A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (adapted by Geoff Elliott) and starring Geoff Elliott, Henri Lubatti, Kasey Mahaffy, Trisha Miller, Anthony Adu, and Dan Lin runs from November 29 to December 24, 2025 at A Noise Within. Photo Courtesy of A Noise Within.
Beautiful Blessed Child by Jenny Smith Cohn runs until December 13, 2025 at Boston Court Pasadena. Photo Courtesy of Boston Court Pasadena.
Bob Baker's "Nutcracker" by Bob Baker Marionette Theater, featuring the Bob Baker Marionette Theater ensemble, runs until January 4, 2026, at Sierra Madre Playhouse. Photo Courtesy of Sierra Madre Playhouse.
For the theater-goer with a discerning eye, this week’s offerings in Pasadena promise a varied assortment of performances—from the daringly new to the comfortably familiar. Whether your tastes lean towards the weighty or the whimsical, the stages are set and the players are poised. Below, a selection of what the local theaters have in store, each worth a curtain call in its own right.
If you want your theatrical performance listed in our weekly directory, please contact David Cross, Theater Section Manager at (626) 737-8486 extension 8 and david.cross@pasadenanowmagazine.com
The Week on Stage
A Christmas Carol — A Noise Within’s musical adaptation treats Charles Dickens’ ghost story as both civic ritual and fever dream, staging Ebenezer Scrooge’s nocturnal journey through past, present, and yet-to-come as a kind of community séance, complete with original music, swirling movement, and sharply etched character work that plays like a reckoning rather than sentimental makeover. Adapted by Geoff Elliott from Dickens’ 1843 novella, this long-running Los Angeles holiday staple uses every word from the original text without a single line added or changed. Geoff Elliott and Henri Lubatti share the role of Ebenezer Scrooge; Kasey Mahaffy as Bob Cratchit; Trisha Miller as the Ghost of Christmas Past; Anthony Adu as the Ghost of Christmas Present; Dan Lin as the Ghost of Christmas Future. Directed by Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Geoff Elliott, with original music by Robert Oriol and music direction by Rod Bagheri; scenic designer Frederica Nascimento; costume designer Angela Balogh Calin. At A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, 91107. (626) 356-3100. Runs from November 29 to December 24, 2025. Thurs.-Fri. at 7 p.m.; Sat. at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sun. at 2 p.m., with one preview on Sat., Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. and three additional performances on Tues., Dec. 23 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Wed., Dec. 24 at 2 p.m.. Tickets from $51.50. Visit www.anoisewithin.org
Beautiful Blessed Child — Daria Miyeko Marinelli’s recursive family drama (2025) follows Aimiko on a road trip with their mother that continually rewinds and rewrites itself, transforming a simple journey into a haunting meditation on memory, obligation, and the small violences of love. Each retelling exposes new fractures in the family myth, until the “blessed child” becomes less a person than an exhausting role everyone is trapped playing. Featured in Boston Court’s 2025 New Play Reading Festival, this new work has not yet received major awards. Cast information to be announced. Produced by Boston Court Pasadena. At Boston Court Pasadena, 70 N. Mentor Ave, Pasadena 91106. (626) 683-6801. Runs from December 13, 2025 to December 13, 2025. Sat. at 4:30 PM. Tickets typically $20–$25; NPRF “2-pack” discount available for attending both festival readings. Visit bostoncourtpasadena.org/upcoming-events.
Bob Baker’s “Nutcracker” — A whimsical marionette reimagining of the classic ballet, first crafted in 1969, this enchanting production transforms the traditional tale into a dreamlike spectacle of large-scale puppetry and imaginative storytelling. The Bob Baker Marionette Theater ensemble brings to life the beloved characters of Clara, the Nutcracker, and the Sugarplum Fairy through intricate marionettes and magical staging. Meticulously preserved and lovingly adapted over decades, this production offers a unique theatrical experience that bridges generations of holiday wonder. At Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W Sierra Madre Blvd. (626) TICKETS. Runs from November 29, 2025, to January 4, 2026. Performances include multiple daily shows on weekends and select weekday evenings, with times varying. Tickets $25. Visit sierramadreplayhouse.org.
ANNIE – Runs Fridays through Sundays December 12 to December 21, 2025.
The beloved musical with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and book by Thomas Meehan. This production has two separate youth casts joining an adult cast and ensemble to bring a rendition of this classic for the holidays. Directed by Gloria Bennett and produced by Young Stars Theatre Academy. At Fremont Centre Theatre, 1000 Fremont Ave, Suite 100, South Pasadena, CA 91030. Tickets and showtimes are at:
COMING UP ON STAGE
Amadeus — Runs February 11 to March 8. Peter Shaffer’s electrifying 1979 Tony and Oscar-winning masterpiece explores the toxic rivalry between Antonio Salieri, the court’s celebrated musician, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a vulgar prodigy whose transcendent genius becomes a source of profound artistic torment. A biting examination of ambition, envy, and the capricious nature of artistic brilliance that transforms musical history into a searing psychological drama. At Pasadena Playhouse, 39 South El Molino Avenue. (626) 356-7529. Runs February 11 to March 8. Tues.-Sat. at 8, Wed. and Sat. at 2, Sun. at 3. Tickets $35-$95. Visit www.pasadenaplayhouse.org
