Nutcracker, Christmas Carol, Messiah, Brandenburgs

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Nutcracker, Christmas Carol, Messiah, Brandenburgs: Here’s where to see the Holiday “core four”: The Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol, Handel’s Messiah and The Brandenburg Concertos. Plus, It’s A Wonderful Life.

The Nutcracker

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, New York City Ballet, Lincoln Center, Fri, 11/23-Sun, 12/30: 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 in the US. The production features elaborate stage elements, the most famous of which is the one-ton Christmas tree that grows from a height of 12 to 40 feet. (62-65 St. at Columbus Ave.;  www.nycballet.com)

Colonial Nutcracker, ft. Dan Hogan, Paramount Hudson Valley, Sat, 12/8: 2pm: Dance Theatre in Westchester Artistic Director Rose Menes’ interpretation of The Nutcracker moves the action to colonial Yorktown during the Revolutionary War and features redcoat army mice. The full length 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)

The Nutcracker, New York Theater Ballet, Tarrytown Music Hall, Sun, 12/9: 1, 4 & 7pm: This hour-long production of The Nutcracker, created for younger audiences, is sophisticated enough for adults! Founded in 1978 by artistic director Diana Byer, New York Theatre Ballet has earned national attention for its elegant revivals of masterworks by great choreographers. (13 Main St. Tarrytown; www.tarrytownmusichall.com)

The Nutcracker, Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance, Ridgefield Playhouse, Fri-Sat, 12/14-15: 6pm & Sun, 12/16: 11am & 2pm: The Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance’s production of The Nutcracker at The Ridgefield Playhouse features Tchaikovsky’s score, graceful ballerinas, wooden soldiers who come to life and a larger than life Christmas tree. All for just $25 for adults and $20 for kids and seniors. (Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT;  www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

The Nutcracker, Westchester Ballet Company, Westchester County Center, Fri, 12/14: 10am, Sat, 12/15: 12:30 & 4:30pm & Sun, 12/16: 2pm: For a fraction of the cost of the New York City Ballet you can take the kids to see the Westchester Ballet Company perform The Nutcracker at the County Center. At $29 per ticket ($23 for kids and seniors) it’s a great way to train next-gen culture vultures. We did. Choreographed by Beth Fritz Logrea and Jean Logrea. (198 Central Ave., White Plains; www.countycenter.biz)

The Nutcracker, Connecticut Ballet, Palace Theatre, Sat-Sun, 12/15-16: 1 & 5pm: Guest stars from the American Ballet Theatre including Lauren Lovett, Taylor Stanley, Devon Teuscher and Alexandre Hammoudi 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 a full corps de ballet. (61 Atlantic St., Stamford www.palacestamford.org)

Nutcracker Dream, World Premiere, Emelin Theatre, Sun, 12/16: 2 & 5pm & Sat, 12/22: 3 & 7pm: Choreographer Carole Alexis’ Ballet des Amériques presents the world premiere of this family-friendly adaptation of the classic ballet, inspired by the work of Marius Petipa and Rudolf Nureyev. Ballet des Amériques is a professional dance company whose work transcends established categories of classical, modern and contemporary dance. (153 Library Ln., Mamaroneck; www.emelin.org)

The Nutcracker, Bolshoi Ballet in HD, Ridgefield Playhouse, Sun, 12/23: 12:55pm: 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. (Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol, The Musical, Westchester Broadway Theatre, Thurs-Sun, 11/29-12/23: check dates & times:  This new musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, with book by John Fanelli and music from George Puello, features an original score as well as many popular and traditional carols. The production features a large cast, colorful production numbers, lots of dancing and a surprising new twist. (One Broadway Plaza, Elmsford; www.broadwaytheatre.com)

Mr. Dickens Tells A Christmas Carol, Lyndhurst Mansion, Fri-Sun, 12/14-12/30: check dates & times: In this hour-long theatrical performance appropriate for all ages, actor Mikel Von Brodbeck 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. (635 S. Broadway, Tarrytown; www.lyndhurst.org)

Dickens’ Christmas Carol, Historic Hudson Valley, Sat-Sun, 12/8-9 & 15-16: 3:30, 4:45 & 6pm: Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at the historic Old Dutch Church in Tarrytown 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. (Old Dutch Church, 430 Broadway, Tarrytown;  www.hudsonvalley.org)

It’s a Wonderful Life

Local! It’s A Wonderful Life, Bedford Playhouse, Thurs, 12/13: 7pm: The Bedford Playhouse celebrates its first holiday season with this screening of Frank Capra’s holiday classic, It’s A Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed as George and Mary Bailey. With a little help from Clarence, George’s guardian angel, and a lot of friends, George and Mary save Bedford Falls and Bailey Savings & Loan from the evil tycoon Henry Potter. 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. (633 Old Post Rd., Bedford;www.bedfordplayhouse.org)

Local! It’s a Wonderful Life, Jacob Burns, Mon-Tues, 12/24-25: 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. (Jacob Burns, 364 Manville Rd., Pleasantville; www.burnsfilmcenter.org)

The Brandenburg Concertos

The Brandenburg Concertos, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Fri, 12/14: 7:30 pm, Sun, 12/16: 5pm & Tues, 12/18: 7:30pm: 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.” Get your holiday Bach fix here. (Alice Tully Hall, 1941 Broadway;  www.lincolncenter.org)

The Messiah

New Choral Society, Messiah, Part I & Selections from Part II & III, Scarsdale, Fri, 11/30: 8pm & Sun, 12/2: 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. (Hitchcock Presbyterian Church, 6 Greenacres Avenue, Scarsdale; www.newchoralsociety.org)

Stamford Symphony presents The Best Of Handel’s Messiah, Sat, 12/8: 8pm: Ted Sperling conducts when 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)

The Messiah, Westchester Oratorio Society, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Somers, Sun, 12/9: 3pm: The Westchester Oratorio Society, Benjamin Niemczyk, artistic director, celebrates its 21st season with this performance of Handel’s Messiah. WOS’s Chamber Chorus and the St. Luke’s Choir will be accompanied by a professional instrumental ensemble and soloists. (331 Somerstown Pike, Somers; www.westchesteroratorio.org)

Handel’s Messiah, New York Philharmonic, Tues-Sat, 12/11-15: 7:30pm: Conductor Andre Manze and the Westminster Symphonic Choir take on Part I and Part II of the most famous and beloved chorale work of all time. (David Geffen Hall, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, NYC: www.newyorkphilharmonic.com)  

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