The temperatures have dropped, the tinsel is taking over the town, and peppermint is at the base of every coffee order – it’s holiday season in the heart of SC once again. Around here, the visions of sugarplums don’t have to just dance in your head, you can watch them on stage! Whether you’re a Grinch hoping to get in the spirit, someone who puts their tree up in October, or just a live music aficionado, it’s time to make the yuletide gay at one of the many fabulous holiday performances happening across the region this season.
Harbison Theatre
Around here we believe it’s right to get in the spirit even before you carve the turkey. If you agree, then grab your tickets to see “It’s A Wonderful Life” happening Thursday Nov. 20! This classic story gets a twist as it’s retold as a 1940s radio broadcast with only a handful of actors showcasing George Bailey’s life. If you want to wait until after Thanksgiving, snag some tickets to “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” December 6. Think you have a rowdy family around the holidays? Your bunch is no match for the Herdman kids. Swing into the spirit when you catch “Swingin Holidays: A Big Band Christmas” playing jazz renditions of classic favorites that will surely jingle your bells. A modern rewrite of the Nutcracker awaits you when you secure your tickets to be dazzled by the dance of “The Two Claras,” a story about Christmas adventures and friendship. Also featured at this Irmo theater is “The Christmas Angel,” an original ballet that is sure to become a tradition for you and your crew.
The Koger Center for the Arts
Nestled downtown right in the hustle and bustle of the holiday madness lies the Koger Center, an escape to a fairytale world, even if just for a short while. Fall into the Clara’s dream world of wonder and awe when you see Columbia Classical Ballet’s weekend-long run of The Nutcracker. If the rat king’s army is standing in your way that weekend, fret not, South Carolina Ballet will be putting on their production of The Nutcracker for an entire week. “Cirque Dreams Holidaze” can be a new family tradition for you as they have a modern and mystifying take on the holiday season. “Home for the Holidays” will be a cozy and nostalgic way to listen to festive classics and beloved carols when you spend the evening with the South Carolina Philharmonic (hi ambassador Morihiko Nakahara!). Get your singing voice ready and brush up on those lyrics!
Township Auditorium
Join the ole gang of Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest and best of the Peanuts at “A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage.” They have to uncover the true meaning of Christmas, and we have to sing along to this timeless holiday special. Get more of your Nutcracker fix with the production put on by Ann Brodie’s Carolina Ballet where they put their spin on the dance of the Snow Queen. Grammy Award Winning singer/songwriter Lauren Daigle is riding her sleigh into town for “The Behold Christmas Tour.”
All this and more can be found on our calendar of events – Happy Holidays!