5 shows that will hit Greater Cincinnati stages in December

Here are a few of the upcoming theater productions in Southwest Ohio that you won’t want to miss.

“Hello, Dolly!”

“Hello, Dolly!” will be at the Aronoff Center in Cincinnati from Tuesday, Dec. 3, to Sunday, Dec. 15. Starring Carolee Carmello, the national tour of “Hello, Dolly” will come to Cincinnati as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati 2019-2020 season presented by TriHealth.

“Hello, Dolly!” tells the story of the Dolly Levi, a strong-willed matchmaker who travels to New York to find a match for a penny-pinching “well-known unmarried half-a-millionaire,” Horace Vandergelder. As the winner of four Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival, “Hello, Dolly!” is a universally acclaimed smash hit that features songs like “I Put My Hand In,” “Before The Parade Passes By,” and “Penny in My Pocket,” and many more. “Hello, Dolly!” opened on Broadway in 1964.

Tickets start at $31. Tickets will be available at the Aronoff Center box office at 650 Walnut St., by visiting CincinnatiArts.org, or calling (513) 621-2787.

“Nuncrackers”

Greater Hamilton Civic Theatre will bring comedy to the stage with “Nuncrackers” at Parrish Auditorium on the campus of Miami University Hamilton from Wednesday, Dec. 4, through Sunday, Dec. 8.

Directed by Pat Ganz and produced by Kevin Brunck and Carrie Rusche, “Nuncrackers” — The Nuncrackers Christmas Musical is presented as the first TV special taped in the Cable Access Studio built by Reverend Mother in the convent basement. The production stars many of the nuns audiences love, plus Father Virgil, and four of Mount Saint Helen’s most talented students.

Show times are Wednesday, Dec. 4 through Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $17 for adults; $16 for students and senior adults. Parrish Auditorium is located at 1601 University Blvd. Visit www.ghctplay.com to purchase tickets. Tickets may also be purchased at the door for each performance, if available.

“The Gifts of the Magi”

Middletown Lyric Theatre will present “The Gifts of the Magi” on two consecutive weekends — Dec. 13-14 and Dec. 20- 21.

Directed by Josiah Miller and Charley Shafor, “The Gifts of the Magi” is a heartwarming romantic comedy about Della and Jim, who are in love but can’t afford to buy each other Christmas gifts. The dilemma is solved when they part with their most prized possessions in order to buy presents for each other — at an unexpected cost.

Showtimes are at 8 p.m., nightly with an additional matinee on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $18. Reserved seating. Tickets are available through Middletown Lyric Theatre by calling (513) 425-7140 or at www.middletownlyric.org.

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”

The Lebanon Theatre Company will present the classic, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” on Fridays, Dec. 6 and Dec. 13 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sundays, Dec. 8 and 15 at 2 p.m.

This Christmas comedy is about a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant. They are forced to cast the Herdman kids-probably the most inventively awful kids in history. Audiences won’t believe the mayhem — and the fun. Adapted from the bestselling book, this delightful production is family-friendly and has become a holiday staple.

Directed by Amy Edington-King and produced by Kate Edington, the production has a cast of more than 35, including children of all ages. Tickets are $15 each and are available at www.ltcplays.com. The theater is located at 10 S. Mechanic street in downtown Lebanon.

“The Frog Princess”

Ideal for the whole family, Cincinnati’s Ensemble Theatre will bring “The Frog Princess” to the stage on Wednesday, Dec. 4 through Saturday, Jan. 4.

Prince Ivan’s father has declared it is time for his sons to marry, but when Ivan discovers his bride-to-be is a frog, he is toad-ally disappointed. However, Vasilisa is really a kindhearted princess who is under a curse. With a revitalized script and score, this modern, musical spin on the famous Russian fairy tale celebrates the beauty within all of us. Directed by D. Lynn Meyers, “The Frog Princess” is suitable for audiences of all ages.

Tickets range from $27 to $57. For tickets and more information, go to www.ensemblecincinnati.org.

About the Author