We are lucky to live so close to the American Music Theatre in Lancaster, PA. Last year my Mom treated my daughter and me to the 2011 Christmas Show and it was amazing. This year my family went, my husband and our two kids, and we had the best time at the 2012 show.
The American Music Theatre is located in Lancaster, PA, right on Route 30 in the heart of the touristy area across from the outlet mall. Their event line-up features both AMT Original Shows as well as touring concerts. Something for everyone! It’s a beautiful theater. Even the parking lot is awesome! Right now they have it all decorated for Christmas with lights on the trees and it feels festive before you even walk in the door. THEN, when you walk in the door, well, if you’re not already in the Christmas spirit you will be. They have beautiful, HUGE Christmas trees, wreaths, more lights and just awesome decorations everywhere. And all that is before you even get into the theater!
The theater itself is also gorgeous. It seats 1,600 and there’s not a bad seat in the house. The seats are cushioned and comfortable and I really love that they have cup holders attached to the back of the seat in front of you. That definitely came in handy with two kids in tow! Our kids also loved the concession stand. Of course they did, right?! We got some popcorn and Twizzlers and a few drinks to enjoy during the show. They have a nice selection of snacks and their prices are totally reasonable.
All of the staff at the theater are SO nice and friendly! Everyone from the parking attendants to the concession stand workers to the ushers were kind to my kids, told us to enjoy the show, and were helpful in getting us seated. A real class act all the way around!
So let’s get to the Christmas Show! This production is the largest Original Show of the year for AMT and you can tell how much work is put into it. It was about 2 hours long with a 15 minute intermission half way through. I’ll be honest. That was slightly long for my 3 year-old son but my 7 year-old daughter loved every minute. My son loved it, too, but you know how kids can’t sit still for that long. Just something to keep in mind when you’re deciding whether to bring them or not. The show was spectacular! One thing I loved is that this year’s show was totally different than last year’s show. They had the same awesome performers and sang some of the same classic Christmas carols, but there were plenty of new songs and all different costumes and skits.
The performers are just ah-mazing. The singing and the dancing and they way they move so seamlessly from one scene to the next leaves you in awe. And of course I LOVE all the beautiful dresses and costumes! This year the show featured a live orchestra right up on the stage. They were awesome and really added a great element to the performance. A couple of times some of the musicians got up and participated in the numbers with the singers and dancers! My husband said that was his favorite part. He thought the violinist and guitarist were really cool.
My kids and I both loved the skit that took place in Candy Land. It was so fun! The costumes were colorful and the children in the production did a great job. My kids were laughing (and so was I)! Other scenes throughout the show included a family Christmas dinner, caroling, and a midnight church service. Really, every part of the show was just incredible.
Afterwards some of the stars of the show were out in the lobby to meet and greet. I got to get a picture with my favorite male singer, Wess Cooke. I immediately emailed this to my Mom since she *might* have thought he was the bee’s knees when we saw the show last year. 🙂 Most all of these photos were taken by me at the show where there is no flash photography permitted. You can find even more pictures right here!
If you are local to Lancaster or within driving distance, don’t miss the American Music Theatre’s 2012 Christmas Show, Home for the Holidays. It is a fantastic performance and there’s nothing quite like it to get you in the holiday spirit. Be sure to follow the American Music Theater on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest to stay up to date with all of their latest news! Follow on YouTube to see videos of their awesome shows, too!
American Music Theatre is generously offering one of my readers a 4-pack of tickets to see the 2012 Christmas Show! This giveaway is open to ages 18+ and ends on November 26, 2012. You can enter to win [HERE]. Good luck!
And Merry Christmas!
I was provided with complimentary tickets to the Christmas Show for the purpose of this review. The opinions in this post are 100% mine. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
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