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Delaware holiday arts: Nutcrackers, Messiahs, Christmas plays and music, music, music

Gail Obenreder
Special To The News Journal

Editor's note: A previous version of this story had incorrect dates for Mid-Atlantic Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker." The current version is correct.

Here's a peek at what's coming for the holidays among Delaware's arts groups.

4 editor's choice events not to miss

Theater: Delaware Theatre Company celebrates the holidays with “A Sign of the Times,” the regional premiere of a new musical look at the 1960s in song written by 15-time Emmy comic winner Brice Vilanch. It stars Chilina Kennedy, who left the Broadway musical, "Beautiful," where she has been playing Carol King to do this show. Nov. 28-Dec. 3. delawaretheatre.org

Dance: Christina Cultural Arts Center presents Eleone Dance Company, a Philly group largely composed of dancers of color, in their annual holiday production of “Carols of Color,” a dance retelling of the Nativity story at The Grand in Wilmington on Dec. 9. ccacde.org

Music: The Delaware Symphony Orchestra Holiday Family concert at Cab Calloway School of the Arts Dec. 16 will also feature the Wilmington Children’s Chorus, First State Ballet Theatre and an instrument “petting zoo” from the Music School of Delaware (Dec. 16). delawaresymphony.org

Everything: OperaDelaware offers a holiday production of Peabody Opera Theatre’s intimate “Hansel and Gretel,” the Humperdinck classic sung in English and suitable for families Dec. 8. operade.org

First State Ballet's performance of "The Nutcracker" returns to The Grand in Wilmington Dec. 21-23.

Season of 'The Nutcracker'

Delaware Dance Co. mounts its 35th annual production of the holiday classic at University of Delaware's Mitchell Hall Nov. 30-Dec. 2. delawaredancecompany.org

First State Ballet Theatre, with traditional choreography by Artistic Director Pasha Kambalov (after Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa) mounts four professional performances at Wilmington’s Grand Opera House Dec. 21-23. firststateballet.com

Mid-Atlantic Ballet will be at UD’s Mitchell Hall for three performances Dec. 15 and 16: At 12:30 and 4 p.m. on Dec. 15, and at 2 p.m. Dec. 16. midatlanticballet.org

Wilmington Ballet is at Wilmington’s Playhouse on Rodney Square. Guest artists are Unity Phelan and Russell Janzen (New York City Ballet), with ensembles HAC School of Dance and the Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble on Dec. 8 and 9. wilmingtonballet.org 

Theatre 

Holiday favorites

Clear Space Theatre continues its holiday presentation of the Broadway version of "A Christmas Carol, The Musical" in Rehoboth Beach Nov. 23-Dec. 9. clearspacetheatre.org

The Grand in Wilmington presents a one-day-only performance of the national stage tour of "A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the beloved classic with holiday carols and Vince Guaraldi’s timeless music Dec. 8. thegrandwilmington.org

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Second Street Players celebrate the season with the classic "Miracle on 34th Street" (through Dec. 2). secondstreetplayers.com

Wilmington Drama League presents "A Christmas Story," the tale of a coveted Red Ryder BB gun, directed by S. Lee Lewis with choreography by Rachel Marlowe Dec. 14-30. wilmingtondramaleague.org

"A Charlie Brown Christmas” plays at The Grand Opera House for two shows on Dec. 8..

Upstate

Candlelight Theatre is in 1930s Budapest for the romantic comedy "She Loves Me," the inspiration for movies like "The Shop around the Corner" and "You’ve Got Mail," through Dec. 23. candlelighttheatredelaware.com

Chapel Street Players in Newark reprises the 15th anniversary special of Scott Mason's "One Dame Frolicking" Dec. 6-9. chapelstreetplayers.org

City Theater presents the musical “Mamma Mia,” filled with songs from the 1970s, Dec. 7-15. City-theater.org

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Delaware Theatre Company's “A Sign of the Times” stars Chilina Kennedy, who just left the Broadway musical, "Beautiful," where she has been playing Carol King. Nov. 28-Dec. 3. delawaretheatre.org

Everett Theatre in Middletown presents that musical about everyone’s favorite orphan and her dog, “Annie” (Dec. 7-16). everetttheatre.com

Reedy Point Players in Delaware City present “Murder at the Ugly Sweater Christmas Party” Dec. 14-16. reedypointplayers.com

Downstate

Kent County Theatre Guild at the Patchwork Playhouse in Dover presents a tale of Peter Pan — "Peter and the Starcatcher" Nov. 30-Dec. 7. kctg.org

Possum Point Players in Georgetown rings in the season with "It’s a Wonderful Life" Nov. 30-Dec. 9. possumpointplayers.org

Milton Theatre presents Scott Mason's Dame Edna impersonation/holiday extravaganza "Christmahanukwanzaka" Dec. 21. miltontheatre.com

Dame Edna, aka Scott Mason, will appear at both Chapel Street Players "One Dame Frolicking" Dec. 6 - 9 and at the Milton Theatre in the holiday extravaganza "Christmahanukwanzaka" Dec. 21.

Music

Choral

Choir School of Delaware conducted by Arreon Harley presents "Sounds of the Season," a concert featuring Vivaldi's “Gloria” and other holiday music at Wilmington’s First & Central Presbyterian Church Dec. 15. choirschoolofdelaware.org

Christ Church Christiana Hundred Choir (directed by Bruce Barber) and Tempesta di Mare (the Philadelphia baroque ensemble presented by Concerts at Christ Church) will perform Handel's “Messiah” in the original 1742 Dublin version Dec. 16. tempestadimare.org

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Delaware Choral Society presents Haydn's "The Creation" at Dover High School (conducted by James Wilson) with orchestra and soloists Jessica Beebe, James Reese and Paul Corujo Dec. 2. delawarechoralsociety.org

Mastersingers of Wilmington's Christmas concert at Wilmington’s First & Central Presbyterian Church features Britten's "Ceremony of Carols," with seasonal works by other composers including the ensemble’s conductor David Schelat Dec. 1.  marketstreetmusicde.org

Music School of Delaware celebrates the season in its Classical Café series with "Famous Christmas Carols and their Origins" at the School's Wilmington location Dec. 15. MSD also presents a holiday gala concert at St. Stephen's Church in Wilmington that features conductors Joanne Ward and Martin Lassman with the Cantabile Women's Chorus, Delaware Women's Chorus and the Small Wonder Jazz Choir Dec. 16. musicschoolofdelaware.org

Rainbow Chorale of Delaware, conducted by Anthony M. Condoluci-Smith with pianist Dan Carunchio, presents two Wilmington performances of "Share the Light": St. David's Episcopal Church Nov. 30 and Saints Andrew and Matthew Episcopal Church (Dec. 1). therainbowchorale.org

Smyrna Singers, a multigenerational community choir directed by Andrea Stewart Davis, will perform at the Smyrna Opera House (Dec. 1). smyrnaoperahouse.org

Southern Delaware Chorale sings Handel's "Messiah" (conducted by Colin Armstrong) with soloists and the Mid-Atlantic Symphony at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes Dec. 2. southerndelawarechorale

Thursday Noontime Concerts at Wilmington’s First & Central Presbyterian Church will feature “A Center City Chorale Christmas” Dec. 13. marketstreetmusicde.org

Mastersingers of Wilmington's Christmas concert Dec. 1 will feature  Britten's "Ceremony of Carols."

University of Delaware Music Department student ensembles present “Carols by Candlelight,” sacred music and seasonal songs at First & Central Presbyterian Church in Wilmington Dec. 2 and a choral celebration Dec. 9 at UD's Mitchell Hall. music.udel.edu

Wilmington Children’s Chorus, led by Kimberly and Philip Doucette, gives its annual candlelight concerts at Wilmington's First and Central Presbyterian Church Dec. 8 and 9. It will also sing at the Delaware Art Museum with the Cartoon Christmas Trio Dec. 16. wilmingtonchildrenschorus.org

All others

Brandywine Baroque presents "Wishing Peace for the World,” works of Vivaldi, Bach and others with Karen Flint (harpsichord), Laura Heimes (soprano), Tony Boutte (tenor) and regional Baroque musicians Dec. 7 and 9 in Wilmington; and Dec. 8 in Rehoboth Beach. brandywinebaroque.org

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Capital Ringers present "Celebrate the Season," a holiday handbell concert with multimedia and percussion at Salem UMC in Selbyville Dec. 8; Presbyterian Church of Dover Dec. 9; and the Milton Theatre Dec. 15. capitalringers.org

Delaware Symphony Orchestra principals David Southorn (violin) and Lura Johnson (piano) play a Chamber Concert at Wilmington’s Hotel duPont with works by Beethoven, Britten and Franck Dec. 11. www.delawaresymphony.org

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Dickinson Theatre Organ Society mounts its free “Christmas Spectacular”concert at Dickinson High School with a host of musicians, high school choirs and even a silent film Dec.1. dtoskimball.org

Master Players musicians at University of Delaware present “A Holiday in Greece,” a recital by soprano Irini Kyriakidou Dec. 8 that features art songs, as well as holiday and traditional Greek tunes. masterplayers.udel.edu

Melomanie plays old and new music in “Winter Concert by Candlelight” with Tracy Richardson (harpsichord), Kimberly Reighley (flute), and guest Jessica Lynch (flute) at Wilmington’s Delaware Historical Society on Market Street Dec 7. melomanie.org

Newark Symphony is presenting its annual Holiday Pops Concert featuring soprano Rebecca Gulinello and a host of guest choirs and ensembles in holiday favorites Dec. 9. newarksymphony.org

OperaDelaware's showing of Peabody Opera Theatre’s “Hansel and Gretel” is Dec. 8. operade.org

The Serafin String Quartet — Kate Ransom and Lisa Vaupel (violins); Timothy Schwartz (viola); and Lawrence Stomberg (cello) — welcomes guests Julie Nishimura (piano) and Miles Brown (string bass) in works by Shostakovich and Dvořák Dec. 3. serafinquartet.org

Thursday Noontime Concerts at Wilmington’s First & Central Presbyterian Church will feature The Cartoon Christmas Trio Dec. 6. marketstreetmusicde.org

University of Delaware Symphony Orchestra presents "A Magical Season for the Child in Us All" Dec. 3 at Mitchell Hall on the UD campus. music.udel.edu

Yuletide opens at Winterthur Museum, Gardens and Library Nov. 17 and ends Dec. 6.

Visual arts

Winterthur's famed Yuletide tours and related events run Nov. 17-Jan. 6 as its outdoor exhibition “Garden Follies" and gallery offerings “Embroidery: The Thread of History" and "Dining by Design” march toward Jan. 6 endings. winterthur.org

The Delaware Contemporary offers an annual holiday craft show on Dec. 7. decontemporary.org

Newark Arts Alliance again features its monthlong holiday art exhibition and market Dec. 1-Dec. 30). newarkartsalliance.org

Gail Obenreder is a Wilmington arts professional, writer and producer. obenrederg@gmail.com