Don’t Stay Home for the Holidays! See Live Theatre in Cincinnati December 2025

It’s full steam ahead–to the Holidays and the New Year. Do something special with people you love. Give the experience of live theatre!

Looking for family fun? Date Night? A raucous evening with adult beverages? Not into or celebrating Christmas shows and want to hear a new story about the human experience and overcoming adversity? Here are 12 amazing experiences being offered Downtown or at greater Cincinnati area theatres.  These are LIVE performances–with professional performers, designers, and technicians.

In order of appealing the the youngest at heart, to adults only here is a list:

1. Elf the Musical, Jr – The Childrens’ Theatre of Cincinnati. Runs Dec. 5-21. The familiar story of Buddy the Elf comes to life. For ages 4 years and older. Run Time: 70 minutes, told by a cast of mostly adult professional actors. 
2. It’s Fritz! – Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. Runs Dec. 3-31. Cincinnati’s favorite Hippo gets a new brother! This musical is ideal for 4 years and older. Run Time: 1 hour 45 minutes, plus an intermission.
3. A Christmas Carol – Playhouse in the Park. Running now through Dec. 28. Run Time: 1 hour 45 minutes, plus intermission. A Christmas Carol is suitable for general audiences, including children ages 5 and older. However, some younger children could find a couple of the ghostly appearances a little scary.
4. Because You’re Mine – also at the Playhouse. Runs Dec 3-31. A celebration of the great loves and love songs of country music featuring songs from Johnny and June, George and Tammy and more. Recommended for age 13 and up. 
5. A Christmas Carol – Northern Kentucky University School for the Arts. Runs through December 7. This is an immersive interpretation of Dicken’s beloved story. (Read our reviews HERE!)
6. Holiday Inn – Covedale Center for the Performing Arts. December 4-28. Based on the classic film, this joyous musical features thrilling dance numbers, laugh-out-loud comedy and a parade of Irving Berlin hits, including “Blue Skies,” “Steppin’ Out With My Baby,” “Heat Wave,” “White Christmas,” “Cheek to Cheek,” and many more! 
7. Die Hard is a Christmas Movie – Know Theatre of Cincinnati. November 28 – December 21, 2025. “This Holiday Season, one family will risk it all to make it to Christmas morning together … or die hard trying.” Run time: 1 hour and 45 minutes plus intermission. Rated: PG-13.
8. Aint True & Uncle False for the Holidays – also at Know Theatre. December 7-14. “Part storytelling show, part back-porch concert.” Featuring Paul Strickland and Erika MacDonald (and her kazoo) and sure to warm your heart.
9. Seasonal Shorts – Human Race Theatre, Dayton’s professional regional theatre. December 10-21. Six short plays celebrating seasonal memories, moments and silliness—for adults only! 
10. Every Christmas Story Told and Then Some – Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. December 11-28. a slightly irreverent (but undeniably adoring) look at all of your “Beloved Holiday Classics” including pop culture favorites like It’s a Wonderful Life, The Grinch, Rudolph, Charlie Brown and more. Content Advisory: Contains mild adult humor, PG13; not recommended for anyone who still believes in Santa. Run Time: 100 minutes plus one intermission. (Love’s Labour’s Lost runs through December 6.)
11. Hamilton – Broadway in Cincinnati at the Aronoff Center. December 16, 2025 – January 4, 2026. Hamilton is the epic musical saga that follows the rise of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as he fights for honor, love, and a legacy that would shape the course of a nation. Great for middle schoolers and above.
12. Juliet – Falcon Theatre, Newport, KY. December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 & 20 2025. Some shows in December have nothing to do with a holiday, but tell a story of survival, building love and empathy for our fellow humans. Juliet is a powerful and important 90-minute one-woman story. The play is based on the experience of the author’s family under the brutal Communist regime in Romania during the early 1960s. The play is told by Andras Visky’s mother, the title character, as a dialogue between her and God and sometimes Death as she struggles to survive with her seven young children in a communist gulag. 

Theatres Offer Gift Packages for Live Theatre

Give the gift of live theatre, if December is jam-packed. Click on the links above and/or some of our other member companies. Many, like the Carnegie and Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati are even offering “Black Friday” discounts all weekend.