Arts Agenda: Holiday fun for grown-ups

Each week, ArtsATL delivers a critic’s short list of the shows, exhibitions, concerts and events we recommend for the coming weeks within one discipline or venue type in the kaleidoscope of Atlanta arts and culture. Every week, we’ll present a different art form.

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November 21-December 30

Dad’s Garage ensemble skewers and twists the quintessential holiday play with Invasion: Christmas Carol. The show opens with previews on November 21 and 22, and continues through December 30.

December 6

Actor’s Express presents Brr-lesque Winter Spectacular with The Candybox Revue, a “scandalously festive burlesque show,” at 8 p.m. on December 6.

December 7-22

Stage Door Theatre’s Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) will take you on a hilarious ride through the season’s favorite stories so you don’t have to choose just one. It runs December 7 through December 22.

December 11-27

Since 2017, Y’allmark Christmas has delighted Atlanta audiences with its clever, improvised spin on our favorite guilty pleasure, the made-for-TV holiday movie. It’s a Dad’s Garage production, but performances take place at 7 Stages Theatre from December 11 through December 27.

December 11-21

The Joan Crawford-themed holiday comedy Mamma Dearest! Here We Joan Again, written by Blake Fountain, is at Out Front Theatre Company from December 11 through December 21.

December 12-13

Back again after its sold-out Actor’s Express debut in 2025, Olive & Agatha’s A Gay in a Manger is not your Sunday school nativity play. See it at Actor’s Express on December 12 and December 13.

December 17

The legendary cult filmmaker takes to the stage in A John Waters Christmas with his traditional one-man monologue, extolling the virtues of everyone’s favorite holiday. See it at 8 p.m. December 17 at Variety Playhouse.

December 18-21

Actor’s Express hosts Libby’s Annual Christmas Cabaret: ‘Ho, Ho, Home for the Holidays and a Connie Sure Day Christmas’ with legendary Atlanta song stylist Libby Whittemore December 18 through December 21.

December 19 and 30

In A BlackGround Christmas, BlackGround transforms classic holiday films featuring an all-white (or mostly white) cast by shifting the focus to what Black people were doing during the movie, utilizing improvised comedy. Performances are at 8 p.m. December 19 and 30 at the Southwest Arts Center.

December 26

Nina West hosts A Drag Queen Christmas with performances by Lexi Love, Shea Coulee, Jewels Sparkles, Crystal Methyd, Suzie Toot, Lydia B. Kollins and Brooke Lynn Hytes. It’s coming to Atlanta Symphony Hall at 8 p.m. December 26.