The National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale will perform ‘The Messiah’ at the Strathmore Dec. 17-18. (Photo by Don Lassell; courtesy National Philharmonic)
There will be lots of chances to get in the holiday spirit in the coming weeks. Here are some you may want to check out.
The National Philharmonic Singers under the direction of conductors Stan Engebretson and Victoria Gau will present a holiday concert on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church (107 S. Washington Street) in Rockville. Stanford’s “Magnificat in G Major” and famous Renaissance motets “In Dulci Jubilo” and “Resonent in Laudibus” will be performed along with popular carols and a sing-along. It’s free but donations will be accepted. Details at christchurchrockville.org.
The National Philharmonic will also perform the “Messiah” at the Strathmore Dec. 17-18 with a nearly 200-voice choir. Tickets start at $28. Details at nationalphilharmonic.org.
Olney Theatre Company presents “A Christmas Carol: a Ghost Story of Christmas Past” by Charles Dickens performed as a one-man-show by Paul Morella Nov. 25-Dec. 31 at its Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab (2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md.). Tickets range from $20-40. Details at olneytheatre.org.
Paul Morella as Scrooge in the one-man show ‘A Christmas Carol; a Ghost Story of Christmas Past’ at Olney Theatre Company. (Photo courtesy Olney)
The Washington Revels present “The Christmas Revels: a Nordic Celebration of the Winter Solstice in Music, Dance & Drama” Dec. 10-18 at the GW Lisner Auditorium (730 21st St., N.W.). The performance will include Nordic winter traditions from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden performed by a cast of more than 100 ages 8-85. Tickets range from $12-60. Visit revelsdc.org for details.
The Washington Chorus under the direction of Julian Wachner will perform “A Candlelight Christmas” Dec. 11-22 at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall (2700 F St., N.W.) and on Monday, Dec. 19 at the Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Md.). The show features brass, organ, sing-alongs, major choral works such as “The Dream Isaiah Saw” and the “Hallelujah Chorus.” Tickets range from $18-72. Details at thewashingtonchorus.org.
Country diva Lorrie Morgan brings her “Enchanted Christmas” tour to the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va.) on Sunday, Dec. 18. Tickets are $45. Details at birchmere.com.
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has several holiday-themed performances coming up including Handel’s “Messiah” Dec. 2-4, “Family Concert: the Snowman” on Dec. 3, “Swingin’ Nutcracker a la Ellington featuring Step Afrika!” Dec. 8-11, “Music Box: Snowflakes on Parade” Dec. 10, a screening of “It’s a Wonderful Life” in which the score will be performed live on Dec. 15-16, “Holiday Pops with Storm Large” Dec. 17-18 and more. The BSO performs at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall (1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore) and at the Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Md.). Ticket prices vary. Details at bsomusic.org.
Members of the local dance company Step Afrika! perform ‘A Swingin’ Nutracker a la Ellington,’ which will be performed Dec. 8-11 at the Strathmore in North Bethesda, Md., and the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore. (Photo courtesy Weinbergharris & Associates)
Drag outfit the Kinsey Sicks perform their show “Oy Vey in a Manger” at Theater J (1529 16th St., N.W.) Dec. 20-28. Tickets are $19-52. Details at theaterj.org.
“Jewmongous,” a comedy-song concert featuring Jewish hipster comedy created and performed by Sean Altman, will be performed on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 8:30 p.m. at BlackRock Center for the Arts (12901 Town Commons Dr., Germantown, Md.). Tickets are $17-25. Details at blackrockcenter.org.
“Kwanzaa Celebration” will be held Dec. 17-18 at Dance Place (3225 8th St., N.E.) featuring the Coyaba Dance Theater under the direction of Sylvia Stoumah. Tickets are $15-30. Details at danceplace.org.
Kwanzaa celebrations for each day will be held at the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort P., S.E.) Dec. 27-Jan. 1 with Culture Queen (Jessica Smith) offering music, movement and storytelling for all ages. It’s free each day at 11 a.m. Details at anacostia.si.edu.
Hot 99.5’s “Jingle Ball 2016” will be held Monday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Verizon Center (601 F St., N.W.) featuring Meghan Trainor, the Chainsmokers, G-Eazy, Fifth Harmony, Diplo, Ellie Goulding and more. It’s sold out but last-minute tickets may be available on Stubhub.
If you’re up for a New York visit, Cyndi Lauper and friends present their annual “Home for the Holidays” benefit concert on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. at the Beacon Theatre (2124 Broadway) in New York. Lauper’s guests include Aloe Blacc, Ballets with a Twist, Big Thief, Billy Corgan and more in a holiday-themed benefit concert for the True Colors Fund, an LGBT youth charity. Tickets range from $50-150. Details at ticketmaster.com.
Creative Cauldron presents “A Christmas Carol Memory,” a world premiere re-imagining of the Dickens classic featuring puppets, Dec. 1-20 at ArtSpace Falls Church (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church, Va.). Tickets are $15-30. Details at creativecauldron.org.
Saxophonist Dave Koz brings his Christmas Tour 2016 to the National Theatre (1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) on Saturday, Dec. 3 with guests Jonathan Butler, Valerie Simpson and Kenny Lattimore. Tickets are $68-98. Details at davekoz.com.
Out saxophonist Dave Koz returns to the region again this year with his annual Christmas tour. He plays the National on Saturday, Dec. 3. (Photo by Bryan Sheffield)
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington presents its annual Christmas show “Naughty and Nice” Dec. 10, 17 and 18 at the Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St., NW.). This year’s show features songs such as “Sleigh Ride,” “Merry Christmas, I Win,” “Snow,” “Text Me Merry Christmas” and more. Tickets range from $25-65. Details at gmcw.org.
The New Wave Singers of Baltimore, an LGBT chorus under the direction of Adam P. Koch, will perform their annual holiday show “Holiday Memories” Dec. 10-11 at Immanuel Church of Christ (1905 Edmonson Ave., Catonsville, Md.). Admission is free. Details at newwavesingers.org.
Contemporary gospel legends Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith bring their show “Christmas” with a full symphony orchestra and guest star Jordan Smith of “The Voice” to Royal Farms Arena (201 W. Baltimore St.) in Baltimore on Sunday, Dec. 18. Tickets range from $36.50-147. Details at ticketmaster.com.
Pope of Trash John Waters brings his show “A John Waters Christmas” to the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria) again this year on Tuesday, Dec. 20. Tickets are $49.50. Details at birchmere.com.
The Rockville Civic Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker” Dec. 3-11 at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre (603 Edmonston Dr., Rockville, Md.). Tickets are $17. Details at fscottfitzgerald.showare.com.
The Hope Garden Children’s Ballet presents “A Christmas Carol” at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre (603 Edmonton Dr., Rockville, Md.) on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 1:30 and 6 p.m. Details at hgcbt.org.
The Swingles, a UK-based a cappella group, will perform their show “Yule Songs” at the Barnes at Wolf Trap (1635 Trap Road, Vienna, Va.) on Friday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $38. Details at wolftrap.org.
Wolf Trap’s annual Holiday Sing-A-Long with the United States Marine Band and members of several local choirs, will be held at the Filene Center (1551 Trap Road, Vienna, Va.) on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. It’s free and gates for the lawn and in-house seating open at 3. New unwrapped toys will be accepted for Toys for Tots at the Filene Center entrance. Donations are optional. Bring a candle and a bell to participate in various parts of the show. Details at wolftrap.org.
The Holiday Sing-A-Long is an annual tradition at Wolf Trap. Bundle up if you go — it’s held at the Filene Center (Wolf Trap’s massive shed) on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. (Photo courtesy Wolf Trap)
The Boston Brass will perform “Christmas Bells are Swingin’!” at the Barns at Wolf Trap (1635 Trap Road, Vienna, Va.) on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $38. Details at wolftrap.org.
Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C.’s largest mostly LGBT church, has its annual Christmas concert on Friday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. at the church (474 Ridge St., N.W.). The MCC choir under the direction of Tyrone Stanley will perform along with guests. It’s free but reservations are encouraged. Reserve a free ticket by e-mailing the church office at churchoffice@mccdc.com.
“A Christmas Carol” will be performed at Ford’s Theatre (511 10th St., N.W.) through Dec. 31 with Craig Wallace as Scrooge. Tickets are $22-92. Details at fords.org.
Congressional Chorus will perform “Holiday Cheers: a Musical Champagne Evening for Grownups” on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 8:30 p.m. at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.). Tickets are $40. Details at congressionalchorus.org.
Congressional Chorus, the American Youth Chorus and the Capital City Symphony will perform “Holiday Sing-a-Long: an Annual H Street Tradition for the Whole Family” on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 4:30 and 7 p.m. at Atlas Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $12.50 but get them now — both shows invariably sell out. Details at congressionalchorus.org.
The Kennedy Center has several holiday-themed events planned.
The Cincinnati Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker” Nov. 23-27 at the Kennedy Center Opera House (2700 F St., N.W.). Renee Fleming will perform “Voices: a Merry Little Christmas” with Megan Hilty Dec. 8-9 in the Kennedy Center Family Theater. The National Symphony Orchestra will perform Handel’s “Messiah” Dec. 15-18 in the Concert Hall. The NSO Pops will perform “A Holiday Pops” featuring Laura Osnes and Santino Fontana Dec. 9-10 in the Concert Hall. NPR’s “A Jazz Piano Christmas” will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10 in the Family Theater. The Second City will perform “Twist Your Dickens” Dec. 9-31 in the Theater Lab. Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra will perform “Ella Wishes You a Swingin’ Christmas” Dec. 16-17 in the KC Jazz Club. A “Messiah” sing-a-long will be held Dec. 23 in the Concert Hall at 6 p.m.
Ticket prices vary. Full details on this and all Kennedy Center shows at kennedy-center.org.
