By JOANNE BRIANA GARTNER
Whatever you are in the mood for this holiday season, whether it’s traditional holiday faire or something different, you are likely to find it on the Upper Cape. Below is a sample of the many events being planned for those wishing to incorporate the performing arts into their season.
MUSIC
In terms of holiday music, throughout its 60 seasons of choral concerts, Falmouth Chorale has performed Handel’s beloved “Messiah” every four or five years. The chorale continues that tradition this year with “For Unto Us A Child is Born,” a holiday concert featuring Handel’s “Messiah” on Saturday, December 9, at 4 PM and Sunday, December 10, at 3 PM at John Wesley United Methodist Church in Falmouth.
Photograph by Dee Sullivan
Holiday concerts from the Falmouth Chorale will include “For Unto Us A Child Is Born,” December 9 and 10 at the John Wesley United Methodist Church along with “An Evening of Readings, Carols and Songs” December 15.
Falmouth Chorale also invites the community to a more-informal musical celebration, with holiday-themed readings and singalongs of favorite songs and carols. “An Evening of Readings, Carols, and Songs to Celebrate the Season” is planned for Friday, December 15, at 7 PM at the First Congregational Church in Falmouth. Tickets to both events are available online.
The Cape Cod Chorale will present “Glad Tidings: Music for Chorus and Brass” on December 16 and 17 at First Church in Sandwich. Start time is 4 PM on both days. The program will feature John Rutter’s “Gloria,” a work that artistic director and conductor of the chorale Danica Buckley describes as a crowd pleaser for a good reason. “It is 20th century British choral music at its best, with a flavor of Copland, Bernstein and Britten, depending on the movement,” Ms. Buckley said. “Fabulous and energetic, this piece with a chorus of 65 and a brass quintet is likely to shake the rafters and thrill the audience.” Also included in the program will be “Star of the East,” a carol trilogy by Vermont composer Gwyneth Walker, along with pieces sung in Hawaiian, Hebrew and Norwegian. Tickets are $25 for general admission.
The Cape Cod Chorale performs Mozart’s “Requiem” in concert at Mashpee High School earlier this year.
The Solstice Singers will present their annual December show, this year titled, “Sing for the Coming of the Longest Night,” on Saturday, December 16, and Sunday, December 17, at the Woods Hole Community Hall. The performance will include a pageant of carols and songs, instrumental music, drama and dance in the style of the Renaissance. Formed more than 30 years ago, the group’s solstice performance is known for transforming the community hall into a Renaissance Great Hall, and including the traditional “Boar’s Head Carol” and creating an original mummers’ play each year. Joining the Solstice Singers will be Ensemble Passacaglia, the children’s chorus Les Enfants du Soleil, and the dance groups Vineyard Swordfish, Nobska Lights and the Morris dancers.
Both performances take place at 4 PM. Admission is $25, $10 for students.
Falmouth Jazz will mark the holidays with two different performances, the first at the West Falmouth Library and the second at Falmouth’s The Gallery on Main.
Photograph by Katy Paul
Falmouth Theater Guild’s winter performance will be “It’s A Wonderful Life – The Musical,” opening December 1 at Highfield Theater. Performing as the Bailey family will be, clockwise from the left: Beckham Peterson, Millie Richardon, Paul Richardson, Meghan Richardson, Merritt Willcox and PJ Berube.
Donna Byrne with Scott Hamilton and Friends, featuring vocalist Donna Bryne accompanied by saxophonist Scott Hamilton, bassist Marshall Wood, pianist Tim Ray and drummer Les Harris Jr. will perform December 3 at the West Falmouth Library at 4 PM; while saxophonist Greg Abate and bassist Paul Del Nero join pianist Matt DeChamplain and drummer Gary Johnson for a holiday performance on Saturday, December 9, at The Gallery on Main in Falmouth. Tickets to both performances can be purchased online.
Perhaps the most beloved holiday jazz music is the soundtrack to 1965’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas” by Vince Guaraldi. Since the holiday special first aired its score has become one of the most-recognizable jazz recordings of all time. On Monday, December 18, Cotuit Center for the Arts will present a live performance of the album featuring Malcolm Granger on piano, Rich Hill on bass and Michael Dunford on percussion. Admission is free. The center asks that the audience bring to the show supermarket gift cards, which will be collected and given to the Housing Assistance Corporation’s Angel House shelter.
The Sandwich Arts Alliance will present “A Night of Holiday Musical Brilliance” featuring the New England Brass Band on Saturday, December 9, from 7 to 9 PM. Led by world-renowned music director Terry Everson, the group strives to create a challenging environment for accomplished musicians to celebrate and preserve the unique “British brass band” sound and share its passion with the community. Tickets are $25.
Perhaps the granddaddy of all local holiday concerts, Cape Symphony will present “Holiday on the Cape” on December 1, 2 and 3 at the Barnstable Performing Arts Center, featuring traditional carols such as “The First Noel” and “Away in a Manger” along with John Williams music from the movie “Home Alone,” Robert Wendel’s “Little Bolero Boy,” Maureen Condon’s “Christmas on Cape Cod” and more. Tickets and showtimes can be found online.
THEATER
Similar to musical offerings, theatrical performances also range from the tried and true to the new and innovative.
Neil McGarry will present his one-man performance of “A Christmas Carol,” December 19 at Cotuit Center for the Arts.
Falmouth Theatre Guild will present a musical version of the classic Frank Capra film, “It’s A Wonderful Life” for three weekends in December. The show opens December 1 under the direction of Joan McKenzie-Baird and stars real-life married performers Paul and Meghan Richardson as George and Mary Bailey.
“Hope for the Holidays: the Wintry Mix Edition” will be presented for one night only at Cotuit Center for the Arts, on Wednesday, November 29, at 7:30 PM. The holiday spoof will feature Jo Brisbane, Eden Casteel, Ashley LaCroix, Jane Loutzenhiser and Jay Stewart.
Neil McGarry will present his award-winning one-man performance of “A Christmas Carol” at Cotuit Center for the Arts on Tuesday, December 19. A Massachusetts native and veteran of stage and screen, Mr. McGarry has performed his one-man show across New England as well as in the UK and in Europe.
Drama Club students at Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School will offer a dinner theater production of “A Christmas Carol” on December 15, 16 and 17. Performed in the school’s cafeteria, audiences can choose from an entrée of beef Wellington, roasted duck breast or spinach ricotta lasagna. Tickets are $50 and must be pre-purchased through the ticketing website link found on the school’s website: uppercapetech.com.
DANCE
Sandwich dancers, Olivia Rowland (left) and Elle Sullivan will share the role of Clara in the Sandwich Dance Academy’s production of “The Nutcracker” December 1 and 2 at Sandwich High School.
Performances of “The Nutcracker” abound, beginning with Turning Pointe Dance Studio’s “The Sea Captain’s Nutcracker,” which will be performed on the campus of Cape Cod Community College on Saturday and Sunday, November 25 and 26. The production is an innovative version of the classic holiday favorite. Although the ballet is set to Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” score, it is set in a Chatham Sea Captain’s home in the mid-1800s. The script takes audiences on a journey through local history and folklore invoking the elements of the natural environs of Cape Cod. The performance features Turning Pointe Dance Studio students as well as several professional dancers.
Sandwich Dance Academy will present “The Nutcracker” at Sandwich High School. Performance dates are 7 PM on Friday, December 1, and 3 PM on Saturday, December 2. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
Look for other performances from Falmouth Dance Academy, Harper Dance Center and New England Ballet Theatre—all taking place locally.