December Events: Take a break from the holidays

admin Posted OnNovember 18, 2017

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December: Take a break from the holidays with these 30 great local events in music, theatre, dance, comedy, benefits, author talks, parties, basketball and kids stuff.

Garrison Keillor with musical guests Robin & Linda Williams, Tarrytown Music Hall – Fri, 12/1: 8pm: From the land where “all the kids are above average”, Garrison Keillor, host of the radio show A Prairie Home Companion and author the best seller Lake Wobegon Days stops in for a chat in Tarrytown with Americana music legends Robin and Linda Williams. (13 Main St., Tarrytown; www.tarrytownmusichall.org)

Local! What Fresh Hell Live! ChappPac: Fri, 12/1: 8pm: Comedians Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson bring their hit parenting podcast What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood to a live audience. Ables and Wilson combine their twenty-year friendship, their comic sensibilities and their usually completely opposite approaches to parenting, for a ‘Mom’s Night Out’ full of games, laughs, and maybe even a little parenting advice. (480 Bedford Road, Chappaqua; TKTS)

Local! The Liar, Armonk Players – Fri-Sun, 12/1-3 & Thurs-Sat 12/7-9: Pia Haas directs David Ives, The Liar, at Armonk’s Whippoorwill Hall. Ive’s adaption of Pierre Corneille’s 17th century comedy, is an urban romance stuffed with alternative facts, mistaken identities, duels and intrigue. Like Corneille’s original, the comedy plays off the title character, Dorante’s compulsive lying. Timely? Ives is best known for his Tony-nominated Venus in Furand for his adaptations of French comedies of manners such as Moliere’s The Misanthrope. (North Castle Public Library, 19 Whippoorwill Rd., East, Armonk; www.armonkplayers.org)

Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat, Emelin Theatre, Sun, 12/2: 11am & 1:30pm: The Cat in the Hat turns a rainy afternoon into a wild house-trashing adventure for Sally and her brother. With special guests Thing 1 and Thing 2 providing their unique house-cleaning service. Ages 5+. (Emelin Theatre, 153 Library Ln., Mamaroneck; www.emelin.org)

Richard Thompson, Caramoor – Sat, 12/2: 8pm: British folk rock legend Richard Thompson headlines Caramoor’s Fall Benefit Concert. This “mostly” tax deductible ticket gets you one of 170 seats in the intimate Rosen House Music Room to hear one of Rolling Stone’s Top 20 Guitarists of All Time. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Chris Botti, Paramount Hudson Valley – Sat, 12/2: 8pm: America’s biggest selling instrumentalist, Botti has had four #1 Jazz Albums and won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album in 2013. He has performed with everyone from Sting to Yo-Yo Ma, Paul Simon, John Mayer, Joshua Bell, Herbie Hancock and Lady Gaga. (1008 Brown St., Peekskill; www.paramounthudsonvalley.org)

Chappaqua Cares Empty Bowls, Crabtree’s Kittle House – Sun, 12/3: 5pm: This event from Chappaqua Cares is a benefit to help raise awareness and funds to combat hunger. This year they will auction off three hand-painted celebrity bowls from: musician Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule, Bette Midler and a third signed by Bette Midler, David Hyde Pierce, Gavin Kreel and Kate Baldwin. (Crabtree’s Kittle House, 11 Kittle Rd., Chappaqua; www.chappaquacares.org)

Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Performing Arts Center – Sun, 12/3: 3pm: George Balanchine’s most celebrated muse, Suzanne Farrell, in her company’s final performance ever, serves up a pageant of the choreographer’s handpicked favorites. Including classic works of the canon and iconic works created especially for her by Mr. Balanchine. The NYT’s praised the company for “tackling arduous roles… with energy, scale, nuance and musical sophistication seldom found anywhere.” (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

The Mavericks, Tarrytown Music Hall – Wed-Thurs, 12/6-7: 8pm: This Latino band from South Florida, who had their own PBS special, plays straight on country garage band/rhythmic cow-punk! They’re crazy good! You know they are if they can book a two-night run in Tarrytown in December! (13 Main St., Tarrytown; www.tarrytownmusichall.org)

Sixties, Spectacular, Tarrytown Music Hall – Fri, 12/8: 8pm: The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Vogues (“5 O’clock World”) The Buckinghams (”Kind of a Drag”) The Happenings (“Go Away Little Girl”) and Terry Sylvester of the Hollies (“The Air That I Breathe”) (13 Main St., Tarrytown; www.tarrytownmusichall.org)

Hot Tuna Electric ft. Steve Kimock, Capitol Theatre – Fri, 12/8: 8pm: Jorma and Jack are back. This time they’re plugged in with guitarist Steve Kimock, who has been compared to Jerry Garcia. (149 Westchester Ave., www.thecapitoltheatre.com)

Blood Sweat and Tears, Paramount Hudson Valley – Fri, 12/8: 8pm: Bo Bice, the runner up to Carrie Underwood on American Idol, season 4, fronts the legendary jazz-rock band from the sixties who scored seven Top 40 hits including “Spinning Wheel,” “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy”, and “God Bless The Child”. (1008 Brown St., Peekskill; www.paramounthudsonvalley.org)

The Brentano Quartet, Performing Arts Center – Sat, 12/9: 8pm: The Brentano Quartet, part of PAC’s Great Performer series, received the Naumburg Award and the Martin Segal Prize in 1995 after debuting in New York City the previous year. They served as the first-ever Ensemble-in-Residence at Princeton University and as the faculty Quartet-in-Residence at Yale University. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Capitol Theatre – Sat-Sun, 12/9-10: 8pm: Singer/songwriter, Rateliff’s single S.O.B. rose to #1 on the Americana charts after he performed it on the Jimmy Fallon’s The Tonight Show. Here he performs with his R&B combo, The Night Sweats. Plus, The Budos Band on 12/9 and Anders Osborne on 12/10. (149 Westchester Ave., www.thecapitoltheatre.com)

Local! Ragtag Theatre’s Cinderella, Chapp-Pac: Sat, 12/9: 2pm:This adaptation is performed in the street theater style known as Commedia dell’arte with larger-than-life characters, colorful song and dance numbers, and a message on self-worth for kids. Broadway World called this winner of the 2016 Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best Family Show “Perfect for all ages and people attending, with or without kids in tow.” (480 Bedford Road, Chappaqua; 914.458.5143; tickets)

Snowkus Pocus, Ridgefield Playhouse – Sat, 12/9: 4 & 7pm: This circus/ballet from Cirquetacular follows young Brianna to an enchanted winter wonderland as she encounters Jack Frost, the Snow Queen, the North Wind and a shape-shifter Azura. (80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Music From Copland House, Celestial Harmonies, Merestead – Sun, 12/10: 3pm: A rare performance of Olivier Messiaen’s monumental evocation of the Apocalypse, Quartet for the End of Time. (455 Byram Lake Rd., Mt. Kisco; www.coplandhouse.org)

Harvey Presents: An Afternoon with Sonia Monzano, The Harvey School – Sun, 12/10: 4pm: Actress & author Sonia Manzano shares humorous and inspiring stories from her books From the South Bronx to Sesame Street: A Puerto Rican Story and her new memoir Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx. Sonia, who garnered 15 Emmy’s as part of the Sesame Street writing team and two Emmy-noms for her on-screen performances as Maria, will do a Q&A and book signing. (Walker Center for the Arts, The Harvey School, 260 Jay St. Katonah; www.harveyschool.org)

Local! The Brandenburg Concertos, Bedford Chamber Concerts – Wed, 12/13: 8pm: Wynton Marsalis called Dr. Anthony Newman “the high priest of Bach”. Newman has performed the Brandenburg’s with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center 12 times at Alice Tully Hall. His Bedford concerts made our Bucket List so his semi-annual take on the Brandenburg’s would be a Bucket List event on steroids. (St, Matthews Church, 382 Cantitoe St., Bedford; www.bedfordchamberconcerts.org)

Star Wars: The Last Jedi, IMAX Movies, Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk – 12/15-23 & 12/26-1/15/18: 1,4,7 &10pm: See Episode VIII of the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy on the Norwalk Aquarium’s six-story high, 70mm IMAX screen. The film stars Carrie Fisher in her final film role performance before her death in 2016. Plus, Mark Hammill, Daisy Ridley, Benicia del Toro and Laura Dern and a new score from composer John Williams. (10 N. Water St., Norwalk, www.maritimeaquarium.org)

Hot ticket alert! Winter Pops, Westchester Philharmonic with Laura Michelle Kelly, Performing Arts Center: Sun, 12/17: 3pm: This is our favorite event of the season! Ted Sperling conducts the Westchester Phil and Broadway star Laura Michelle Kelly in a program of Broadway, the Great American Songbook and holiday favorites. Laura created the stage role of Mary Poppins in London’s West End earning the Olivier Award for Best Actress. She went on to star in West End and Broadway productions of South Pacific, The King and I and Finding Neverland. Plus a special appearance from Kelly Hall-Tompkins performing her acclaimed solos from Fiddler on the Roof. We go every year! (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.westhcesterphil.org)

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, WPPAC – Fri-Sun, 12/22-1/14/18: 7 & 2pm: This musical is based on the Victor Hugo novel and showcases songs from the Disney film featuring music and lyrics from the Academy Award-winning composing team of Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. Watch Quasimodo pine for the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda and save the gypsies from the devious Dom Claude Frolio. (White Plains Performing Arts Center, 11 City Place, 3rd Floor, White Plains; www.wppac.com)

Matisyahu, Capitol Theatre – Sat, 12/23: 8pm: Jewish-American reggae vocalists, beat boxer and alt-rock musician, blends Orthodox Jewish themes with reggae, rock & hip-hop. His 2005 single “King Without a Crown” was a Top 40 hit. . (149 Westchester Ave., www.thecapitoltheatre.com)

Westchester PRC’s 19^th Annual Slam Dunk Tournament, County Center – Tues-Sat, 12/26-30: 11am: See some of the best players and teams from Section Varsity Basketball perform before the league season starts in January. (198 Central Ave., White Plains; www.ticketmaster.com)

The Paper Bag Players, That’s Quite Abusurd, Emelin Theatre, Tues-Wed, 12/26-7: 11am & 1:30pm: From the opening number, “Welcome To Friendly” to the show’s them song “That’s Quite Absurd”, this new one-hour show is packed with stories, songs, freewheeling dances, painting, audience participation, paper bag costumes, scenery and lots of adventure! Recommended for children in Pre-k to 3rd grade. (153 Library Ln, Mamaroneck; www.emelin.org)

Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway, Westchester Broadway Theater – Thurs- Sun, 12/28-31: Neil Berg, composer of the hit off-Broadway musical, The Prince and the Pauper, assembles a cast of Broadway stars from Phantom, Les Miserables, Sweeney Todd and more in this musical revue of some of the greatest Broadway moments of the century. Including CATS, Jesus Christ Superstar, Jekyll & Hyde, Les Miserables and The Phanotm of the Opera. (One Broadway Plaza, Elmsford; www.broadwaytheatre.com)

Bob DiBuono, Stamford Palace – Fri, 12/29: 8pm: Dob DiBuono, a regular on the Nightly Show on Comedy Central, brings his stand-up routines to the Palace. Noted for his sarcastic and edgy takes on the absurdities of life. In his high energy act, DiBuono moves in and out of voices, impressions and signature characters all illuminating his “Every Man” point of view. (61 Atlantic St., Stamford; www.palacestamford.org)

The String Cheese Incident, Capitol Theatre – Fri-Sun, 12/29-31: 8pm: Progressive bluegrass and neo-psychedelia jam band from Colorado is a fave of Bay area Deadheads looking for salvation. Featuring everything from electric guitar and mandolin to violin, lap steel guitar, electric slide guitar keys and accordion. (149 Westchester Ave., www.thecapitoltheatre.com)

Frozen Sing-A-Long, Palace Stamford – Sat, 12/30: 12:30 & 3:30pm: Relive the magic in this sing-a-long screening of Disney’s Frozen as fearless Anna joins forces with Kristoff and his reindeer sidekick to find Anna’ sister, Snow Queen Elsa and break her icy spell. (61 Atlantic St., Stamford; www.palacestamford.org)

The Harlem Globetrotters, County Center – Sun, 12/31: 11am & 4pm: The Harlem Globetrotters, the world’s most winning franchise in any sport, celebrate their 91st Anniversary World Tour at the County Center on New Year’s Eve day. Watch as they dazzle the Washington Generals (the world’s losing-est team in any sport) with a display of marksmanship from the 4-point line – 6 feet, 3 inches beyond the NBA’s current 3-point line.(198 Central Ave., White Plains; www.countycenter.biz)

White Plains New Year’s Eve Spectacular, Sun, 12/32: 10pm-12:30am: It’s Times Square in White Plains with music, a ball drop and confetti and a fireworks show at midnight. The music starts at 10pm with a DJ and then live music. Heineken USA provides free rides to residential destinations within Westchester County from their Safe Rides transportation stand on the corner of E. Post Road and Mamaroneck Avenue between 11 pm – 3 am. (Main St. between Court St. and Renaissance Square; www.wpbid.com)