TheaterMania's 2016 Holiday Gift Guide

Click on the name of an item below for more information about it.

A Chorus Line Vinyl Cast Recording

In 1975, a genre-bending look at the lives of veteran Broadway dancers, Michael Bennett's A Chorus Line, broke new ground and set the tone for the "future" of the American musical. Now, in celebration of the show's 40th anniversary, you can listen to the album the way it was originally released — on vinyl. This re-release record also comes with a bonus of eight original demo tracks sung by the show's Tony-winning songwriters, Marvin Hamlisch and Ed Kleban. It's perfect for vinyl enthusiasts as well as collectors, who will also have the ability to download the music digitally when they purchase the album.

Bright Star Cast Recording

Steve Martin and Edie Brickell made their Broadway songwriting debuts earlier this year with Bright Star, a short-lived but nonetheless beloved bluegrass musical that starred Carmen Cusack. Their score, performed by the likes of Cusack, Paul Alexander Nolan, A.J. Shively, and Hannah Elless, was widely hailed and won both Martin and Brickell Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards. Recorded by Sh-K-Boom as a cast album, it's the ideal listen for those who saw the show and those want to hear the tuneful magic they missed.

Patti LuPone Christmas Tree Ornament

If you're a diehard Broadway fan, you definitely want to decorate your home with as much memorabilia as possible. For the last several years, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has been commemorating the holiday season the only way they know how: through diva worship in the form of ornaments. The latest in the series is Patti LuPone, in her famous "balcony of the Casa Rosada" pose from Evita. Designed by Glen Hanson with the Christopher Radoko Company, the collection has also featured Liza Minnelli and Barbra Streisand, go for all three to create the ultimate diva Christmas tree.

Gold Club Membership
You may already know about TheaterMania's incredible daily discounts to shows on Broadway and beyond, but do you know about the Gold Club? TheaterMania's members-only club offers complimentary and deeply discounted tickets to theater across New York. The Gold Club has something for everyone — theater, concerts, lectures, movie screenings, comedy, dance, and other events. You can see as many shows as you like in the club over the course of your membership, with more than 100 new choices every month. Help someone special make memories all year long with a Gold Club membership.

Holiday Inn T-shirt

Few Broadway shows have swag as appropriate for the holiday season as Holiday Inn. It's right there in the name. This T-shirt, featuring a quote from the show, is also particularly fitting for any Broadway fan (or armchair philosopher). Jim Hardy, a character who leaves show business, originally played by Bing Crosby and now performed by Tony nominee Bryce Pinkham, says, "It does take a little bit of performing to live a normal life."

Beautiful — The Carole King Musical T-shirt

Broadway's Beautiful — The Carole King Musical is the perfect show for any Broadway fan who is also a child of the '60s or '70s. And this unisex shirt, which is reminiscent of an old-school tour poster, is the ideal gift for anyone who fits that bill. What better way to say, " 'You've Got a Friend' in me!"

Wicked Hoodie

Make sure the Broadway fan in your life stays warm and toasty with this cozy Wicked hoodie. Every theater lover knows the discomfort of trekking to shows in the wicked cold weather, so when the Great White Way becomes even whiter thanks to a blustery nor'easter, this bit of Broadway warmth is sure to be just the ticket.

Broadway Cares 2016 Snow Globe
A must-have collector's item, the Broadway Cares Snow Globe seems to outdo itself every year in terms of showmanship: This year it is designed by Hamilton set designer David Korins and features an airplane circling Times Square with a banner that reads "Give My Regards to Broadway." Meanwhile, a music box plays the Cohan ditty, asserting the undeniable importance of sound design. As far as mantel decorations go, this snow globe really is the next best thing to a Tony Award, and the proceeds go to a worthy cause: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Drama Book Shop Tote Bag
Nestled just south of Broadway, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues on 40th Street, the Drama Book Shop is the only bookstore with a Tony Award. It has been serving the theater community for almost a century with its extensive selection of play scripts, sheet music, and theatrical biographies. What better way to show that you're a part of that community than with a Drama Book tote bag stuffed with scripts? We recommend Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Gloria, Annie Baker's John, and Stephen Karam's The Humans for a start, but the store has hundreds of titles, so you can order online to craft the perfect, customized bag for your favorite thespian.

She Loves Me Cast Recording

If you fell in love with this Bock and Harnick musical about star-crossed perfume sales associates last year, this Broadway revival cast recording is the perfect way to relive the memories. The Roundabout Theatre Company production featured an all-star cast including Laura Benanti, Zachary Levi, and Jane Krakowski. All of their performances are preserved here: You can feel Benanti's giddy excitement as she sings "Vanilla Ice Cream" or picture Levi's cartwheel as he busts out the title song. Even if you didn't see the show, this is a great way to experience this dynamite revival.

Waitress Gift Package

If there's someone in your life who's crazy about baking and Broadway, the Waitress Gift Package is exactly what they'll want to be "opening up" on Christmas morning. Along with the pie ornament and guest check tray that make you feel like you’re spending the day at Joe's Pie Diner, there’s a butter dish and festive flour jar that will aid all of your holiday baking projects — which of course will be accomplished while jamming out to the Broadway cast album. Skip the buyer's remorse — there are no "bad ideas" in the bunch.

TeeRico "Circle of Love Is Love" T-shirt
Sizes:
Women
Men
Kids
Babies
When you're buying for a Broadway lover, anything themed around Lin-Manuel Miranda is bound to be a hit, so in this, the year of Hamilton, check out the options in Miranda's TeeRico T-shirt company. One of the designs at the top of our shopping list includes a graphic of Miranda's beautiful Tony speech "Love is love" quote, which comes printed on shirts for men and women of all ages and sizes, including the most adorable baby onesie you've ever seen. So while some of the money you spend on your purchase gives back to artists, charity events, and programs in coordination with Broadway Cares and #somosorlando, you can also feel good that you're encouraging the indoctrination of future Hamil-fans.

The Hamilton Mixtape

We've all worn out our Hamilton cast recording by now, so thankfully, this holiday season the Hamilton Mixtape comes just in time to rejuvenate the most played list on our iPods. For once, the appeal of an album featuring Usher, Kelly Clarkson, and Ashanti is not limited to the 30-and-under crowd, so buy a whole mess of these suckers and dole them out to everyone you know, even your Hamilton-loving grandma. It'll guarantee you the title of Best Gift Giver 2016.

TheaterMania Ticket Discounts
TheaterMania always has major discounts for Broadway, off-Broadway, and many more. Check out our discounts page to find deals from Kinky Boots to The Book of Mormon to School of Rock, you'll have no shortage of options. The gift of theater is always the best bet.