By Jenn Sheridan ·
Take a break from the holiday shopping craze and check out one of these holiday celebrations to get into the spirit of the season. From family friendly shows to all-night pub crawls, the Tahoe and Reno region offers plenty of great evenings to inspire holiday cheer.
“Celebrate the Season”
The Tahoe Choir and LTCC Chorus present a winter concert, “Celebrate the Season,” with special guests The String Beings featuring “Let It Snow,” “Silent Night,” “Lord Nelson Mass” by Joseph Haydn, and other songs of the season. Shows are on Dec. 5 at Lake Tahoe Community College and on Dec. 7 at St. Theresa Catholic Church. Tickets are available at the door for $10, $8 for students and seniors, and free for kids 5 and younger.
“Christmas Wonderland”
From the producers of “Spirit of the Dance,” the Eldorado Showroom presents “Christmas Wonderland,” a holiday extravaganza of pure Christmas magic. Guests will be taken on an unforgettable Christmas journey filled with tradition in this glittering, dancing and singing seasonal spectacular.
“Christmas Wonderland” is an enchanting holiday show with a dazzling cast, beautiful costumes, breathtaking scenery and the highest kicking chorus girls this side of the North Pole. The audience is invited to sing along to traditional carols including “White Christmas,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and more. Performances are offered five days a week until Dec. 27. Tickets are $25.95 for $19.95 or 12 and younger. To purchase tickets, visit eldoradoreno.com.
“Ham for the Holidays”
Bruka Theatre presents “Ham For The Holidays,” a hilarious farce set in a fictional town in Hamlin, Georgia. It is Christmas Eve 1939 and the local radio station WHAM (pronounced W-HAM) has a special one-time performance planned for Christmas. WHAM has gathered it’s radio actors together and with the Orson Welles on his way to the station to join the cast for the performance there is great excitement all-round.
Unfortunately, Georgia has been hit with a freak snowstorm and neither Orson Welles, nor the script for the performance, arrive. “Ham for the Holidays” is a warm-hearted homage to traditional farce with its broad character sketches and pratfalls, and just the lightest tip of the hat to the screwball comedies of the 1930s. Performances are Wednesday to Sunday from Dec. 5 to 21; no show Dec. 7. For more information or tickets, visit www.bruka.org.
“If Only in My Dreams”
A Holiday Show Extravaganza in the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall in Carson City, “If Only In My Dreams, Christmas” features CeCe Gable with her special guests on Dec. 20. Get in a jazzy, holiday mood during this elegant and upbeat evening with Gable and her exceptional band. Prepare for visions of Sugarplums with traditional holiday tunes and striking musical performances, some with a bit of holiday mischief. Tickets are $18, $15 for seniors and members, or $10 for 12 and younger and are available at breweryarts.org.
Jazz for the Holidays
The Reno Jazz Orchestra presents Jazz for the Holidays with a cast of guest vocalists and musicians to ring in the holiday spirit on Dec. 20 at Nightingale Hall. Joining the 17-piece band are award-winning jazz vocalists Madeline Eastman, Trey Stone, Jackie Landrum, Maurice Allen and Pat Esters. Additionally, international tap star Sam Weber and versatile dance artist Ananda Bena-Weber will perform alongside the orchestra. The Reno Youth Orchestra opens the show with a fanfare of holiday tunes. Tickets are $25 or $10 for students. For more information or tickets, visit renojazzorchestra.com or call (775) 846-5444.
“Messiah”
Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus presents its 9th annual production of Handel’s “Messiah” with performances in five locations from Dec. 12 to 21. The TOCCATA production is a celebration of the holidays and includes not only favorite selections from “Messiah” Parts One and Three, but also seasonal carols that the audience will be most welcome to join in singing. Visit toccatatahoe.com for tickets and performance locations.
“The Nutcracker”
See the original performance of “The Nutcracker” in its entirety with the Bay Pointe Ballet Company directed by Bruce Steivel on Dec. 6 and 7 at the Grand Sierra Resort. Bay Pointe Ballet is a professional dance company based in San Francisco and providing regional tours to Northern California and Nevada. Choreographer Bruce Steivel sets the stage for this performance in St. Petersburg, Russia. Custom-designed sets and costumes place the emphasis on beauty. Tickets range from $29 to $59. For more information or tickets, visit grandsierraresort.com.
“The Nutcracker”
The A.V.A. Ballet Theatre presents the 19th annual showing of “The Nutcracker” under artistic director Alexander Van Alstyne from Dec. 12 to 14 at the Pioneer Center for Performing Arts. The A.V.A. Ballet is the resident ballet company of the Pioneer Center of Performing Arts. Principal dancers from professional dance companies including Ballet West, Houston Ballet and Diablo Ballet will perform leading roles along with a large cast of local talent. Tchaikovsky’s entire score for the performance will be played live by the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Laura Jackson. Tickets range from $25 to $55. For more information or tickets, visit pioneercenter.com.
“The Peanutcracker”
Introduce the children in your life to ballet with “The Peanutcracker: The Story in a Nutshell” presented by the Sierra Nevada Ballet with two shows on Dec. 6 at the Carson City Community Center. This 45-minute adaptation of Lev Ivanov’s original ballet, “The Nutcracker” is narrated and designed to capture the interest of younger imaginations.
This year’s performances will feature Malik Berry from the Dance Theatre of Harlem and Chloe Felesina from Ballet X and the Sierra Nevada professional company along with more than 50 local children performing on stage. The pre-show entertainment includes the Youth Theater Carson City Showstoppers and Carson City Symphony’s Strings in the Schools group 45 minutes before each event. Tickets are $11 or $6 for children 15 and younger. For tickets, call (775) 220-4452.
Santa Crawl
The largest Santa Crawl in the nation returns to the streets of Reno on Dec. 13 for those 21 and older only. Do your best Santa or elf outfit and head out to help raise money for local schools while touring Reno’s favorite bars and restaurants. Check the event Web site to see which stores will stock extra holiday clothing for this unique event. For more information, visit renosantacrawl.com.
“Siamsa: A Celtic Christmas”
The Reno Irish Dance Company presents a holiday presentation featuring dancers, vocalists and musicians with performances on Dec. 13 and 14 at JA Nugget in Sparks. Tickets are available at janugget.com for $25.
“Sing A Long: White Christmas”
Sing A Long to “White Christmas.” Good Luck Macbeth is a theatre company providing a window to the past, as well as a mirror of the present, and for the holidays the company is hosting a “Sing A Long: White Christmas” on Dec. 14 in Reno.
“Spirit of the Season”
Santa Claus joins the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra for an evening of singing, dancing and celebrating the holidays for “Spirit of the Season” on Dec. 6 and 7 at the Pioneer Center for Performing Arts. From jazzy tunes to traditional holiday carols, Santa Tappers and orchestral arrangements this variety-style performance has something for all audiences. Tickets range from $14 to $69. For more information and tickets, visit renophil.com.
“A Star Spangled Christmas”
Truckee Tahoe Community Chorus presents “A Star Spangled Christmas” on Dec. 13 and 14 at the Resort at Squaw Creek featuring community members performing in this annual holiday concert. The concert celebrates the bicentennial of “The Star Spangled Banner.” Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, and free for kids and students younger than 19. Purchase tickets at Cabona’s Office Boss locations, Dickson Realty, truckeechorus.org or at the door.
Tuba Christmas
Created by Harvey Phillips, Tuba Christmas concerts are performed in more than 180 cities throughout the United States, and in several foreign countries. The concerts consist of Christmas carols arranged in four-part harmony to be played by tubas, baritones and euphoniums. The warm, organ-like sound wins the ears and hearts of every audience. It is no wonder that Tuba Christmas is an established Christmas tradition in cities throughout the world.
Players are invited to participate in the free concert on Dec. 6 at Wilbur D. May Museum in Reno. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. followed by rehearsal at 1 p.m. and a free concert at 3 p.m. For more information, contact Todd DeVito at (775) 847-9207 or e-mail tubaxmasreno@yahoo.com.
“Twas the Night Before Christmas”
The Reno Little Theater presents this classic tale featuring the adventures of a mouse, an elf, and a spunky little girl who just won’t take no for an answer. Don’t miss this joyful tribute to the holiday season written by Ken Ludwig and directed by Tami Castillo Shelton. Performances are Friday to Sunday from Dec. 5 to 7 and Dec. 12 to 14. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for kids. Visit renolittletheater.org.
Winter Choir Concert
The Sierra Nevada College Concert Choir presents its annual winter concert under the direction of Donna Axton on Dec. 4 and 6 at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Incline Village. This year’s program features Pergolesi’s “Magnificat” along with traditional holiday favorites including “O come, o come, Emmanuel” and “O Holy Night.”
Soloists include Dave Pierce, Kevin Beiswenger, Lisa Hoopes, Lorelei Van Peborgh, Karen Colbert, Marty Gollery, Marsha Tejeda, Gayle Blazer, Bob McIver, Vikki Gallien, Kaitlyn McAley, Nicole Ross, Christina Cervi, Claire Roberts and Josii Johnson. Accompanists are Katie Lauder, Jay Grauer, Joel Munc and Jon Obester. Tickets are available at Potlatch, Handmade at the Lake and St. Patrick’s Church. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door, $15 for seniors and free for kids 12 and younger and SNC students. To purchase tickets, call (775) 881-7586.
