ZUZI! Dance Company.photo: Larry Hanelin
With the holidays upon us, there’s an abundance of fantastic arts and cultural performances to experience in Tucson. Whether you want to experience a little holiday-themed drama on stage, inspiring vocal performances or dance events, this is the month to get out and see what Tucson has to offer. Here are a few gems to start you off and put you in the mood. Happy Holidays!
Arizona Rose Theatre
“The Magic of Christmas” tells the tale of labor strife at the North Pole and the effects of the 21th century on Christmas. Dec. 10, 16-17 at 7 p.m., Dec. 11, 18 at 2 p.m. Photos ops with Santa after the show! Temple of Music and Art Cabaret Theatre, 330 S. Scott Ave. 888-0509, ArizonaRoseTheatre.com
Ballet Tucson
Holiday classic, “The Nutcracker,” returns to Tucson Dec. 22-24. The classic tale transports its audience to a magical land with toy soldiers and mice amid a winternight’s dream. Thursday, Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 23 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 24 at 3 p.m. Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. 745-3000, BalletTucson.org
Beowulf Alley Theatre Company
Beowulf Alley continues its Old Time Radio Theatre series with “Archie Andrews: Christmas Shopping” and “Radio City Playhouse: Twas the Night Before Christmas” on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. Also in Dec., “Orson Welles: A Christmas Carol,” on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.“A Cactus Christmas” (pictured below) explores a family-friendly tale for the holidays about squatters in the ghost town of Wishbone, AZ starting Fri, Dec 9. Various show times, see the calendar on the website. 11 S. 6th Ave. 882-0555, BeowulfAlley.org
Black Cherry Burlesque
This show spices up the holiday season with two performances on Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Surly Wench Pub, 424 N. 4th Ave. 882-0009, TucsonBurlesque.com
Borderlands Theater
There are six chances to catch the 16th annual “A Tucson Pastorela” this season, with shows Dec. 15 through Dec. 18: at 10 a.m. Dec. 15-16, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15-17 and 2 p.m. Dec. 18. Presented at the Leo Rich Theatre, 260 S. Church Ave. 882-7406, BorderlandsTheater.org
Fox Theatre
Dec 2, 11th Annual Fiesta Feliz Navidena, 7pm; Dec 16, Christmas with Aaron Neville, 7:30pm; Dec 17, Neshama Carlebach with Gospel Choir, 8pm; Dec 18, Dancing in the Streets El Cascanueces, 3pm; Dec 22, Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker (see listing below), 4pm & 7pm. 17 W. Congress St. 624-1515, FoxTucsonTheatre.org
Gaslight Theatre
The annual holiday offering this year is entitled “Christmas in the Big Apple” through January 1. Set in NYC in 1933, this tale is a mash-up of the classic Dickens “A Christmas Carol” and other assorted cultural influences. 7010 E. Broadway Blvd. 886-9428, TheGaslightTheatre.com
Invisible Theatre
“My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish, I’m Home for the Holidays,” Dec. 19 and 20 at 7:30p.m., Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway Blvd. 882-9271, InvisibleTheatre.com
Moscow Ballet
“The Great Russian Nutcracker” returns to Tucson, and is on stage at the Fox Theatre for two shows on Dec. 22 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. This acclaimed touring version of the classic ballet has wowed audiences all over the United States. Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St. 547-3040, FoxTucsonTheatre.org
Pima Community College Music
“Holiday Concert,” Dec. 4 at 3 p.m., featuring the PCC Chorale and College Singers. PCC West Campus Proscenium Theatre, 2202 W. Anklam Rd. 206-6986, Pima.Edu/cfa
Sons of Orpheus Choir
“14thAnnual Holiday Benefit Concert,” for the Community Food Bank takes place on Dec. 7 at 7p.m. Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway Blvd. The choir’s 15th Annual “Christmas at San Xavier” concerts, to benefit the restoration and preservation of Mission San Xavier del Bac are: Dec. 13-15 at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., Dec. 18, 3 p.m. Mission San Xavier del Bac, 1950 W. San Xavier Rd. SonsOfOrpheus.org
Southern Arizona Women’s Chorus
“A Holiday Twist” choral concert has two shows this month - Friday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m. at Ascension Lutheran Church, and Sunday, Dec. 11, 3 p.m. at UA’s Crowder Hall, 1017 N. Olive Rd. 404-3148, SouthernArizonaWomensChorus.org
Tucson Symphony Orchestra
Handel’s “Messiah” Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Catalina Foothills High School auditorium, 4300 E. Sunrise Dr. and “Holiday Spectacular! TSO Pops! Series” Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m., and 18, 2 p.m., at the Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. 882-8585, TucsonSymphony.org
UA Presents
“The Christmas Music of Mannheim Steamroller by Chip Davis:” Grammy Award-winning ensemble Mannheim Steamroller celebrates the spirit of the season with its unmistakable sound and multi-media show on Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. “The Spirit of Christmas,” Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 11 at 2 p.m., is a Broadway-style Christmas variety show with a cast of 100 singers and dancers. Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. 621-3341, UApresents.org
ZUZI! Dance Company
“14th Annual Winter Solstice Celebration: Sombra y luz – Shadow and Light,” showcasing dances inspired by visual artists who use shadow and light in their works with performances on Dec. 16-18, 22 at 7:30 p.m. Zuzi’s Theatre, 738 N. 5th Ave. 629-0237, ZUZIMoveIt.org
