New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

The Philly Specials are Dreaming Of A White Christmas

originally published: 11/14/2025

(PHILADELPHIA, PA) --  Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, and Jordan Malata, team up as they present a music video for the very first song they recorded in 2022, "White Christmas." In the spirit of the season, The Philly Specials worked with local creators, Big Howl and Carol Cleveland Sings to create a magical, snow filled scene, where players and puppets alike celebrate the holiday season with singing, dancing, and even a snowball fight.

When puppet Jordan is missing home for the holidays, his pals Jason and Lane remind him of what the season is all about -- making new traditions with the people you love. Watch puppets, plushies, and the real guys collide in a joyful, Muppets-inspired take on "White Christmas."

The Philly Specials bring their annual magic for fans of all ages, adding to that feeling of home, nostalgia, and the holiday season. This music video aims to bring families together across generations and invites viewers to create new memories including The Philly Specials music in their own holiday traditions.

"In thinking of a way to celebrate three years of music making and how we could create something new to continue to spread joy, we went back to the very first song we recorded, "White Christmas," says album producer Charlie Hall. "Having previously explored traditional animation ("It's Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights)" and stop-motion animation ('A Philly Special Christmas Special'), we thought we would use the centuries-old medium of puppetry to tell this story of friendship and fun during the holiday season.

"We approached our dear pal and Philly Specials contributor since day one, Thomas Hughes to help us create this new fantastical world for the guys to inhabit," continued Hall. "Thomas and Gretchen Lohse, his creative partner in Carol Cleveland Sings, partnered with Big Howl to bring this to life, even breaking the fourth wall with the guys, their puppets, and their plushies. Just as Jason, Jordan, and Lane continue to push the boundaries of expressing friendship, love, goodwill, and joy...puppet Jason, puppet Jordan, and puppet Lane amplified this."




Promote your shows at New Jersey Stage! Click here for info



Big Howl is an Emmy Award–winning, Philly-based production and directing studio known for its outlandish, handcrafted approach to storytelling. Mixing live action, puppetry, practical effects, animation, design, and fabrication, Big Howl makes things people will enjoy watching for clients like Comcast, Netflix, Hasbro, Amazon Music, and PBS (co-producing and directing WHYY's first national children's series, Albie's Elevator). Fueled by Philly's trademark creativity and grit, Big Howl turns any idea into something playful, beautiful, and fun.

A Philly Special Christmas, A Philly Special Christmas Special, and A Philly Special Christmas Party raised $10 million for local charities including Children's Crisis Treatment CenterChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia and fulfilled the wish lists of Philadelphia School District teachers via Donors Choose. The albums reached top ten spots on various Billboard Music Charts including debuting at #1 on their Independent Charts, Compilations Charts, and #2 on the Holiday Charts, singles "Maybe This Christmas" and "Santa Drives an Astrovan" reached #1 on the iTunes Holiday Charts, the albums featured performances from Stevie Nicks, Jon Bon Jovi, Patti LaBelle, Boyz II Men, Mt. Joy, Travis Kelce, Kylie Kelce, members of The Hooters, members of The War on Drugs (including album producer Charlie Hall), members of Dr. Dog, Marshall Allen and members of the Sun Ra Arkestra, Lady Alma and more. 

Singles "This Christmas," "All I Want for Christmas is You," "Fairytale of Philadelphia," and "Pretty Paper," have garnered over 10M streams across platforms. "Fairytale of Philadelphia" reached #1 on iTunes, 50,000 copies have been sold on vinyl and the stop motion special created by unPOP Animation,  A Philly Special Christmas Special, has been viewed over 780,000 times.




Promote your shows at New Jersey Stage! Click here for info


FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Ravi

Ravi Shankar Ensemble

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 @ 7:30pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theatre)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
category: music


 

Max

Max Weinberg’s Jukebox

Friday, March 20, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts Center
46 Washington Ave, Carteret, NJ 07008
category: music


 

Lil

Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials

Friday, March 20, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

The

The Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD - "Tristan und Isolde"

Saturday, March 21, 2026 @ 12:00pm
Monmouth University - Pollak Theatre
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music


 

NBPAC

NBPAC presents The Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute Band

Saturday, March 21, 2026 @ 8:00pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: music


 



Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info





 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Outpost

Outpost in the Burbs presents Joan Osborne Sings the Songs of Bob Dylan

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs presents Joan Osborne Sings the Songs of Bob Dylan on Friday, May 29, 2026 at the First Congregational Church of Montclair. Showtime is 8:00pm.



Great

Great Music on the Morristown Green & Music at St. Peter's presents Duruflé's "Requiem"

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Great Music on the Morristown Green is pleased to be collaborating with Music at St. Peter's to present Maurice Duruflé's transcendent Requiem (Opus 9) on Sunday, March 29, 2026, in the glorious acoustics of St. Peter's Episcopal Church (121 South Street) in Morristown. Showtime is 5:00pm.



Ari

Ari Hest Returns to Lizzie Rose Music Room on March 26th

(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Ari Hest returns to the Lizzie Rose Music Room on Thursday, March 26, 2026. Doors are at 7:00pm, showtime is 7:30pm.



The

The Newton Theatre presents Walter Trout

(NEWTON, NJ) -- Blues guitarist Walter Trout returns to the Garden State on Sunday, April 19, 2026 with a show at The Newton Theatre. Showtime is 7:00pm.



Borgata

Borgata presents Switchfoot on March 28th

(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Borgata Event Center presents Switchfoot on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 8:00pm. Limited tickets remain for the alternative rock band.