The John W. Engeman Theater at 250 Main Street in Northport has set its holiday calendar, and three of the dates come with Northport names attached. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical opens on the main stage on Thursday, November 12. Northport musician Steven Leonard Messina brings A Concert in Gratitude to the theater on Monday, November 23, with proceeds helping neighbors in need. And on Monday, December 21, the Northport Academy of Ballet will stage The Nutcracker at the Engeman for the first time, which the theater presents as the start of a new holiday tradition.

All three fall inside the Engeman's 20th anniversary season, which the theater announced in April and which opened in September with Dear Evan Hansen. That production runs through Sunday, October 25.

The Grinch moves into Main Street

The Grinch is the second show of the 2026 to 2027 main stage season, running November 12 to December 27. The stage version of the Dr. Seuss story is narrated by Max the Dog and follows the Grinch as he schemes to take Christmas away from the Whos, then learns there is more to the holiday than he expected. The score includes You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch and Welcome Christmas. Book and lyrics are by Timothy Mason, with music by Mel Marvin.

The theater's ticketing system lists 45 performances across the six week run. Opening night is Thursday, November 12 at 8 p.m., followed by an 8 p.m. show on Friday, November 13, and matinee and evening performances on the weekend of November 14 and 15. The final performances are Sunday, December 27 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Engeman notes that its own box office and engemantheater.com are the only authorized sellers, and that it cannot replace or refund tickets bought through resale brokers.

A homegrown benefit concert

A Concert in Gratitude, set for Monday, November 23 at 7 p.m., reunites Messina, a founding member of the art rock band Blow Up Hollywood, with cellist Dave Eggar. According to the theater, Eggar is a four time Grammy nominee whose work has included collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma, Andrea Bocelli, Coldplay, Taylor Swift, Beyonce and The Who. Former bandmates Thad deBrock and Nik Chinboukas join them on stage.

The bill also lists guest performers Alyson Faith, Albert Messina, Natalie Seus, Joe and Lyric DeJesu, Drew Mills and Cole Fortier.

Messina created the concert through his volunteer work with the St. Frances Cabrini Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and ticket sales go toward supporting local neighbors who are dealing with unexpected hardships. The theater's ticketing page shows seats at $50 and $75.

Northport Academy of Ballet's Nutcracker

The Engeman is welcoming the Northport Academy of Ballet to its stage this December for The Nutcracker. The production, billed on the theater's ticketing page as The Nutcracker: Presented by The Northport Academy of Ballet, has two performances on Monday, December 21: one at 4 p.m. and one at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now through the Engeman.

For families with young dancers in the area, the date puts a hometown ballet company on the same Main Street stage that hosts the theater's professional productions, during the same week the Grinch is playing there.

More on the fall and holiday calendar

Between the main stage shows, the Engeman runs a Special Event Series. General admission for those events is $50 unless noted, and season ticket holders can use the two special event vouchers that come with a main stage subscription, or pay $30 without one. Upcoming dates include:

Echoes of the Eagles, a six member tribute band that also covers songs by America, Little River Band, Orleans and Fleetwood Mac, on Monday, October 19 and Tuesday, October 20 at 8 p.m. The Everly Set, with Sean Altman and Jack Skuller performing Everly Brothers songs, on Tuesday, October 27 at 8 p.m. Comedy Night on Tuesday, November 17 and again on Tuesday, December 8, both at 8 p.m. The Sarafinas, My Way, a dance and song program from a New York City precision dance company co-created by two former Radio City Rockettes, on Tuesday, December 1 at 8 p.m.

On Monday, December 7 at 8 p.m., tenor Anthony Nunziata performs Italian, Broadway and holiday songs, with Northport's own American Idol finalist Leah Laurenti as his special guest.

Looking ahead to 2027

After the holidays, the main stage season continues with Misery, adapted from the Stephen King novel, from January 14 to February 28, 2027. The slot the theater left open in its April announcement, March 11 to April 25, 2027, now appears on the Engeman's site as Ain't Too Proud. The season closes with 42nd Street from May 13 to June 27, and The Heart of Rock and Roll, set to the music of Huey Lewis and the News, from July 8 to August 22, 2027.

How to get tickets

Tickets for the Grinch, A Concert in Gratitude, The Nutcracker and the special events are sold at engemantheater.com, by phone at (631) 261-2900, or in person at the box office at 250 Main Street, Northport. Box office hours are Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours on show nights. Group sales are handled through the same number.

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