• Megan Mikailovna Samarin as Carla Mae and Lauren Snouffer as Addie Mills in Houston Grand Opera's "The House without a Christmas Tree."
Image 1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1
Megan Mikailovna Samarin as Carla Mae and Lauren Snouffer as Addie Mills in Houston Grand Opera's "The House without a Christmas Tree."
Megan Mikailovna Samarin as Carla Mae and Lauren Snouffer as Addie Mills in Houston Grand Opera's "The House without a Christmas Tree."

Want a night out with some fine actors, inspired dancers or enlightening music? This guide gets you there.

Theater

"Sleeping Beauty and Her Winter Knight"

Pop-influenced holiday musical. Presented by Theatre Under The Stars. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, through Dec. 24; $30-$108; Hobby Center, 800 Bagby; 713-558-8887, tuts.com.

"Soulful Sounds of Christmas"

Holiday story written by Chika Kaba Ma'atunde. Presented by Ensemble Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, through Dec. 30; $36-$50; 3535 Main; 713-520-0055, ensemblehouston.org.

"Brooklyn"

Broadway musical about five homeless musicians. Presented by EaDo Playhouse. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday; $25; EaDo Playhouse, 2619 McKinney; 832-210-5200, eadoplayhouse.com.

"Reckless"

Craig Lucas' dark holiday comedy. Presented by 4th Wall Theatre Company. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday; $17-$53; Studio 101, 1824 Spring; 832-786-1849, 4thwalltheatreco.com.

"A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas"

Charles Dickens' classic tale returns. Presented by the Alley Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, through Dec. 30; $44-$80; 615 Texas; 713-220-5700, alleytheatre.org.

"Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley"

Jane Austen spiritual sequel by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon. Presented by Main Street Theater. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday; $39-$45; Rice Village, 2540 Times; 713-524-9196, mainstreettheater.com.

"A Midnight Clear: A Musical Tale of Christmas"

New holiday musical by David Nehls and Kenn McLaughlin. Presented by Stages Repertory Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, through Dec. 24; $25-$68. 3201 Allen Parkway; 713-527-0123, stagestheatre.com.

"Panto Cinderella"

Holiday comedy, with music and lyrics by Gregg Coffin. Presented by Stages Repertory Theatre. 7 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, 7 p.m. Wednesday, through Dec. 31. $25-$59; 3201 Allen Parkway; 713-527-0123, stagestheatre.com.

Classical/Opera

Handel's "Messiah"

Baroque masterpiece that's now a holiday tradition. Presented by the Houston Symphony. 8 p.m. Thursday at Sugar Land Baptist Church; 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday; Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana; $29-$130; 713-224-4240, houstonsymphony.org.

"Hansel & Gretel"

Modern, shorter and revamped version of the classic opera. Presented by Rec Room. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, through Dec. 23; $25, students $15; 100 Jackson; 713-344-1291, recroomarts.org.

"The House Without a Christmas Tree"

Based on the beloved children's novel. Presented by Houston Grand Opera. 7 p.m. Thursday, 2:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; $25-$102; George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas; 713-228-6737, houstongrandopera.org.

Dance

"The Nutcracker"

Houston Ballet's lavish holiday spectacular features a menagerie of fantastical animals and other whimsical beings. With live music by the Houston Ballet Orchestra. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday and Tuesday-Wednesday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, with additional performances through Dec. 23 at Smart Financial Centre, 18111 Lexington, Sugar Land; at Hobby Center for the Performing Arts Dec. 30-Jan. 6; 100 Bagby; $35-$165; 713-227-2787, houstonballet.org.