Providence's Can't Miss Winter Events

By Charles Dickens Original Music by Richard Cumming Directed by Taavon Gamble November 5 – December 31, 2026Dowling TheaterCelebrating 50 Years of Holiday CheerAs the clock strikes midnight on a fateful Christmas Eve, Ebenezer Scrooge gets an unexpected visit from the ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley. In a world shaped by music, memory, and possibility, Scrooge is swept into a supernatural journey through past, present, and future. Along the way, he must confront what he has built, what he has lost, and what he still has: the power to change for the good of his community, and his very soul. This year’s 50th anniversary production, directed by company member Taavon Gamble, celebrates the beloved legacy of Trinity Rep’s annual tradition of reimagining the story anew each year.

Join us indoors for the Flea at Farm Fresh Market Hall from November through the Holidays with 75+ local indie makers, artisans, vintage vendors, food trucks, hot fresh local coffee and spirits, craft beer and cocktails, ice cream, baked goods, and more at Farm Fresh RI. Every Sunday, starting November 1 from 11 am - 3 pm through December 20 plus Black Friday Night, November 27 from 5:00 - 9:00 pm! Free to enter and park. No tickets necessary. Farm Fresh Market Hall, 10 Sims Ave, PVD. More info and apply at providenceflea.com.

Christine Noel, conductor Providence Singers, Christine Noel, Artistic Director Maya Kherani, soprano Emily Marvosh, mezzo-soprano Michael Dean, bass-baritone HANDEL: Messiah

Performances: December 17 – 10:00am - Discover Dance December 17 – 7:00pm December 18 - 7:00pm December 19 – 1:00pm*, 6:30pm December 20 – 1:00pm*, 6:30pm December 23 – 6:30pm December 26 – 1:00pm*, 6:30pm December 27 – 1:00pm* *Meet the Stars add-on! Make memories to last a lifetime with the Nutcracker Meet the Stars post-show experience at all matinee performances! Guests will get a special swag bag and private access to the stars of The Nutcracker just moments after you see them center stage! A cherished holiday tradition returns, bringing sparkle, magic, and Rhode Island charm to the holiday season. Join Clara on her enchanting journey from a festive Christmas Eve celebration to the breathtaking Land of Sweets, where toy soldiers battle, snowflakes whirl, and dreams come vividly to life. Featuring stunning choreography by Yury Yanowsky, Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, and performances by Ballet RI’s professional company artists alongside local youth from across the community, The Nutcracker is a joyful celebration of wonder, imagination, and holiday magic for audiences of all ages.

Cirque du Soleil’s first-ever holiday-themed family theatrical, ’TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE…, makes its debut in Providence.It’s the holidays, and this year, things are different. For years, Isabella and her father have read “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” together. But this year Isabella feels like she’s outgrown the family tradition. What follows is a magical journey as the poem comes to life in a vibrant, festive flurry of love and cheer with the breathtaking acrobatics Cirque du Soleil is known for – from a mesmerizing aerial straps duo and daring hoop diving to gravity-defying hair suspension and high-energy dancing. The production is performed by a cast of 26 artists from around the world and features lovable characters alongside a soundtrack of Christmas favorites reimagined by Cirque du Soleil.Part of the Encore Series

WaterFire is a multisensory experience that has drawn hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city. This series of bonfires installed on the three rivers of Downtown Providence entices with aromatic wood smoke, flickering firelight and enchanting music. Supported by: GoProvidenceOnshore programming and vendors open at 4:00 PM

Get ready to embrace the magic of the season at the Boston Pops Holiday Concert - Providence! Set against the stunning backdrop of the Providence Performing Arts Center, this enchanting evening promises to fill your heart with holiday cheer. With its grand architecture and warm ambiance, the venue creates the perfect atmosphere for an unforgettable night of festive music and joyful celebration. Join the Boston Pops as they perform beloved holiday classics that will have you humming along and tapping your feet. Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the symphonic experience, this concert is sure to become a cherished tradition. Don’t miss out on this delightful event—secure your tickets today and make memories that will last a lifetime!

Welcome to HELL’S KITCHEN, the hit musical from 17-time Grammy® Award winning Alicia Keys — inspired by her life, her music, and her community.Your journey begins with Ali, a 17-year-old girl full of fire, searching for freedom, passion, and her place in the world. Along the way, you'll meet the musical mentor who changes her life, her dynamic family, and the neighborhood that helps her grow. Relatable, raw, and refreshingly fun, HELL’S KITCHEN is a celebration of finding yourself, your purpose, and the people who lift you up.More than watching a performance, this experience pulls you out of your seat and has you buzzing when you leave, wondering who to tell about it first. The music—a mix of Keys’ greatest hits and new songs written exclusively for the show—is brought to life through exhilarating choreography. It’s a soundtrack of rebellion, life, and love that speaks to you no matter where you’re from, where you’ve been, or where you’re going.Hailed as a New York Times Critic’s Pick that is, “thrilling from beginning to end – a rare must-see!" HELL’S KITCHEN is directed by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif (Rent, Dear Evan Hansen and The Notebook), with choreography by four-time Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown, a book by Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz, and the music of Alicia Keys.Feel the energy of this multi-award-winning musical and experience where dreams begin: HELL’S KITCHEN.Part of the Taco and the White Family Foundation Broadway Series

This is Bluey’s Big Play, For Real Life. When Dad feels like a little bit of time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans! Join them as they pull out all of the games and cleverness at their disposal to get Dad off that bean bag. Bluey’s Big Play is a theatrical adaptation of the Emmy® awardwinning children’s television series, with an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, and new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush. Join the Heelers in their first live theatre show made just for you, featuring brilliantly created puppets, this is Bluey as you’ve never seen it before, brought to real life.Bluey’s Big Play is presented by BBC Studios and Andrew Kay in association with Windmill Theatre Co.

The Tony®-Winning Hit Musical ComedyMadeline Ashton is the most beautiful actress (just ask her) ever to grace the stage and screen. Helen Sharp is the long-suffering author (just ask her) who lives in her shadow. They have always been the best of frenemies…until Madeline steals Helen’s fiancé away. As Helen plots revenge and Madeline clings to her rapidly fading star, their world is suddenly turned upside down by Viola Van Horn, a mysterious woman with a secret that’s to die for.After one sip of Viola’s magical potion, Madeline and Helen begin a new era of life (and death) with their youth and beauty restored…and a grudge to last eternity.Now a warning! You may not be ready for the unbelievable amount of comedy, glamour, and magic onstage. DEATH BECOMES HER is a “wildly entertaining, perfect musical comedy. It grabs the audience by the jugular and doesn’t let go” (Deadline). With direction and choreography by Tony winner Christopher Gattelli, DEATH BECOMES HER is “a laugh-filled, tuneful musical to die for” (Variety) and “a cheek-aching laughter roller coaster — the most fun night out on Broadway!” (The Daily Beast). Experience the “savagely funny” (Time Out) pop-culture phenomenon that’s been certified “hilarious” by The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Z100, Beyoncé (!!), Goldie Hawn, Superman aka David Corenswet, Michelle Williams (the other one), and countless fans on Instagram, TikTok, and beyond. See it now, and laugh for eternity.Part of the Taco and the White Family Foundation Broadway Series

Our New Artistic Director’s Trinity Rep Directorial Debut - January 27 – March 18, 2027 Dowling Theater

Based on the best-selling novel that inspired the iconic film, THE NOTEBOOK tells the story of Allie and Noah, both from different worlds, who share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart. “Full of butterfly-inducing highs and beautiful songs” (Entertainment Weekly), THE NOTEBOOK is a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love.Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune says THE NOTEBOOK is “absolutely gorgeous, not to be missed,” and The New York Daily News calls it “a love story for the ages.”THE NOTEBOOK is directed by Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, RENT) and Schele Williams (The Wiz, Aida), and features music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, book by Bekah Brunstetter (NBC’s “This Is Us”), and choreography by Katie Spelman.Part of the Taco and the White Family Foundation Broadway Series

By Lauren Yee Directed by Tatyana-Marie Carlo February 11 – March 21, 2027 Dowling Theater In rotating repertory with Cyrano An Off-Kilter New England PremiereIt’s 1992 in the country formerly known as the Soviet Union, and the Cold War’s gone lukewarm. Gorbachev is out, Yeltsin is in, and the newborn Russian Federation is getting to know the free market and the Filet-o-Fish. Two old friends—once aspiring KGB agents, now struggling to adapt to the new regime—find work spying on an ex-pop star and absolutely nothing goes according to plan. Fast, sharp, and darkly funny, Mother Russia is a new comedy about what happens when the world flips upside down that asks how ordinary people can recalibrate when the rules change overnight.

Winner of 6 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, MAYBE HAPPY ENDING tells the deeply human story of a chance encounter that sparks connection, adventure, and maybe even love. Helmed by Tony Award-winning director Michael Arden (Parade), MAYBE HAPPY ENDING has been called “one of the best musicals in years” (USA Today) and even “The best musical in eons!” (Observer). Don’t miss the totally original new musical adventure that explores what it means to be human. Even if they’re not.Part of the Taco and the White Family Foundation Broadway Series