Whoops! Now keep in mind that many high schools and colleges often put on productions for children and don't cost much! Some towns have "Children's Theater", again low cost and something she might like to participate around 10 or 11.
Nearly all high schools, middle schools, and universities put on Christmas music concerts, vocal and instrumental. Some do special matinees, just for children.
When the high schools have those things we're usually at them, but it's once or maybe twice a year. The traditional Spring musical and there's one school that puts on a fall drama.
The university here has gotten expensive, which is sad. I was a theater minor there and it used to be well funded and inexpensive, with a show of some kind almost always running. They've lost a lot of their funding since then for several reasons and the offerings and prices have changed accordingly. It's a huge loss if you ask me, especially considering what's available in the area otherwise.
There are occasional shows in the closest smaller cities, but that's still well over an hour's drive each way. So it pretty much has to be something they both enjoy. Last year we were lucky enough to have a Disney on Ice show about an hour and a half from here and only about 2 weeks after Xmas, so they got tickets as part of their present. But there's nothing on the schedule close enough this year.
There is a small semi-professional theater group in the area, but their grant this season is for Shakespeare. They're not bad, I enjoy it when I get the chance to go, but it's not kid fare.
Being someplace other than the sticks would help.
But then they have some advantages here they wouldn't have elsewhere. Like being able to play neighborhood commando without worrying about things like crime and traffic.
I agree that day trips can get expensive, but if get a chance they're worth planning for. While my kids all developed interests in the arts, one majored in music, they were all very different in what they liked.
It was rare that all 3 would be taken to the same production, though they all had to go to the museums.
What worked best here, (at the time they were very young, money wasn't an issue), planning a special day with one of the kids-other parent would stay home with the other two or do something they liked.
My daughter liked musicals-made sense then and now-so one of us would take her, all dressed up of course, for lunch at a nice restaurant, then to play or ballet. The one son was always into science fiction and history, some cross over with his younger brother too. This usually led to special exhibits at Natural History museum and then a movie with the theme. They usually did dinner somewhere with Dad, my tastes never did match up much with the boys. LOL! The youngest son was always into sports, so often he would go with his grandpa to various games and they'd pig out there. Both of them liked that, a lot.
Even after the divorce, one of mine and my daughter's best memories was going to see Les Misérables. I saved for nearly 1/2 a year for that! We went with my niece and SIL. Had dinner at The American, (now defunct), saw the play then stayed overnight at
The Hilton Chicago hotel. She was in 7th grade and it was a Christmas and Birthday gift.
Anyways, sometimes these things don't work out for a Christmas gift, but might be something that can get tucked away for the future. I think developing interests in the arts is important and provides so many ways to spend time together as a family.
