Where To See: 5 Holiday Classics – 15 Ways

admin Posted OnNovember 25, 2016

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Where to See: The Nutcracker

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center – 11/25-12/31: Balanchine’s Nutcracker premiered at Manhattan’s City Center in 1954 and has been staged in New York every year since. It is the most famous staged production of the ballet set to Tchaikovsky’s legendary score in the US. The production features elaborate and grand stage elements, the most famous of which is the one-ton Christmas tree that grows from a height of 12 feet to 40 feet. There are 47 performances from Fri, 11/25-Sat, 12/31: check times. (62-65 St. at Columbus Ave., NYC; www.nycballet.com)

The Nutcracker performed by The New York Theater Ballet, Tarrytown Music Hall – Sun, 12/4: 3 & 6pm: An hour-long production of The Nutcracker, created for younger audiences, yet sophisticated enough for adults! Founded in 1978 by artistic director Diana Byer, New York Theatre Ballet has earned national attention for its artistry and elegant restorations and revivals of masterworks by great choreographers. (13 Main St., Tarrytown; www.tarrytownmusichall.com)

The Hip Hop Nutcracker – Thurs, 12/15: 8pm. This holiday mash-up for the whole family re-imagines Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker in contemporary New York City. An on-stage DJ and an electric violinist riff off Tchaikovsky’s classic score. And a dozen all-star dancers reinterpret the ballet through hip hop choreography. Together they bring the traditional Nutcracker story uptown style. “The Hip Hop Nutcracker turns Tchaikovsky on his head, in the coolest possible way. “– CBS (Concert Hall, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

Colonial Nutcracker, Paramount Hudson Valley – Sat, 12/17:3pm: This interpretation of the ballet from Artistic Director Rose Menes of Dance Theatre in Westchester moves the action to colonial Yorktown during the Revolutionary War and features redcoat army mice. The one-hour show is designed for families with children ages 4 and up. The company has performed at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts. (1008 Brown St., Peekskill; www.paramounthudsonvalley.org)

Westchester Ballet Company, Westchester County Center – 12/16-18: For a fraction of the cost of the New York City Ballet you can take the kids to see the Westchester Ballet Company perform Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker at the County Center. At $25 per ticket ($20 for kids) it’s a great way to train next-gen culture vultures. We did. Choreographed by Beth Fritz Logrea and Jean Logrea. Fri, 12/16: 10am, Sat, 12/17: 12:30 & 4:30pm & Sun, 12/18: 2pm. (198 Central Ave., White Plains; www.countycenter.biz)

Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance – Ridgefield Playhouse – 12/16-18: A seasonal tradition in Ridgefield. The Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance’s production of The Nutcracker features Tchaikovsky’s score, graceful ballerinas, wooden soldiers who come to life and a bigger than life Christmas tree in this holiday tradition presentation of The Nutcracker at the Ridgefield Playhouse. All for just $25 for adults and $20 for kids and seniors. Fri, 12/16: 6pm, Sat, 12/17: 2 & 6pm & Sun, 12/18: 11am & 2pm. (Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Connecticut Ballet: The Nutcracker, Palace Theatre – 12/17-18: Guest stars from the American Ballet Theatre Veronika Park, Blaine Hoven and Hee Seo from the American Ballet Theatre and Amar Ramasar of New York City Ballet join the Connecticut Ballet in their traditional holiday production of The Nutcracker at Stamford’s Palace Theatre. There are four shows featuring fab costumes, falling snow, the giant tree, and classical ballet at its best. Meet the dancers before and after the performance. Sat, 12/17: 2 & 6pm, Sun, 12/18: 1 & 5pm. (61 Atlantic St., Stamford www.palacestamford.org)

Bolshoi Ballet in HD – Ridgefield Playhouse – 12/23: See a live performance of The Nutcracker by the Bolshoi Ballet onscreen in high definition. The Bolshoi’s version of The Nutcracker has a unique and beautiful sense of romance and philosophy, danced by the heroic Denis Rodkin as the courageous Prince and the magical Anna Nikulina as Marie. Fri, 12/23: 7pm. (Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Where To See: A Christmas Carol

A Dickens Tale, Ridgefield Playhouse – Sat, 11/19: 2pm: Bright Star Theatre recreates Victorian England in this retelling of the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. Join Old Scrooge, bumbling Bob Cratchit, one hilarious beggar woman and all the ghostly visitors in this heartwarming tale of friendship and generosity. An unsuspecting audience member even has the opportunity to join the action on stage in the role of Tiny Tim! And for just $15! That’s the holiday spirit! Have your photo taken with Scooby Doo in the lobby! Sat, 11/19: 11am & 2pm. (80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Mr. Dickens Tells A Christmas Carol, Lyndhurst Mansion – 12/9-12/30: In this hour-long theatrical performance appropriate for all ages, actor Michael Muldoon recreates the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim from Charles Dickens’s scripts. The performance travels through the mansion meeting the story’s spirits and characters in different rooms along the way – a cool way to see this fabulous castle. Fri-Sun, 12/9-11 & 16-18, & Mon-Fri, 12/19-23 & 26-30: check times. (635 S. Broadway, Tarrytown; www.lyndhurst.org)

Dickens’ Christmas Carol, Historic Hudson Valley: Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at the historic Christ Episcopal Church in Tarrytown – where Washington Irving served as a vestryman in 1837 – is a Historic Hudson Valley tradition. Kruk’s 60 minute performance of Ebenezer Scrooge’s night-long journey into Christmas past, present and future with the ghost of Jacob Marley is performed with musical accompaniment. Sat-Sun, 12/10-11 & 17-18: 4, 5:15 & 6:30pm. (Reformed Church of the Tarrytowns, 42 N. Broadway, Tarrytown; www.hudsonvalley.org

Where To Hear: Messiah & The Brandenburg Concertos

New Choral Society, Messiah, Part I & Three Nativity Carols, Scarsdale – Fri, 12/2: 8pm & Sun, 12/4: 3pm: The Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah is the traditional season-opener for the New Choral Society. Filled with familiar and uplifting choruses and solos, including the famed “Hallelujah Chorus”, it is a festive way to begin the holiday season. This year’s concert will also present a new work by Stephen Paulus, Three Nativity Carols. (Hitchcock Presbyterian Church, 6 Greenacres Avenue, Scarsdale; www.newchoralsociety.org)

Stamford Symphony presents Handel’s Messiah – Sat, 12/10: 8pm:The Stamford Symphony takes on Part I & and the Hallelujah Chorus from Part II of Handel’s classic oratorio at The Basilica of St. John The Evangelist in Stamford. “Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight and the rough places plain.” (Basilica of St. John The Evangelist, 279 Atlantic St., Stamford; www.palacestamford.org)

Handel’s Messiah, New York Philharmonic, Tues-Thurs, & Sat, 12/15-17 & 19: 7:30pm:Conductor Jane Glover, Heidi Stober (soprano), Tim Mead (countertenor), Paul Appleby (tenor) and Roderick Williams (baritone) and the Westminster Symphonic Choir take on Part I and Part II of the most famous and beloved chorale works of all time. (David Geffen Hall, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, NYC: www.newyorkphilharmonic.com)

The Brandenburg Concertos, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center – 12/16, 18 & 20: The Brandenburg Concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach are considered among the finest musical compositions of the Baroque era. The New York Times called The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s annual performances at Alice Tully Hall a “New York holiday staple.” This is when you can get your holiday Bach fix. Fri, 12/16: 7:30pm, Sun, 12/18: 5pm & Tues, 12/20: 7:30pm. (Alice Tully Hall, 1941 Broadway, NYC; www.lincolncenter.org)

Where To See: It’s A Wonderful Life

It’s A Wonderful Life, Katonah Village Library, Fri, 12/2: 7pm: The Katonah Village Improvement Society (KVIS) will screen Frank Capra’s holiday classic starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed in the roles of George and Mary Bailey as they fight, with a little help from Clarence – George’s guardian angel, the Great Depression and Henry Potter from taking down Bedford Falls and his family’s do-good Savings & Loan. Despite being a relative loser at the box office, the film was nominated for 5 Academy Awards and has been recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American films ever made.(26 Bedford Rd., Katonah)

Holiday Events 2016

This Wonderful Life, Paramount Hudson Valley – Fri, 12/9: 8pm: Actor Jeremy Kendall brings to life Steve Murray’s one-man play of the holiday favorite movie It’s a Wonderful Life. Kendall takes you to Bedford Falls in this stage adaptation of George Bailey’s iconic journey of discovery while inhabiting all the film’s characters including Clarence, the guardian angel and Mr. Potter, the evil rich guy. (1008 Brown Street, Peekskill; www.paramounthudsonvalley.org)

It’s a Wonderful Life, Jacob Burns – 12/23-29: 12pm: George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) staves off financial ruin at the hands of the evil tycoon Henry Potter (Lionel Barrymore) in Frank Capra’s bittersweet holiday classic set in Bedford Falls during the Great Depression. With Donna Reed (“Oh, Buffalo gals won’t you come out to night”) and the original Bert and Ernie – the cop and the cab driver, played by Ward Bond and Frank Fallen Fri-Thurs: 12/23-29: 12pm. (Jacob Burns, 364 Manville Rd., Pleasantville; www.burnsfilmcenter.org)