A high-powered career woman stranded in a charming small town right before Christmas, where she just happens to fall in love with a prince in disguise, a high school sweetheart, or a widowed father. Sound familiar? It’s the classic Hallmark holiday movie plot — but this season, the magic (and the cheese) is playing out live on theater stages across the country. And these productions are all in good fun: they’re spoofs.
While many theaters dust off seasonal classics like A Christmas Carol or White Christmas, some are taking on the ever-popular TV Christmas rom-coms. These stage adaptations lovingly poke fun at the genre, embracing all the over-the-top spirit that fans love — or love to mock.
A Hallmark Formula for Festive Fun
At Ghostlight Theatre in Sun City West, Arizona, the production The Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon by Don Zolidis features six couples navigating romance at a snowy Vermont inn. The characters — including those with on-the-nose holiday names like Holly, Joy, and Carol — embody familiar tropes: the anonymous movie star, the Christmas shop owner, and yes, a prince with an exaggerated accent.
Real-life couple Michael and GinaKay Howell star in the show, and while they laugh at their characters’ ridiculous banter, they acknowledge how perfectly it captures the Hallmark spirit. Director Zach Athanasakis reminds the 16-member cast to deliver even the cheesiest lines with absolute sincerity.
Taking Parody to New Heights
Broadway Rose Theatre Company in Tigard, Oregon, is staging Five Golden Rings: A Greeting Card Channel Holiday Musical. Directed by Dan Murphy, this production follows a business executive named Holly who finds love with a rugged, widowed lumberjack at a Vermont bed-and-breakfast. The show resonates with audiences across generations, and its humor has drawn laughs from donors and teenage interns alike.
Local Flavor, Universal Appeal
In Michigan, Williamston Theatre brings a local twist with A Very Williamston Christmas, written by founding member John Lepard under the playful pen name Robert Hawlmark. The plot follows a city girl returning home from nearby Lansing, and audiences love seeing their town spotlighted in a Hallmark-style story. The show’s appeal has spread beyond Williamston, with theaters in Texas and Colorado adapting it for their own communities.
Hallmark’s Stamp of Approval
Even Hallmark itself appreciates the theatrical parodies, with Samantha DiPippo, a senior vice president, praising how these productions capture the network’s themes of hope, love, and connection. The goal of these spoofs isn’t to mock fans but to amplify the joy and familiarity of the stories.
Whether you’re a devotee of holiday rom-coms or someone who chuckles at their predictability, these stage adaptations promise a holly-jolly good time — with just the right amount of cheesy cheer.
