Vol.VII, Issue III, Holiday 2014 • 1
Yuletide Gems
W
hat to do once the kids or grandkids, nieces and nephews are finished performing in the school holiday show or church Christmas pageant? Cue up Miracle on 34th Street (or Christmas Vacation…), again, and settle in for a long winter’s nap? You don’t get out much, do you? But you should.There are plenty of theatre and musical offerings all season long throughout ILLINOISouth. Belleville and Edwardsville have a full slate of holiday offerings, and smaller towns hither and yon have special holiday performances scheduled. Here’s just a sampling of events confirmed for the season. (In many cases, holiday shows had not been finalized by the time we went to press.) The Belleville Philharmonic Society is an orchestra of volunteers who comprise the second-oldest continuously performing symphony in the
Belleville Philharmonic Society
country. (The first concert was held in 1866, a year after the Civil War ended.) This season, listeners will be blessed with several classics, from Vivaldi’s Gloria to the Nutcracker suite and ballet. Besides the aforementioned baroque offering from the society’s chorale and chamber orchestra, the “Christmas Wonders” concert will feature Rutter’s Magnificat.Tchaikovsky’s opus Nutcracker will include several professional soloists joining the dancers of the Belleville School of Ballet. In Edwardsville there will be about as many offerings as there are visions of sugar plums dancing in children’s heads. Not too many these days? Well, the lovingly restored Wildey Theatre is a sugar plum in its own right, and has plenty on the slate to keep children and adults entertained. Along with a production of Nutcracker, there’ll be a showing of the beloved Bing Crosby movie White Christmas.
Kids can enjoy the Elves’ Workshop at the Wildey Theatre, Motor City Brass Quintet Wildey, where participants can work on nine separate craft Two events are scheduled in Mt. projects for wrapping and giving as gifts Carmel at Wabash Valley College. The to family and friends. Musical Spirit of Christmas features the colIf you haven’t seen the Wildey, last lege’s chorale backing Gina Moore, Red refurbished in 2011, you must check out Wick and friends for a medley of holiday this fine 325-seat theatre that has featured classics. Also on the performing arts calthe likes of Dave Mason, Judy Collins and endar, at Brubeck Arts Center, is New Leo Kottke. “Everyone leaves here an Odyssey Christmas, which spotlights the ambassador,” says Rich Walker, who heads group New Odyssey – 3 Guys, 30 Instruup Friends of the Wildey, the group that ments. Intrigued? Jerry Bayne, performpromotes the theatre. ing arts director at WVCC, is a true In Lebanon, they’ll give you the believer in this act. He says, “These guys Dickens. Looking Glass Playhouse have been hitting home runs for years.” will perform the Charles Dickens classic And in Olney, the city’s art council A Christmas Carol, which might scare is showcasing the Olney Central College the you-know-what out of some kids choir for a holiday concert at John Stull under 12… and even some adults who Performing Arts Center; the orchestra have been living more like a Scrooge and chorus will be joined by several prothan a Crachit of late. Some people are fessional soloists. scared they’ve been too bad for Santa. So bundle up, get out, and let it snow! Others fear being visited by three ghosts on the night before Christmas. For further information, visit thetourismbureau.org.
Holiday concerts and dramatic offerings
not
are
to be missed
A Christmas Carol, Looking Glass Playhouse