A) Beginning Performances
In New Jersey
1) Gene & Gilda
In New York
2)
A Child's Christmas in Wales
3) A Christmas Carol the Musical
4) A Guide for the Homesick
5) Alexander Klaus, The One-Legged Shoemaker Man
6) The Beautiful Land I Seek (La Tierra Que Busco Yo)
7) DeliaDelia! The Flat-Chested Witch!
8) Duality
9) Pen Pals
10) Seven in One Blow, or The Brave Little Kid
11) Testing2
B) Cast Changes
12) Hell's Kitchen
C) What Else Is Happening
13) 92NY Harkness Dance Center presents Urban Bush Women: Solo Mediations
12/6
14) Bronx Little Italy to Host Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
12/7
15) The Cathedral of St. John Celebrates the Season With Festive Programming
16) Eight Immortal Song Cycle by Sam Tsui & Casey Breves
To Be Released 1/26
17) Festival of Trees at Love Park to Raise Money for Children's Hospital of Philly
12/ 5 - 12/24
18) Gavin Creel Memorial Celebration
12/2
19) Hadestown -Live From London West End Cast Recording to Be Released
12/6
20) International Human Rights Arts Festival
12/9 - 12/15
21) Jazz at Lincoln Center Celebrates Cole Porter
12/8
22) King + Country "A Drummer Boy Christmas" in Theaters
12/5 - 12/9
23) Lincoln Square Magical Lights Kicks Off
12/3
24) Museum of Jewish Heritage Presents 3rd Annual NY Jewish Book Festival
12/8
25) NJPAC Upcoming Event: A Magical Cirque Christmas
12/5
26) New York Neo-Futurists 2024 Shows
27) Off-Broadway Annual Toy Drive
28) The Orchestra Now Performs Siena, Wagner & Parsifal
12/8
29) Perfect Crime to Celebrate 15.000 Performance
12/5
30) South Street Seaport Museum Fresh Prints
12/5
31) South Street Museum Holiday Tree Lighting Activities
12/3
32) Urban Stages Winter Rhythms 2024
33) VA Media Curated Free Christmas Movie Playlists
34) Works & Progress Presents Peter & The Wolf with Isaac Mizrahi
12/6 - 12/8
A) Beginning Performances
In New Jersey
1) Gene & Gilda
Beloved entertainers Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner come to vivid life in this hilarious and heartfelt play. Follow the famous couple from their first meeting through their personal and professional ups and downs, all the way to their poignant farewell. An intimate portrait of two comic legends in love—and the lives they led beyond the laughter!
NBPAC (11 Livingston Ave.)
11/3 - 11/22
Opening Night 11/6
In New York
2) A Child's Christmas in Wales
Dylan Thomas’s iconic A Child’s Christmas in Wales. Charlotte Moore’s (Aristocrats) musical adaptation of this “never to be forgotten day at the end of the unremembered year” features heartwarming contemporary and traditional Christmas music interwoven with the popular story of that snowy Christmas Day in Wales.
Irish Repertory Theatre. Francis J. Greenberger Mainstage (132 W. 22nd St.)
12/4 - 12/29
Opening Night 12/8
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit IrishRep.org
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| Courtesy of JT-PR |
3) A Christmas Carol the Musical
Argyle Theatre (34 W. Main St.)
12/7 - 1/5
Opening Night 12/9
4) A Guide for the Homesick
Set in a hotel room in Amsterdam, A Guide for the Homesick tells the story of two Americans, Teddy and Jeremy, who are drawn together by their shared isolation and haunting secrets. Teddy is seeking companionship for the night, while Jeremy is searching for a moment of distraction. As they open up about their troubled pasts, the narrative shifts between the present and the past, with the two actors portraying four roles. Themes of guilt, moral ambiguity, and the possibility of forgiveness are at the core of this play, which builds to an unforgettable emotional crescendo.
Union Square DR2 Theatre (103 E. 15th St.)
12/6 - 2/2
Opening Night 12/12
5) Alexander Klaus, The One-Legged Shoemaker Man
A young soldier with the curious name Alexander “Sander” Klaus returns home from the Civil War forever changed, with wounds on his heart, mind, and body. In the immigrant melting pot of boisterous, soot-covered, 1800s New York City he forms relationships and builds a new life. What he can’t explain is why the wartime flashbacks that plague him somehow coincide with the mysterious appearance of children’s toys.
Told in ingenious rhyming verse by writer-performer Christian Hege, this optimistic play delights and surprises at every turn. An achingly beautiful fairy tale that raises the possibility of transforming pain into joy.
59E59 Theatres (59 E. 59 St.)
12/4 - 12/22
Opening Night 12/7
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.59E59.org.
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| Courtesy of Print Shop PR |
6) The Beautiful Land I Seek (La Tierra Que Busco Yo)
Set in 1950, the beautiful land i seek (la linda tierra que busco yo) follows two determined Puerto Rican revolutionaries on a train from New York to Washington, D.C. as they discuss their plan to strike in the name of Puerto Rican independence. However, the lock to their compartment is broken, and each time the door swings open, they are interrupted by figures from art and history—visions that reflect what their homeland means to them and its complex relationship with the United States. As the borders of their reality blur and the train continues its journey, the two must finalize their course of action and decide how they want their sacrifice to be remembered.
Puerto Rican Traveling Theater (304 W. 47th St.)
12/ 4 - 12/29
7) DeliaDelia! The Flat-Chested Witch!
Amando Houser who is “particularly funny” (Vulture) and “not normal at all” (Philippe Gaulier) invites you to an unhinged clown hour of self discovery. Inspired by the “witch hunt” on trans rights in the United States, DeliaDelia is a flat-chested witch from the swamps who happens to be as nasty on the eyes as she is on the basketball court. On a quest to become a “real girl” and join a human basketball team, will she finally get her shot at greatness, or will she be cursed forever and turned into a serpent?
The Brick (579 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn)
12/4 - 1214
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| Courtesy of Spin Cycle NYC |
8) Duality
DUALITY tells the story of Camilla Knightley who, while throwing a 75th birthday party for her grandmother, is forced to come to terms with a decades old trauma in the midst of a family gathering.
A.R.T/New York's Jeffrey and Paula Gural Theatre (502 West 53rd Street
12/4 - 12/21
Opening Night 12/21
9) Pen Pals
Inspired by a true store, Pen Pals is a testament to the power of connection, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship. With the new cast lineup, each performance promises to offer audiences a fresh and dynamic portrayal of these unforgettable characters. Pen Pals's unforgettable theatrical journey celebrates friendship, resilience, and the letters that bind them.
Rotating Cast Schedule:
Dec 2 – Dec 22, 2024: Johanna Day How I Learned to Drive, Sweat) & Nancy McKeon (The Facts of Life, The Division)
Dec 23 – Dec 29, 2024: Catherine Curtin (“Stranger Things,” “Orange is the New Black”) & Sharon Lawrence (“NYPD Blue,” “Queen Sugar”)
Dec 30, 2024 – Jan 12, 2025: Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) & TBD
Jan 15 – Jan 26, 2025: Mary Beth Peil (“The Good Wife,” Anastasia)—switching roles halfway through the run.
Jan 27 – Feb 2, 2025: Pauletta Washington (She’s Gotta Have It) & TBD
Feb 3 – Feb 9, 2025: Johanna Day & Nancy McKeon
Theatre St. Clements (423 W. 46th St.)
12/2 - 2/9
Opening Night 2/11
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| Photo by Regina Betancourt |
10) Seven in One Blow, or The Brave Little Kid
Set just before the holidays on a snowy winter day, Seven in One Blow, or the Brave Little Kid tells the story of a child living in the city who kills seven flies with a single swat and makes a belt emblazoned with "SEVEN IN ONE BLOW" to commemorate the event. As he is traveling about, most people think his belt refers to seven people and assign the Kid all kinds of difficult tasks based on this faulty presumption. Along the way a few interesting things are learned: an Ogre finds that you don't always have to show how strong you are... sometimes it's okay just to be quiet about it; a girl realizes that when you tease people you are hurting someone who may be just like you; and a scary monster understands that because she is loved, she may not be so scary after all. In the end, the Kid ultimately discovers that a parents’ love and care has no bounds.
Children in the audience will be encouraged to participate in many of the Kid's challenges with singing and organized “shout outs.” Appropriate for ages 4 and up.
Axis Theatre (1 Sheridan Square)
12/ 6 - 12/21
11) Testing2
In Testing², theatre maker Soomi Kim and choreographer Laura Peterson weave together snippets of epic rants, meltdowns, meanderings, musings, tantrums and other sound bites from recording sessions and bootlegged recordings of famous musicians. Peterson and Kim toggle the lines between the ridiculous, the profound moments of brilliance, and the absurd spaces in between.
The Tank’s 56 Seat Theater (312 West 36th Street)
12/5 - 12/15
B) Cast Changes
12) Hell's Kitchen
Donna Vivino will star as Jersey 12/3 - 12/11
Ali is a 17-year-old girl full of fire – searching for freedom, passion and her place in the world. How she finds them is a New York City coming-of-age story you've never felt before – HELL’S KITCHEN, a new musical from 16-time Grammy® Award winner Alicia Keys, whose songs and experiences growing up in NY inspire a story made for Broadway.
Shubert Theatre (225 W.. 44th St.)
C) What Else Is Happening
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Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR
13) 92NY Harkness Dance Center Presents
Urban Bush Women
Solo Meditations
In Person Friday and Saturday, December 6 and 7, 7 pm, ET |
The 92nd Street Y, New York’s 2024/25 Harkness Dance Center season continues with Urban Bush Women, the critically acclaimed and award-winning company now celebrating their 40th anniversary. For their program – entitled Solo Meditations – co-artistic directors Chanon Judson and Mame Diarra Speis have curated two unique evenings featuring solos, duets, and a quartet with special guest collaborators, along with video created by Nick Hussoung and animation by Ausar Judson. Select works will include live music from exceptional guest artists like Grace Galu Kalambay, Lucianna Padmore, Manchild Black, Jerome Jennings, and more. Performances are in 92NY’s Buttenwieser Hall at the Arnhold Center on December 6 and 7 at 7 pm and tickets are available here.
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14) Bronx Little Italy to Host Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, Marking the Start of a Merry and Festive Holiday Season
On Saturday, December 7, 2024, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, The Belmont Business Improvement District will host their Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Ciccarone Park, alongside local institutions including The New York Botanical Garden and Bronx Zoo, small businesses, community members and visitors
WHAT: Bronx Little Italy’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony will return on Saturday, December 7, 2024, from 4 PM to 6 PM, inviting all to embrace the holiday spirit with an opportunity to meet Santa, enjoy holiday carols, and savor delicious Italian cookies and hot chocolate from local small businesses.
WHERE: Ciccarone Park at the intersection of East 188th Street and Arthur Avenue in the Bronx
Starting at 5:00 PM, the speaking portion will begin with brief remarks, followed by a countdown for the official tree lighting and festive photo ops at approximately 5:15 PM.
During the ceremony, the BID will also co-host a toy giveaway for local families with The Children’s Cancer Society of America, whose mission is to support children and families fighting cancer by providing monetary aid for medical expenses not covered by insurance. Toys will be available on a first come, first served basis and the child must be present.
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| Courtesy of Nicholas & Lence Communications |
15) The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine Celebrates the Christmas Season with Festive Programming & Live Music for All
Throughout the month of December, New Yorkers and visitors alike can enjoy a variety of unique activations and holiday-themed events at the world’s largest Gothic Cathedral, including the 26th Annual Crafts Fair, holiday concerts, services, and more.
Plus, Ring in 2025 with New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace by the Cathedral Choirs and Orchestra
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine invites all to experience the magic of the holiday season at the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world. In addition to three services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the Cathedral will offer a wide array of musical and cultural programming to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.
Holiday highlights throughout December 2024 include:
- 26th Annual Crafts at the Cathedral (Friday, December 6 to Sunday, December 8) – Just in time for the holiday shopping season, New York City’s premier fine juried crafts show returns to the Cathedral’s magnificent interior. Find the most unique gifts with over 75 artisans offering handcrafted, one-of-a-kind items in ceramic, glass, wood, fabric, and jewelry. Tickets range from $10-18 and can be purchased here. Proceeds benefit the Cathedral’s work and its programs.
- Cathedral Christmas Concert & the Return of the Great Organ (Saturday, December 14) – Join the Cathedral Choirs and Orchestra for the annual Christmas Concert and sing along to jolly holiday classics. Now at an earlier, family-friendly time, the concert will begin at 4 pm with tickets starting at $55. The concert will also feature the much-anticipated return of the Great Organ (Aeolian-Skinner Op. 150A) after five years. For tickets, see here.
- El Niño: Nativity Reconsidered (Thursday, December 19) – As part of the Cathedral’s traditional holiday programming, the American Modern Opera Company will once again perform El Niño: Nativity Reconsidered with music by John Adams, musical arrangements by Christian Reif, libretto compilation by Peter Sellars, and concept by AMOC* member Julia Bullock, which is an eclectic retelling of the Nativity story celebrating Latin American poets and the voices of women. The reimagined piece will return for a one-night-only engagement at 7:30 pm. Tickets start at $5 and can be purchased here.
- Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Services at the Cathedral (Tuesday, December 24 and Wednesday, December 25) – All of the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services will be available in person and via livestream. No passes or reservations are required.
- Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols (Tuesday, December 24) – The Service of Lessons and Carols is a classical element of Anglican Liturgy, first instituted for Christmas Eve 1880 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Truro. This beloved Christmas service begins at 4 pm, with a musical prelude at 3:45 pm.
- Christmas Eve Festal Eucharist (Tuesday, December 24) – The Cathedral’s Christmas Eve Festal Eucharist, beginning with prelude music at 10 pm, is a joyous celebration of the birth of the Light. The clergy will welcome congregants from near and far in the spirit of the Christmas season. The Cathedral Choirs, along with the Cathedral Orchestra and organ, perform a festive mass setting and anthems, as well as classic Christmas carols.
- Christmas Day Holy Eucharist (Wednesday, December 25) – Alleluia, Christ is born! Join the Cathedral in celebrating the birth of Christ at the one service to take place this day at 10:30 am.
- 40th Anniversary of the New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace (Tuesday, December 31) – Ring in the New Year with the Cathedral’s New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace, celebrating 40 years of hope and optimism through music. This year’s concert will feature a special performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony by the Cathedral Choirs and Orchestra, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the composition’s premiere. The event begins at 7 pm and tickets start at $45. Click here to purchase.
In addition to these festive end-of-year events, visitors still have time to experience Janet Cardiff’s The Forty Part Motet, an innovative sound installation on loan from The Museum of Modern Art until Tuesday, December 31. The Cathedral will also debut a new immersive art exhibit, Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition, from Friday, November 15 until January 31, 2025, taking guests on a vivid journey through 850 years of Notre-Dame’s remarkable history through cutting-edge augmented reality.
For more information and a calendar of events, visit www.stjohndivine.org and follow on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @StJohnDivineNYC.
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16) Social Media Sensations Sam Tsui and Casey Breves to Release Song Cycle 'Eight Immortals' Based on Chinese Myths on December 6th
Social media sensations Sam Tsui and Casey Breves have unveiled their latest musical endeavor, a song cycle titled 'Eight Immortals', which draws inspiration from a series of popular Chinese myths. This innovative work transforms traditional tales into a contemporary musical format, showcasing the duo's unique blend of pop and musical theater. The album is set to release on December 6th, 2024 and will consist of 22 tracks that offer listeners a fresh perspective on the legendary figures known as the 'Ba Xian' or 'Eight Immortals', celebrated in Chinese folklore.
'Eight Immortals' features a collection of self-contained vignettes, each song serving as a modern interpretation of one of the eight classic archetypes from Taoist legend. The album's tracks range from the absurd to the heartfelt, with a catchy, vocal-driven score that invites audiences on a transformative journey. Included in the lineup are songs such as 'So You Want To Be Immortal', '#MyMorningRoutine', 'I Know The Wildflowers', 'Three Treasures', and 'To Cross The Sea', each providing a unique take on the themes of enlightenment and personal transformation.
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17) FESTIVAL OF TREES RETURNS TO LOVE PARK’S WELCOME CENTER FOR HOLIDAY SEASON TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia’s most popular new holiday tradition is back! Festival of Trees will once again take over LOVE Park’s Welcome Center (1569 John F Kennedy Blvd.) from Thursday, December 5 to Tuesday, December 24, 2024, with a ribbon cutting open to the public on Wednesday, December 4th at 5:00pm. For the Festival’s second year, the event returns even bigger with more trees, more bling, new designs and an opportunity to send messages of hope to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) patients through a special augmented reality experience. The stunning collection of Christmas trees will be designed by local artists, designers and creative masterminds such as Tonya Mason from Mason Made, Madison Gosselin from Goss Paints, Sami Riccioli, Alyse & Alexis Scaffidi from bitesized designs and Detra Boyd, who designed last year’s winning tree! Each twinkling tree will feature the glow of holiday lights, along with everything from original art pieces, themed ornaments, whimsical keepsakes, show-stopping stars and toppers, and much more. Admission to the Festival of Trees is complimentary and open to the public. Visitors are asked to vote for their favorite design via a snowflake token that can be dropped into a ballot box in front of their favorite tree. By voting, they are supporting the 2024 charity partner, CHOP, and one hundred percent of all proceeds from the voting process will support the hospital’s Children’s Fund. Festivities will also include photos with Santa every Friday, Saturday and Sunday inside the festival with additional Santa appearances on December 23rd and 24th. Festival of Trees hours are Sunday to Thursday, from 12:00pm to 7:00pm and Friday and Saturday, from 12:00pm to 8:00pm. For more information, visit www dot philachristmas dot com/festival-of-trees and follow @philafestivaloftrees. For more about CHOP, visit www dot chop dot ed and follow @childrensphila.
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Courtesy of Polk and Co. PR
18) MEMORIAL CELEBRATION HONORING GAVIN CREEL TO TAKE PLACE ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2024 Livestreaming Will Be Available in the US and UK Broadway Theaters To Dim Lights on Tuesday, December 3 |
Friends and family of beloved Broadway actor GAVIN CREEL will host a memorial celebration at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44th St, NYC) on Monday, December 2nd at 4:00PM EST. The event will be open to the public.
For additional accessibility, the memorial celebration will be livestreamed in the US and the UK. Please note: This celebration will not be available to view on-demand once it has concluded.
MCC Theater will host live streaming access on their YouTube channel in the US at 4:00PM EST: https://www.youtube.com/live/y6U7LKV7NTk
MCC Theater presented Gavin's original musical Walk On Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice at the Susan & Ronald Frankel Theater at the Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space November 13, 2023 - January 7, 2024.
Donations in Gavin’s memory are suggested to be made to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids.
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19)“H A D E S T O W N” TO RELEASE “H A D E S T O W N – L I V E F R O M L O N D O N” ORIGINAL LIVE WEST END CAST RECORDING ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2024
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Hadestown – Live from London,” the highly anticipated original West End cast album for Tony® and Grammy® Award-winning Best Musical Hadestown, recorded live at the Lyric Theatre in London where it is currently performing, will be released by Sing It Again Records on Friday, December 6.
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20) The International Human Rights Art Festival Returns for
its 6th Year
Sixty new productions will be showcased over one week including
new musicals, plays, musical acts, dance pieces, puppetry etc.
December 9 - 15 at The Tank in midtown
The International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF) returns to New York City for its 6th year. During the week of December 9th to 15th, sixty new shows will be presented including new short musicals, dance pieces, one act plays, solo shows, poetry, puppetry, and musical acts. Over 200 local and international artists will showcase their work which revolves around pressing social issues such as climate change, religion, immigration, caregiving, identity, diversity, LGBTQIA+, women's empowerment, and more. Performances take place at The Tank in midtown Manhattan.
During the week, twelve performance blocks will be presented which will feature a mix of genres and include specific themes such as a Celebration of Women, Celebration of Immigration, Celebration of Human Rights, and Climate Change Action, among others.
Three short musicals will be presented including ANOTHER COUSIN’S WEDDING, where a closeted gay man is about to be set up with a traditional marriage, TURBULANCE follows three people who end up helping each other overcome fears on a flight from New Jersey to Milwaukee, and BIG ASS SECRET about a gay Florida highschooler.
Twenty-five dance pieces will be presented including MOTHER EARTH, LET ME BLOOM!, a multi-layered, dance theater experience that centers on the euphoria, dysmorphia, and oppression of the trans and genderqueer community, ECHOES, a contemporary, hip-hop, and traditional Filipinx dance forms, elevated by cutting-edge motion capture technology, and WE RISE that addresses the critical issue of domestic violence, aiming to uplift and empower women worldwide.
Twenty-four theatre pieces will be showcased including the short play ƎVERYTHING OKAY, where a family relocates to Mars to avoid the problems the earth faces, MOONLIGHT BECOMES YOU, set in a haunted Provincetown Bed & Breakfast, a young lesbian couple discover the queer trailblazers who came before, and LUCY JOSEPH, that centers around a 19th century gender non-conforming pioneer Lucy Ann Joseph Israel Lobdell
All performances take place at The Tank is located at 312 West 36th Street (btw 8th Ave & 9th Ave), 2nd, New York, NY 10018. Tickets are $25 (plus $2.84 fee). Additional information available at https://humanrightsartmovement.org/ihraf-festival-2024.
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21) Songbook Sundays
at
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club
hosted by Deborah Grace Winer
HAPPEN TO LIKE COLE PORTER
featuring
Karen Ziemba, Margo Seibert, Milton Suggs
Sunday, December 8th, 5 PM & 7:30 PM
Songbook Sundays, created and hosted by Deborah Grace Winer celebrating the American Songbook will continue at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club with Happen to Like Cole Porter on Sunday, December 8th at 5 PM and 7:30 PM
Happen to Like Cole Porter fizzes up the holiday season, as Jazz at Lincoln Center American Songbook swings the tunes of arguably the world’s most famous songwriter. This Songbook Sundays celebrates Cole Porter’s hot and cool tunes and racy lyrics, like Night and Day, I Get a Kick Out of You, From This Moment On, It’s De-Lovely, and more.
To reach Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club, enter at Columbus Circle at 60th Street and Broadway, take the Jazz elevators to the 5th floor for Dizzy’s Club as well as The Rose Theater and The Appel Room.
Tickets for Songbook Sundays are $65, with student tickets available at $20. There is a $21 food/drink minimum.
To purchase, visit: Jazz.org/dizzys
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22) 4x GRAMMY® AWARD WINNING FOR KING + COUNTRY TO GIVE AMERICA AN EARLY “CHRISTMAS GIFT” BEFORE TAKING A YEAR OFF FROM TOURING
FATHOM THEATRICAL CONCERT EVENT
“A DRUMMER BOY CHRISTMAS”
IN THEATERS DECEMBER 5th -9th
4x GRAMMY® Award winning duo for KING + COUNTRY in partnership with Fathom have announced their beloved holiday tradition “A DRUMMER BOY CHRISTMAS” will be in theaters nationwide for the first time ever this December 5th - 9th. The highly-anticipated holiday concert spectacle will be available for families around the country to see in theaters during this limited engagement. After a whirlwind year, the inspirational duo have also announced that they will take a brief touring hiatus in 2025 to spend some time with their families, to get back in the studio to create new music, and to work on their next feature film project.
For the first time ever, audiences will have an up close and personal look at the annual high-octane show that brother duo Joel and Luke Smallbone have become known for. Families will get to experience and celebrate the season together with the extraordinary production blending festive visuals and stunning lighting and staging effects.
Go to Fathom Events for more information.
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| Courtesy of Nicholas & Lence Communications |
23) Lincoln Square BID Announces Magical Lights & WinteRamble for 2024 with Nightly Sound and Light Shows, Free Entertainment around Lincoln Square & More
Magical Lights Kicks Off Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. in Dante Park
Lincoln Square will shine brighter than ever this holiday season as the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District (BID) unveils its Magical Lights program, a festive celebration of light and sound. The expanded 2024 holiday programming will transform the neighborhood into a vibrant wonderland with interactive light displays, enchanting sound installations, and beloved traditions.
The festivities kick off on Tuesday, December 3 with a celebration at 4:30 PM in Dante Park to officially turn on the holiday lights than are bigger, better, and brighter than ever before.
Expanded Features for 2024 Magical Lights include:
- Singing Trees in Dante Park: The iconic London Plane trees in Dante Park (Broadway & 64th Street) will feature a new sound installation, added to its audio-reactive lights, that will make the trees sing as the lights dance along in sync with festive holiday music.
- Interactive Lights expanding to Richard Tucker Park: A new audio-reactive light installation complementing Dante’s light show will twinkle, move to the rhythms of the city, and brighten up Richard Tucker Park (Broadway & 65th Street).
- Illuminated Broadway Malls: This year, 36 trees in the Broadway Malls from 60th to 70th Street will illuminate Broadway’s global corridor.
Additional highlights and entertainment for the kickoff at Dante Park include:
- The Department of Spectacle will kick off this magical evening with holiday-inspired circus acts, including stilt walkers, jugglers, and the whimsical Princess Schneeflocken.
- Kaufman Music Center's Special Music School Chorus will add to the holiday cheer with a free performance. The concert choir features high school vocal students from Kaufman’s K-12 public school that provides students with an intensive music education program with fully funded lessons, music classes and ensembles along with academics.
- The SAINTS of SWING, an extraordinary collective of some of the tri-state area’s finest performers specializing in eclectic and electric selections of foot-tappin’ Swing classics, will fill the air with lively music as visitors dance along under the twinkling lights. Vocalists Kati Mac and Jim Mola will lead the group. Kati Mac has six acclaimed albums focusing on fostering peace and connection through music. Songs of Revolution, Songs of Peace is her latest release. Jim Mola brings a robust vocal portfolio, with contributions to iconic shows and brands like Saturday Night Live, Family Guy, and even the voice of the Jolly Green Giant.
Additional holiday programming and entertainment include:
- Follow the Fabulous Fezziwigs December 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 17, and 18.
- Throughout December, the Fabulous Fezziwigs will wear their festive Victorian costumes and bring joy to Lincoln Square with their spirited caroling of timeless classics and contemporary holiday favorites.
- Wednesday, December 18 - WinteRamble Workshop 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. & Procession, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Procession starts at 1886 Broadway (between 62nd & 63rd Streets)
- The Lincoln Square BID invites the public to the third annual WinteRamble – an illuminated community procession of Frost Giant puppets and icicle lanterns led by Processional Arts Workshop. The procession begins at 5 p.m. from a central location and then meanders along the sidewalks of Lincoln Square. Visitors and residents can participate in the WinteRamble by volunteering to carry a crystalline icicle lantern, creating and carrying their own mini lantern, or joining J.C. King’s Kalimbascope, a rolling ensemble of acoustically-enhanced thumb pianos. Those interested in participating or attending are encouraged to sign up at MagicalLights.nyc.
For full event details and updates, visit MagicalLights.nyc. For more information on the Lincoln Square BID, visit www.lincolnsquarebid.org.
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24) Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust Announces Full Schedule of Events for the 3rd Annual New York Jewish Book Festival – December 8, 2024
Featuring events with: Taffy Brodesser-Akner, author of Long Island Compromise, Rebecca Clarren, author of The Cost of Free Land; Delia Ephron, author of Left on Tenth; and Noah Rinsky, writer and creator of Old Jewish Men
On Sunday, December 8, Jewish authors from a variety of backgrounds will come together to share their stories, wisdom and art, fostering a sense of community and continuity in Jewish literature, when the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust presents the third annual New York Jewish Book Festival.
This year’s lineup offers audiences an inspiring opportunity to connect with powerful narratives and explore themes of Jewish heritage, resilience, and cultural identity. Through talks, panels, workshops, author signings, and a concert, the festival offers something for all ages and interests. Speakers at this year’s Festival include: Jonah Bromwich, Rachelle Bergstein, Ellen Cassedy, F.K. Clementi, Sandra Fox, Evelyn Frick, Elyssa Friedland, Laura Shaw Frank, Caroline Leavitt, Sarah Maslin Nir, Miriam Eve Mora, Danny Goodman, Lauren Aliza Green, Ronnie Grinberg, Beth Harpaz, Chris Heath, Sarah Imhoff, Sarah Podemski, Hannah Orenstein, Samantha Ettus, Reuven Fenton, Sara Glass, Hannah Reynolds, Bonny Reichert, Ali Rosen, Veronica Schanoes, Amy Schwartz, Sarah Seltzer, Laura R. Samotin, Seth Stern, Bradley Tusk, Sasha Vasilyuk, A.R. Vishny, Elizabeth White, Zibby Owens, Lior Zaltzman, Stephanie Butnick, Debórah Dwork, Jack Fairweather, Julia Gergely, Allison Gilbert, Sean Glatch, Jeffrey Gurock, Adam Langer, Lauren Bairnsfeather, Lisa Newman, Anita Norich, Grace Kessler Overbeke, Stephen B. Shepard, Seth Stern.
Among the highlights of the New York Jewish Book Festival are one kick-off event on December 5 and three featured events day-of:
Acclaimed author Taffy Brodesser-Akner will discuss her latest novel, Long Island Compromise. This sweeping family saga begins with a kidnapping in 1980 and unfolds over four decades, capturing the complexities of Jewish American life, the burdens of wealth, and the unbreakable bonds of family. With wit and depth, Brodesser-Akner weaves themes of tradition, ambition, trauma, and resilience into a richly layered narrative that confronts the past while exploring the tenuous balance of survival in the present.
Award-winning journalist and author Rebecca Clarren, known for her deeply researched and powerful storytelling on environmental and social justice issues, will host a panel discussion on her latest book, The Cost of Free Land. The book is a groundbreaking investigation into her family's homesteading history and the legacy of Indigenous dispossession in the American West. Blending memoir with rigorous reporting, Clarren’s work sheds light on how this history continues to impact both Native communities and her own family’s identity. Clarren will discuss The Cost of Free Land in a thought-provoking conversation with acclaimed actor and filmmaker Sarah Podemski.
Delia Ephron is a bestselling author, screenwriter, and playwright whose work spans film, stage, and page, touching audiences with her wit, warmth, and insights on relationships and resilience. Ephron will discuss Left on Tenth in an intimate conversation that promises to inspire and uplift. Known for co-writing You’ve Got Mail and other beloved stories, Ephron brings a deeply personal lens to her memoir Left on Tenth. In this moving and candid book, she shares her journey through love and loss, recounting the profound experiences of finding new love and facing a life-threatening illness. This panel is co-presented by Moment Magazine.
Noah Rinsky is the writer and creator behind Old Jewish Men, the popular online platform that humorously captures the unique perspectives, wit, and wisdom of Jewish culture and identity. Rinsky will share insights into his creative process and the cultural significance behind Old Jewish Men, offering a lively look at the role of humor in Jewish storytelling. Through a blend of satire and affection, Rinsky has built a community that celebrates the quirks and warmth of Jewish life while addressing contemporary issues with a sharp, comedic edge.
Other highlights of the New York Jewish Book Festival
Rachelle Bergstein (The Genius of Judy), Grace Kessler Overbeke (The First Lady of Laughs), and Jeffrey Gurock (Marty Glickman) will explore the lives and legacies of three Jewish icons: Judy Blume, Jean Carroll, and Marty Glickman. This engaging discussion will highlight Blume’s pioneering impact on literature, Carroll’s groundbreaking role in comedy, and Glickman’s influence in sports broadcasting, celebrating the unique contributions of each to Jewish and American culture.
Authors Elyssa Friedland (Last Summer at the Golden Hotel), Caroline Leavitt (Days of Wonder), Reuven Fenton (Goyhood), and Elizabeth Harris (How to Sleep at Night) will come together for a discussion titled “Jews Writing Jews: Creating Jewish Characters.” These writers will delve into their approaches to portraying Jewish characters and themes, offering insights into the complexities, humor, and authenticity they bring to their stories. This conversation will illuminate the diverse ways Jewish identity and culture shape contemporary fiction.
Authors Seth Stern (Speaking Yiddish to Chickens) and Sandra Fox (The Jews of Summer) will discuss their explorations of Jewish life and culture, in a session moderated by New York Times journalist Sarah Maslin Nir. This engaging conversation will delve into themes of tradition, identity, and community, highlighting the enduring and evolving aspects of Jewish heritage.
Dr. Lauren Bairnsfeather and author Adam Langer will participate in a thought-provoking discussion titled “The Diary of Anne Frank: Beloved and Banned,” co-presented with The Forward. This session will examine the lasting impact and ongoing controversies surrounding Anne Frank’s diary, exploring its role as a cherished piece of Holocaust literature and the debates it has sparked across generations.
Emmy Award–winning journalist Allison Gilbert will discuss The Joy of Connections, Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer’s final book, in a session titled “The Joy of Connections.” With insights drawn from Dr. Ruth’s life and career, the book offers 100 practical ways to combat loneliness and foster meaningful relationships. In this conversation, Gilbert will explore Dr. Ruth’s compassionate, no-nonsense approach to building connections, a timely guide in an era where social isolation is recognized as a critical public health issue.
Renowned pianist and composer Marcin Masecki joins the Ger Mandolin Orchestra for Gersuite, a six-part composition created specifically for the orchestra. Conceived by Israeli-American Avner Yonai and directed by celebrated multi-instrumentalist Mike Marshall, the Ger Mandolin Orchestra revives the Eastern European Jewish mandolin orchestra tradition, performing a unique blend of Jewish, East European folk, and light classical music. Co-presented with POLIN Museum and the Ashkenaz Foundation, this performance promises an unforgettable exploration of Jewish heritage through innovative, boundary-blurring music.
This year’s New York Jewish Book Festival partners are: The Forward, Moment Magazine, Yiddish Book Center, Lilith Magazine, Queens Public Library and the Jewish Book Council.
The third annual New York Jewish Book Festival is free to attend, though donations are recommended. The festival is held at the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, located at 36 Battery Place in Battery Park City.
To view the full schedule and RSVP, visit: https://mjhnyc.org/new-york-jewish-book-festival/
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25) HOLIDAY FAVORITE,
A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS
COMES TO NJPAC
Thursday, December 5, 2024 at 7:30 PM
$29.00 - $99.00
NJPAC
Prudential Hall
One Center Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
www.njpac.org
|
Get ready to treat your family to the wonder of A Magical Cirque Christmas at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). This holiday event will feature world-class circus artists showcasing their unique talents with a festive twist on Thursday, December 5, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Experience the enchantment of Christmas as Magical Cirque artists take the audience through an evening of dazzling performers and breathtaking acrobats, all accompanied by everyone’s favorite holiday music performed live.
It's the perfect merry treat for the whole family, full of nostalgia, charm, and awe-inspiring performances for all ages. Embrace the holiday spirit and celebrate the magic of the season with A Magical Cirque Christmas.
Witness incredible acts such as a "little drummer boy" juggling his drumsticks, an aerialist tree ornament soaring through the sky, acrobatic icicles, trick bicycles, and a jolly ringmaster, all set to your beloved Christmas music. Audiences of all ages will feel the enchantment and joy of the season!
Tickets for A Magical Cirque Christmas are available at at NJPAC.org, calling 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722), or visiting the NJPAC Box Office.
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Four shows only - each show is unique - don't miss this chaotic and courageous barrage of sports and theater: December 6th and 13th at 7:00 PM and December 7th and 14th at 9:30 PM
Co-artistic directors Kyra Sims and Rob Neill and the award-winning New York Neo-Futurists (NYNF), a collective of writer-director-performers now in their 20th season of writing and performing original work rooted in non-fiction, announce they are returning to HERE Arts Center (145 Sixth Avenue, NY, NY 10013) for their annual Best Of The Infinite Wrench performances.
Four shows only—each show is unique—don’t miss this chaotic and courageous barrage of sports and theater: December 6th and 13th at 7:00 PM and December 7th and 14th at 9:30 PM. The NYNF will attempt to perform 30 of their best plays from 2024 in about an hour, taking audiences on a neo-futurist theatrical ‘year in review’ through their non-traditional storytelling style as the seconds pour out. Each play was written from the cast's lived experience, short slices of life that range from funny, profound, elegant, gross, topical, irrelevant, terrifying, or even absurd.
Best Of The Infinite Wrench at HERE Arts Center 145 Sixth Avenue, NY, NY 10013 plays the following schedule through Saturday, December 14th:
Friday, Dec 6th at 7:00 PM
Saturday, Dec 7th at 9:30 PM
Friday, Dec 13th at 7:00 PM
Saturday, Dec 14th at 9:30 PM
Tickets are $10-$50 and are now available online at here.org/shows/best-of-the-infinite-wrench/. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the theater a half-hour prior to the performance.
Running Time: 70 minutes
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27) THE OFF-BROADWAY LEAGUE
ANNOUNCES 2024 TOY DRIVE WILL BENEFIT
HUDSON FAMILY RESIDENCES
& HOMES FOR THE HOMELESS
MIDTOWN SHELTERS THAT HELP HOMELESS FAMILIES
TRANSITION INTO PERMANENT HOUSING
DROP OFF A NEW TOY AT ANY PARTICIPATING THEATER
AND GET A FREE TICKET TO AN OFF-BROADWAY SHOW
ORDER A NEW TOY ONLINE
SHIP IT TO THE THEATER CENTER
AND GET A FREE TICKET TO AN OFF-BROADWAY SHOW |
The Off-Broadway League today announced that its annual Off-Broadway Toy Drive has begun and will benefit children at Westhab-Hudson Family Residence and Homes For The Homeless (HFH) two midtown shelters that help homeless families transition into permanent housing. Last year, over 850 toys were donated. This year, the Off Broadway League has set a goal of securing 1000 presents for kids aged six months to 18 years old. Toys can be donated by bringing them to a participating theater or by purchasing a new toy worth $10 or more on Amazon.com, Wal-Mart.com (or any other online retailer) and shipping it directly to Off-Broadway Toy Drive, c/o The Theater Center, 210 West 50th Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10019. offbroadwaytoydrive.com
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28) THE ORCHESTRA NOW PRESENTS SIENA, WAGNER & PARSIFAL AT
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART ON DECEMBER 8
The Orchestra Now (TŌN) presents two Manhattan performances in December, including the first of three concerts in its popular Sight & Sound series, Siena, Wagner & Parsifal, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Sunday, December 8 at 2 PM. The program will examine Wagner’s remarkable innovations in opera via selections from his work Parsifal, set against the background of notable painterly invention during the Italian Renaissance in Siena.
TŌN’s Sight & Sound series at the Met explores the parallels between orchestral music and the visual arts. Each performance includes an introduction by a Met curator, a discussion with conductor and music historian Leon Botstein accompanied by on-screen exhibition images and live musical excerpts, followed by a full performance of the works and an audience Q&A. Tickets include same-day museum admission.
Siena, Wagner & Parsifal
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium
Sunday, December 8, 2024, at 2 PM
The Orchestra Now
Leon Botstein, conductor
Richard Wagner: Selections from Parsifal
Act I Prelude
Act III Prelude
Good Friday Music
Artwork by Duccio, Lorenzetti, Martini, and others.
At the dawn of the Italian Renaissance, Siena was the site of remarkable artistic innovation. Sienese artists—including Duccio, Pietro and Ambrogio Lorenzetti, and Simone Martini—played a pivotal role in defining Western painting. Over 500 years later, Richard Wagner revolutionized opera composition in much the same way. Twelve years after he read Wolfram von Eschenbach’s Parzival, a poem from the Renaissance era, he began working on a libretto inspired by this tale of the quest for the Holy Grail. This eventually became his final composition, the opera Parsifal.
The exhibition Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300–1350, will be on view at The Met Fifth Avenue until January 26, 2025.
Tickets, priced at $30–$50, include same-day museum admission. Tickets may be purchased online at metmuseum.org, by calling The Met at 212.570.3949, or at The Great Hall box office at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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29) OFF-BROADWAY’S PERFECT CRIME
TO CELEBRATE 15,000 PERFORMANCES
ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2024 |
The Off Broadway murder mystery Perfect Crime, will mark 15,000 performances on Thursday, December 5 at 7:00 PM at the Anne L. Bernstein Theater at The Theater Center (210 West 50th Street, 4th floor). In celebration of this remarkable achievement, the production invites all past company and staff members from its almost 38 year run to a complimentary champagne reception and photo opportunity before the show, a post-show party - and an opportunity to be interviewed by a documentary crew filming that night as part of their chronicling the record-breaking history of Perfect Crime. www.perfect-crime.com
Tickets for Perfect Crime are available by calling the box office at (212) 921-7862 or online at www.Ticketmaster.com. Student rush tickets ($30) are also available by calling or visiting the box office. Any Perfect Crime cast or staff alumni who would like to attend should call the box office to make a reservation for the pre-show reception, afterparty and/or the performance.
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30) South Street Seaport Museum Announces Fresh Prints featuring Special Seasonal and Holiday Designs Thursday, December 5, 2024 at 6pm |
South Street Seaport Museum announces Fresh Prints on Thursday, December 5, 2024 at 6pm at 211 Water Street. Come to Bowne & Co. for a one-of-a-kind New York experience! This free open house will feature a breadth of printing equipment that you will be invited to use with special seasonal and holiday designs. Celebrate the holiday season and see how the designers at Bowne lock up limited edition designs that showcase some of the more eccentric parts from the Seaport Museum’s printing and graphic arts collection. seaportmuseum.org/fresh-prints
Advanced registration is encouraged for this free open house but walkups will be accommodated as possible. Anyone ages 12 and up is welcome. All participants get to take home the items they print during the afternoon. These popular workshops fill quickly, so claim your tickets today!
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31) South Street Seaport Museum announces Holiday Tree Lighting Activities Tuesday, December 3, 2024 from 3-8pm |
South Street Seaport Museum announces Holiday Tree Lighting Activities on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 from 3-8pm. Each year, the Seaport hosts its annual neighborhood tree lighting event––a magical evening filled with community spirit, music, and cheer. The Seaport Museum will be joining in the festivities, with holiday-themed activities, inspired by the Seaport’s history. The Museum’s activities are free, but registration is encouraged. seaportmuseum.org/holiday-tree-lighting
Starting at 3pm, you can pursue the pop-up holiday market presented by MAUM Store on Pier 16, where you can shop festive finds. Stop by the Museum’s booth in the market to participate in a free family activity where you can go-fish for Winter-inspired paper illustrations of fish from New York Harbor that share fun, historical facts about the Fulton Fish Market. This activity, inspired by ice fishing, is ideal for kids ages 2–10.
As the sun sets, the holiday lights adorning the 1885 tall ship Wavertree and 1908 lightship Ambrose will cast a magical glow on all the vessels and add to the seasonal spirit at the Pier. From 6pm to 7pm, enjoy lively performances and surprise appearances as the evening builds to the tree lighting countdown, illuminating Seaport Square for the holiday season.
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32) URBAN STAGES WINTER RHYTHMS 2024
New York’s Urban Stages’ Artistic Director Frances Hill and Sue Matsuki (Producer/ Performer) announce the 16th annual awarding-winning cabaret series, Winter Rhythms, with performances from Wednesday, December 4th through Sunday, December 15th. This celebrated series will benefit Urban Stages' Outreach, Arts in Education programs.
All shows (except the Gala Night) are $35.00 with special discount codes for multi-show purchases. Individual tickets links are listed on each show, OR tickets for the entire series are now on sale at: https://www.UrbanStages.org/winterrhythms2024
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33) VA Media Curated FREE Christmas Movie Playlist
VA Media has curated FREE Christmas Movie Playlists for your audience this year. While everyone is plowing through Thanksgiving leftovers, wrapping presents, or simply needing to distract themselves, the kids or visiting relatives, we guarantee these will help make viewing choices easy. Did we mention FREE?
Below are the pre-selected genres Family, Puppies, Romance, and Royal, all featuring movie and TV favorites including Lacey Chabert, Eric Roberts, John Schneider, Billy Baldwin, Morgan Fairchild, Mario Lopez, Dean Cain, Denise Richards, Patrick Muldoon, Colton Little, Vivica A Fox, Ernie Hudson, Brittany Underwood, Tara Reid and many more! We hope you'll share the below playlists and do let us know if you'd like more information.
(26 handpicked classics for all ages)
(14 of the furriest films that need no explanation! What more could one want?)
(26 films to warm and tug at your heartstrings)
(8 fantasy-filled escapes)
(155 movies to choose from!!!)
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34) Works & Process Presents Peter & the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev with Isaac Mizrahi Friday, December 6 to Sunday, December 8, 2024 Peter B. Lewis Theater, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum |
Works & Process presents Peter & the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev with Isaac Mizrahi
from Friday, December 6 at 6:30PM to Sunday, December 8 at 4PM at the Guggenheim’s Peter B. Lewis Theater, 1071 Fifth Avenue, NYC. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased at Works & Process at the Guggenheim | Peter & the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev with Isaac Mizrahi (worksandprocess.org).
Isaac Mizrahi narrates and directs Sergei Prokofiev’s charming children’s classic, Peter & the Wolf, accompanied by Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect, conducted by Michael P. Atkinson. The cast, wearing costumes by Mizrahi, performs choreography by John Heginbotham, bringing the thirty-minute story to life for the young and young at heart.
No matter how tall or small, everyone needs a ticket.
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And that's the scoop. Tune in tomorrow for More Theater Monday.
Images used in this post have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or PR firms and are used by permission. If there is a problem with the rights to any image, contact us here, and we will look into the matter.
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