By JOANNE BRIANA-GARTNER
The holiday season offers many opportunities to gather with friends and family. Dinner and a show is a great way to enjoy the company of loved ones without the added work of getting your own home cleaned up and ready for entertaining. The Upper Cape and surrounding environs have a variety of holiday events for all ages to enjoy.
The Solstice Singers, Woods Hole’s answer to the Christmas Revels, will present “Welcome Yule,” a pageant of carols and songs, instrumental music, drama and dance in the style of the Renaissance, on December 21 and 22 at the Woods Hole Community Hall. Start time is 4 PM both days.
Performed in colorful period costumes, the program celebrates Christmas and the winter solstice. The beauty and spiritual meaning of trees feature prominently in this year’s musical selections and in the Mummers play. The Solstice Singers will be joined by members of Duo Passacaglia and other musicians performing an array of period instruments, as well as the children’s chorus Les Enfants du Soleil and the Vineyard Swordfish, a traditional sword-dancing team. A short Mummers play rounds out the program, in which life is struck down by forces of evil only to spring to life again at the hands of a magical healer. Tickets are available at solsticesingers.org
This year’s Cotuit Center for the Arts holiday offering is “Bandstand: The Birth of Rock & Roll with a Holiday Twist,” opening Tuesday, November 26. The musical revue will transport audiences back to the iconic 1950s and ’60s in a tribute to the legendary “American Bandstand” broadcasts from Studio B in Philadelphia.
“‘Bandstand’” offers a unique twist on the holiday season for families looking to enjoy something nostalgic together,” Cotuit Center for the Arts Executive Director David Kuehn said. “Michael Dunford and his team, known for the megahit “Piano Men” and “Women Rock” series, have crafted a high-energy musical revue that blends the joy of classic rock ‘n’ roll with festive holiday favorites. By recreating the magic of ‘American Bandstand,’ we’re taking audiences back to the ’50s and ’60s, adding a refreshing spin to the season’s traditions. It’s a feel-good celebration to end a memorable season on our main stage.”
More-traditional holiday offerings at Cotuit Center for the Arts will include “Jingle Jangle Jubilee,” Cape Cod CAN’s holiday variety show happening December 15 at 6:30 PM at the center, a holiday sing-along on December 18 featuring Mr. Kuehn on piano and a holiday performance by Cape favorite Suede on December 17 at 7:30 PM.
Both traditional and unconventional, acclaimed actor Neil McGarry returns to Cotuit Center for the Arts with his awarding-winning solo performance of “A Christmas Carol” on December 23 at 7:30 PM. The performance was named “Best Of Boston” by critic Jules Becker and won “Best Solo Performance” from the Independent Reviewers of New England in 2014.
Armed only with Dickens words and a bare stage, Mr. McGarry delivers the perennial holiday classic in a tour de force that has left audiences riveted from Boston to Prague.
The Sandwich Arts Alliance welcomes the Rasa String Quartet for its holiday concert on December 15 from 2 to 4 PM on The Glass Town Stage, 130 Main Street.
The Rasa String Quartet will perform a holiday concert on the Glass Town Stage on December 15 at 4 PM.
The Rasa String Quartet explores the musical space where classical and folk traditions intersect and influence one another. It has collaborated with renowned folk musicians, including Celtic harpist Maeve Gilchrist, Irish fiddler Liz Carroll and singer-songwriter Judy Collins, and performed across the country at venues including the 2023 Osaka International Chamber Music Competition, Celebrity Series of Boston, Rockport Music, WGBH, WBUR and the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival.
The Falmouth Chorale will present Handel’s “Messiah” and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s “Magnificat” with soloists and orchestra on December 14 and 15 at 3 PM at the John Wesley United Methodist Church. Guest soloists will be soprano Aurora Martin, mezzo-soprano Krista River, tenor Gregory Zavracky and baritone Richard Giarusso.
The chorale will also present an evening of readings, carols and songs featuring a community sing-along on December 20 at 7 PM at First Congregational Church in Falmouth.
With Tchaikovsky’s soaring music and beautiful ballet, attending a performance of “The Nutcracker,” is a holiday tradition for many.
Harper Dance Center will present its annual “Nutcracker Twist” on December 14 at 2 and 6 PM at Sandwich High School.
The performance follows the original story of “The Nutcracker” but with a few twists to shorten the performance to approximately one hour and make it more kid-friendly. Tickets are available through the Harper Dance website. The Sandwich Dance Academy will present its version of the holiday classic, also at Sandwich High School, on Friday, December 6, at 7 PM and Saturday, December 7, at 3 PM. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the studio or at the door the day of the performance.
New England Ballet Theatre will present its production of “The Nutcracker” on Saturday, December 7, at noon and 4:15 PM at the Lawrence School in Falmouth.
Produced by Courtney Hingston, the show will feature Emilie Moll of Bourne and Lola Minahan of Falmouth sharing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Lilliana Bernard of Mashpee playing the role of Clara. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be attending the 4:15 show.
Tickets will be sold at the studio and at the door for $25 per person, cash only. There will be refreshments and merchandise sold between shows.
Divas With A Twist will present a holiday-themed concert on December 21 at the Spire Center in Plymouth.
The Cape Cod Chorale will perform its annual holiday concert, “Christmas by the Sea: Music for Chorus and Brass,” on Friday, December 13, at 7 PM; Saturday, December 14, at 4 PM; and Sunday, December 15, at 4 PM at First Church Sandwich, 136 Main Street.
Tickets are available from members, online or at the door.
Ticket prices are $25 for general admission, with ages 18 and under admitted free. The price of admission for Card to Culture holders is $10.
Director Danica Buckley called the concert an “eclectic mix of holiday favorites,” including “Sleigh Ride,” a carol sing-along and a set of pieces that reflect Christmas by the sea.
One notable carol the chorale is planning to present is the rarely performed “Christmas Bells at Sea,” with music by Sir Arthur Sullivan of Gilbert and Sullivan fame.
The 65-voice chorale will be accompanied by pianist Mijin Choi. A brass quartet and percussionist complete the ensemble.
As the traditional Saturday and Sunday concerts usually sell out, the chorale has added a Friday evening performance this year.
Guest conductor Joe Marchio will lead the Cape Symphony in “Holiday on the Cape” on December 6, 7 and 8 at the Barnstable Performing Arts Center in Hyannis.
This season’s holiday program features well-loved classics combined with special guests including the Cape Symphony Dance Company, Chatham Chorale and Broadway performer Scarlett Strallen. Highlights include music from “The Polar Express” and Handel’s “Messiah.” Performances are at 4 and 8 PM on December 6; 3 and 7:30 PM on December 7; and 1 and 5 PM on December 8. Tickets can be purchased online or in person at the box office.
Vocalist Scarlett Strallen will be among the featured performers for Cape Symphony’s “Holiday on the Cape” on December 6, 7 and 8 at the Barnstable Performing Arts Center.
For those brave enough to cross the bridge, the Pilgrim Festival Chorus in Plymouth will present “A Basically British Christmas – Seasonal Favorites from Across the Pond” on December 6, 7 and 8 at St. Bonaventure Parish, 803 State Road in Plymouth. Performances on December 6 and 7 begin at 7:30 PM, followed by a 4 PM start time on December 8.
Americana Theatre Company will present “An Americana Christmas Carol” on select dates between December 12 and 21 at the Plymouth Center for the Arts.
Written by Americana Theatre Company co-artistic directors Derek Grant Martin and Jesse M. Sullivan, the plot begins on opening night of “A Christmas Carol,” produced by formerly married couple Charles and Isabella Richardson, and everything has gone awry. Isabella is desperately trying to hold the production together, as Charles wreaks havoc on the cast while portraying the role of the bitter Ebenezer Scrooge—both onstage and off. Can the three ghosts of Christmas change his heart and save the production, his marriage and Christmas as we know it?
Tickets are available at americanatheatre.org
The Spire Center for Performing Arts in Plymouth will present several shows to put audiences in the holiday spirit. The countdown to Christmas begins on December 20 with Celtic stars Cherish The Ladies.
The group has shared timeless Irish traditions with audiences worldwide for more than 30 years. In their Celtic Christmas program, Cherish The Ladies will put their signature mark on classic carols such as “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and “Silent Night” in arrangements that highlight the group’s unique Celtic instrumentation, beautiful harmonies and spectacular step dancing.
The Boston-based musical group Divas With A Twist features five female vocalists with professional theater backgrounds combined with Grammy Award-nominated musicians. Not your typical band, the Divas will perform a night of classic holiday favorites on December 21 with new arrangements and beautiful harmonies as well as rocking renditions of some old favorites. Start time is 8 PM.
To get in the spirit of the new year the Spire will ring in 2025 with some of New England’s funniest comedians. Hosted by Mike Donovan, New Year’s Eve Comedy Night will feature Logan O’Brien, Kathe Farris and Laura Severse. Start time is 8 PM on December 31. Tickets for all three shows can be purchased on the Spire’s website.