A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie
Photo by Dan Norman Photography
There are so many holiday-themed shows each year in the Twin Cities that it can be daunting to keep track of them all—much less decide which to take in to burnish that end-of-year glow. Here are a few of the best to help you fill your entertainment dance card.
Old Faithful
A Christmas Carol
Scrooge’s journey from humbug to redemption goes down with the familiar sweetness of a glass of eggnog—and while it’s never going to surprise, J.C. Cutler as Ebenezer sells his character with heartfelt distinction. • Guthrie Theater, through 12/30, guthrietheater.org
Timeless Treasure
Black Nativity
Penumbra’s own reliable standard serves up Langston Hughes’s story about holiday heartbreak and community with enough power to evoke bittersweet tears; with choreography by Uri Sands, a full choir, and sharp performances, it’s an emotional journey that’s become a tradition for good reason. • Penumbra Theatre, 12/1–23, penumbratheatre.org
Snow Globe
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
This musical with big dance numbers is based on the classic film, with let’s-put-on-a-show repartee and easy charm amid classic tunes such as “Blue Skies,” “I Love a Piano,” and the title song that made Bing Crosby a Yuletide immortal. • Ordway Center for Performing Arts, 12/8–31, ordway.org
Let It Ring
A Christmas Celebration with The Steeles
Among the all-time greats of Minnesota stages and concert halls, siblings J.D., Fred, Jearlyn, Jevetta, and Billy are a transcendent powerhouse when they get together—this show returns after a seven-year hiatus to bring sounds both secular and sacred. • Fitzgerald Theater, 12/9–10, publicradio.org
All About Family
A Christmas Carole Petersen
Actor and storyteller Tod Petersen mines memories of the holidays with his family in Mankato for this funny-because-it’s-true look at how the season brings out our best as well as our… less than best. • Ritz Theater, 11/30–12/23, theaterlatteda.com
Visions of Sugarplums
Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy
Entering its second half-century, this extravaganza teams up more than 150 dancers and other artists in a fairytale journey with all ages represented onstage as well as in the audience. • State Theatre, 12/16–23, hennepintheatretrust.org
Earning Wings
It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Concert
It’s easy to forget that the 1946 film starring James Stewart wasn’t much of a success in its day, and didn’t really become a holiday standard until the 1980s—it’s also easy to argue that its sharp sensibility was ahead of its time, and that we’re more in need of happy endings than ever. The Minnesota Orchestra accompanies the movie with Dimitri Tiomkin’s score. • Orchestra Hall, 12/17–18, minnesotaorchestra.org
Pass the Eggnog
What the Elf?
The Brave New Workshop’s annual holiday revue sums up the year that was with laughs and hopefully the spirit of reconciliation that accompanies the best holiday seasons—they’re saying we should bring the family members with whom we’ve been vehemently disagreeing all year on Facebook. • Brave New Workshop, 11/11–1/28/17, bravenewworkshop.com
