December 1st, 2017 - Present

💥 Die Hard: A Christmas Carol
December 1, 2017 – Present
Playhouse on the Park – Phoenix, AZ
(Touring to Nashville in 2025)
Before it became the holiday juggernaut it is today, this absurd mashup went by a simpler name: Die Hard: A Christmas Story. That first year, we slapped together a felt John McClane, shoved him into a cardboard Nakatomi Plaza, and let the Christmas chaos begin. What started as a one-off parody became the All Puppet Players' longest-running, most in-demand production—selling out annually and giving audiences a new holiday tradition: explosions, carols, and curse words.
Part A Christmas Carol, part Die Hard, and all puppet-fueled anarchy, this show fuses Dickensian ghosts with trigger-happy terrorists. And yes, a puppet Alan Rickman falling off a building in slow motion—every single night.
The plot? Who cares. You’re here for the felt mayhem. But for those keeping score: Our hero McClane is visited by three ghosts who force him to relive his most explosive holiday memories while he ALSO must manage saving hostages from a building full of trigger-happy terrorists. Along the way, he reconciles with his estranged wife, shoots a lot of bad guys, and yes, a puppet Hans Gruber falls off a building in slow motion puppet-glory—every single night. John saves the day, saves his marriage and—just maybe—learns the true meaning of Christmas. But probably not.
The show is packed with original carol parodies, slow-motion action sequences, and rapid-fire pop culture references. But what truly sets it apart is the now-legendary White Elephant Gift Exchange Night—our first show to sell out every season.
Those lucky enough to be inside the theater for this event are treated to a night of pure puppet-fueled chaos, where every single person participates: audience, cast, crew, even security. At intermission, the stage transforms into a frenzied switcheroo—hands blindly grabbing mystery gifts from the pile. Once the dust settles, everyone opens their packages to reveal... well, let’s just say “lewd” is putting it lightly. Homemade monstrosities that stretch the $10 limit to include NSFW spectacles of the R-rated variety—items guaranteed to make your grandma blush but jingle your bells just the same.
It’s mad. It’s wild. It’s the hottest ticket in town.
Die Hard: A Christmas Carol is part live-action movie spoof, part holiday catharsis, and all stitched together with APP’s signature style: big puppets, bad language, and bold choices. The high-stakes gift exchanges and unpredictable audience interaction have become legend, with no two performances ever the same.
The cast and puppets have evolved over the years, but the spirit of the show remains unchanged. Due to overwhelming demand, we now open the week before Thanksgiving—giving audiences even more chances to join the anarchy. Parents sneak out without the kids, couples make it their annual date night, families don ugly sweaters, and entire office parties pregame in the parking lot before entering the chaos. First-timers walk out dazed, grinning, and already plotting their return.
This is the show that turned puppet anarchy into a holiday tradition!
And now, in 2025, Die Hard: A Christmas Carol expands beyond Arizona with a one-week run in Nashville—thanks to the partnership of Emery Entertainment, who are helping spread the puppet rebellion beyond Phoenix. New city. Same carnage. Bigger yule-fueled explosions.
Performances run:
Every holiday season since 2017
(Explosions. Carolers. Bad guys falling off buildings. It’s the greatest Christmas story never told—until now.)