Sam Desmond

With the magical notion of having a real ice skating rink on a dramatic stage, the Holiday Spectacular on Ice at the Gateway in Bellport creates wonder in the audience from inception and delivers well beyond expectations in person.

For some holiday cheer, “Annie” at the Smithtown Performing Arts is the Christmas production to bring families that spirit of generosity and can-do attitude for December.

In the perennially winter tale of “Anastasia,” a musical about the young Russian woman with claims to be being the lone survivor of the royal Romanov family’s massacre, The Lighthouse Repertory captured the magic and warmth of a Christmas-time story while creating great dramatic tension.

In the world of Dickens, the reader is for the long-haul of human emotions, and Theatre Three’s 41st annual production has perfected conveying that panoply of passions in the classic, “A Christmas Carol.”

A perennial, heart-warming tale of personal and societal triumph, the Argyle Theatre’s opening night of “Annie” was a celebratory reminder of why we should never give up on our dreams, even if they look a little different when they come true.

Ray Bradbury’s prescient, Cold War classic, “Fahrenheit 451” was brought to the stage at Bay Street Theater with even more urgency and relevance to our increasingly curated, aesthetic, and good vibes based lives in 2025.

Parents looking to introduce their children to the world of theater patronage should look no further than “Boo! The Musical Adventure” playing at the Bayway Arts Center in East Islip on Saturday and Sunday, November 1 and 2 at 11 am.

As in-depth, thrilling, and heart-breaking as Carole King’s legendary album, Tapestry, Cultural Performing Arts Center Syosset’s production of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” was a full ride of the human emotions that was embodied in the songs that defined American music for a generation.

What did our critic think of SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET at Cultural Arts Playhouse Merrick? Superb acting skills bring the depravity of Sweeney Todd's London