to properly celebrate the holidays?

Oy Vey in a Manger
Uptown Players, December 10-12
Angel, Winnie, Trixie, and Trampolina try to sell off their manger — yes, that manger — before it's foreclosed upon. Crises arise, secrets are revealed, Jewish-Gentile tensions surface, and mayhem ensues — all in glorious four-part harmony.

A Phunk Dr's Christmas
Jubilee Theatre, December 10-12
The longtime house band for Jubilee Theatre, and one of the hottest cover bands in North Texas, the Phunk Dr’s will lead in a concert of music, comedy, and more, celebrating the holiday season and featuring some of Jubilee Theatre’s long-time performers.

An Oak Cliff Carol
Urban Arts Center, December 16-24
This female-focused adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is set in the heart of Dallas' southern sector and follows the journey of Elana Scrooge, a self-made businesswoman, as she is shown the error of her ways. Adapted by UAC producing artistic director Jiles R King II, the show is filled with R&B, soul, and gospel music.

A Winter's Cabaret
Amphibian Stage, December 17-18
Broadway's best come to Fort Worth to celebrate the holidays with a festive selection of winter favorites. The production features Kevin Smith Kirkwood (Kinky Boots), Nicole Ferguson (My Fair Lady), and musical director Drew Wutke.

A Merry Cirque: A Family Holiday Spectacular
Coppell Arts Center, December 17-19
Audiences will be on the edge of their seats enjoying thrilling daredevils, electrifying jugglers, mesmerizing acrobats, hilarious clowns, and endearing four-legged performers, all presented by Lone Star Circus.

Jersey Boys
Dallas Summer Musicals, December 28-January 9
They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note. But while their harmonies were perfect onstage, offstage it was a very different story. Go behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Tony and Grammy Award-winning true-life musical phenomenon.

Prime Time for Murder!
Pegasus Theatre, December 29-January 16
The world premiere of the 21st Harry Hunsacker adventure takes place in a television studio, where the program Mystery Theater is broadcast live. The year is 1950, and television is in its infancy. Harry, Nigel, and Lt. Foster have been invited to the studio by the producer of Mystery Theater, Waldorf Killian, to be consultants on the show. But when bodies start turning up, our trio will have to defend one of their own and find the real killer before it’s too late.

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Theater News

Dallas' Kitchen Dog Theater unveils powerful 2026-2027 season lineup

Photo by Cameron Cobb

Kitchen Dog Theater in Dallas will put on three mainstage productions for their 2026-2027 season.

Kitchen Dog Theater in Dallas has revealed the lineup for the 2026-2027 season, featuring a slate of plays that boasts power players like kings, prime ministers, space force commanders, and would-be presidents.

According to a release, the theater company's 36th season — their "most powerful yet" — will consist of three mainstage productions at its new permanent home in the Design District, as well as the annual New Works Festival, featuring a readings series and the 26th annual D-PAC PUP (Playwrights Under Progress) Fest.

The season will start with The Absentee by Julia Doolittle, running September 10-October 4, 2026. The play was the winner of the 2019-2020 Woodward/Newman Drama Award.

Far out in the Milky Way, “Beacons” serve as lighthouses for warping spaceships around the galaxy. When a U.S. Space Force ship explodes in the galaxy, the Operator finds herself alone in deep space, with only her ship’s AI for companionship. That is, until a persistent canvasser calls, desperate to convince her to vote absentee in the 2088 election.

As the Operator waits for the clean up to be over, she finds she has to come to terms with her isolation, grief, and her political voice.

The season's second production comes four months later, with Equivocation by Bill Cain, running February 4-28, 2027. In 1605 England, a terrorist plots to assassinate King James I and blow Parliament to kingdom come. Shagspeare (after a contemporary spelling of the Bard's name) is commissioned by the prime minister, to write the “true historie” of the plot. And it must have witches — the king wants witches.

But as Shag and the acting company of the Globe investigate the plot, they discover that the king's version of the story might, in fact, be a coverup. Shag and his actors are confronted with the ultimate moral and artistic dilemma. Speak truth to power and perhaps lose their heads? Or take the money and lie? Is there a third option? Equivocation?

A high-stakes political thriller with contemporary resonances, Equivocation gallops from the great Globe to the Tower of London to the halls of Parliament to the heart of Judith, Shag's younger daughter, who finds herself unexpectedly at the very heart of the political, dramatic and — ultimately — human mystery.

The final mainstage production of the season comes at the 2027 New Works Festival with Black Republican by KDT Artistic Company Member Jamal Gibran Sterling, running June 3-27, 2027.

Originally featured as a Staged Reading in the 2026 New Works Festival, the ambitious first play by Sterling centers on a Black Republican candidate on the national stage who finds his campaign threatened by an activist who challenges everything he claims to stand for. Their battle exposes uncomfortable truths about race, politics, and the stories we tell ourselves.

In addition to Black Republican, the 2027 New Works Festival will showcase four staged readings of some of the newest and most exciting Texas-based playwrights. Each reading will feature accomplished Dallas-Fort Worth actors and directors to highlight the breadth of talent in the area.

The final part of the festival is D-PAC PUP (Playwrights Under Progress) Fest, featuring six staged readings of jury-selected plays written by Dallas-Fort Worth high school students and featuring student actors directed by area professionals. PUP Fest is the culmination of Dallas Playwriting Arts Collective (D-PAC), a partnership with Dallas ISD and Junior Players.

Kitchen Dog Theater offers two season subscription packages for their inaugural season in their new facility. The Kitchen Dog package includes a ticket to all three mainstage productions for any performance date for $90+ $8 fees for adults and $75 +$8 fees for students and seniors (ages 65+). The Saver Dog package includes a ticket to all three mainstage productions for Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays only. It is $60 + $8 fees for adults and $45 + $8 fees for students and seniors.

Both packages grant full access to the Staged Reading Series and PUP Fest. Subscribers also receive premium reserved seating for in-person performances, as well as subscriber-only discounts on additional single tickets, 2026 special events, and KDT merchandise.

Subscription packages are on sale now, and single tickets for each show will go on sale on Monday, August 24, at kitchendogtheater.org.

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