Les Miz Is Here at Last, A Christmas Story Packs Up Its Leg Lamp & Maggie Smith Goes Diva in This Week’s Datebook

Christmas week is finally here, and there are so many Broadway-centric things to see and do! From the long-awaited premiere of the Les Misérables movie to closing night performances of The Grinch and A Christmas Story, you won’t want to miss the events in this week’s Broadway.com Datebook.


MONDAY, DECEMBER 24
MICHAEL FEINSTEIN & CHRISTINE EBERSOLE MAKE MERRY
Two-time Tony winner Christine Ebersole is teaming up with American Songbook ambassador Michael Feinstein to bring Broadway classics and standards to Feinstein’s at Loews Regency through New Year's Eve. The concert engagement is the very last chance you’ll have to experience first-rate dining and entertainment at the legendary supper club—but don’t worry! Feinstein’s will move to a new location in 2013.

ALSO: One day more ‘til the Les Miz film hits theaters. (We’ve been waiting all year to say that!)


TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25
THE WAIT IS OVER! LES MISERABLES HITS THEATERS
Broadway fans all over the country will drop their Christmas stockings, abandon their presents and race to the movies to catch the most exciting event of the year: The Les Miz film! It’s finally time to watch Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) steal a loaf of bread, Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe) ruthlessly pursue him and Fantine (Anne Hathaway) shave her head. We can’t wait!

ALSO: Les Misérables highlights soundtrack hits stores; The Guilt Trip starring Barbra Streisand and Django Unchained with Samuel L. Jackson open in movie theaters.


WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26
TAP YOUR TROUBLES AWAY WITH MAURICE HINES
What’s more fun than spending an evening with singer, dancer and choreographer Maurice Hines? Spending the night with Hines and his all-female big band, the Diva Orchestra! Hines, a former childhood dance sensation alongside his late brother Gregory, presents his new concert Tap’in Through Life, playing through December 29 at 54 Below. The end-of-the-year party will feature “Come Fly With Me,” “Luck Be a Lady,” “Route 66” and more.


THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27
CHRISTINE PEDI GIVES 'EM THE BIZNESS
Get into the holiday spirit with NEWSical star Christine Pedi and her solo show There’s No Bizness Like Snow Bizness at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Pedi, who impersonates Broadway belters Patti LuPone, Liza Minnelli, Angela Lansbury and Elaine Stritch, will put her skills to work in what is sure to be a new holiday classic: “The 12 Divas of Christmas.” We can’t wait to see her interpretation of 10 LuPones a-leaping.


FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28
MAGGIE SMITH GOES DIVA QUARTET
Broadway vets Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay and Pauline Collins and Scottish actor Billy Connolly are making beautiful music in Quartet, a new film directed by Dustin Hoffman. The comedy-drama tells the story of retired opera singers who are preparing for their annual concert, but when Jean (Smith) arrives, her diva attitude causes a rift between the seasoned performers. If Downton Abbey has taught us anything, it’s that no one does diva like Ms. Maggie Smith.

ALSO: Charles Busch performs at 54 Below; Promised Land, starring Frances McDormand, hits movie theaters.


SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29
LAST CHANCE TO WITNESS THE MISHEGAS OF A CHANUKAH CHAROL
In her new one-woman show, Addams Family and Hairspray alum Jackie Hoffman brings her meddling Jewish family to life off-Broadway. Complete with schmaltz, shmutz and of course, kugel, A Chanukah Charol is a festive farce inspired by Patrick Stewart’s solo staging of A Christmas Carol. Schlep over to New World Stages before December 29 to catch Hoffman’s hilarious holiday treat!

ALSO: Project Runway alum Chris March’s The Butt-Cracker Suite closes off-Broadway.


SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30
SEE YA, RALPHIE! A CHRISTMAS STORY CLOSES ON BROADWAY
Santa has packed up his sleigh and headed back to the North Pole, and that means it’s time to say goodbye to the new Broadway adaptation of A Christmas Story. We’ve had so much fun with Ralphie and his friends this season—here’s hoping the leg lamps and Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle will return to Broadway next Christmas.

ALSO: Last chance to catch Bring It On, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, What Rhymes With America, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Falling, Bad Jews, Simply Barbra: A Very Brooklyn Christmas and A Civil War Christmas; The Voice of an American Playwright: Interviews With Horton Foote hits bookstores; Mx Justin Vivian Bond and Barbara Carroll end their solo engagements at 54 Below.