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arts entertainmentHolidays

‘The Nutcracker’ and other holiday favorites are coming to Dallas-Fort Worth stages

‘A Christmas Carol’ adaptations and a new Cirque du Soleil show add to the fun.

Season favorite The Nutcracker dominates this year’s holiday productions, including offerings from major ballet companies and top schools. Adaptations of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol are also on the schedule, along with a first-of-its-kind Cirque du Soleil show. Orchestras are tuning up for a full slate of holiday performances as well. Here are some of the top performing arts events in November and December.

Check individual websites for prices, safety policies and other details. Find more listings at dallasnews.com/guide.

CLASSICAL MUSIC

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Stuart Chafetz, performs its annual holiday concert, featuring singer N’Kenge and the Lone Star Youth Chorus. There will also be a visit from Santa.

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• Nov. 25-26 at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. at Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth. fwsymphony.org.

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The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will perform selections from "The Nutcracker" as well as...
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will perform selections from "The Nutcracker" as well as several other holiday shows at the Meyerson Symphony Center.(Lawrence Jenkins / Special Contributor)

THE NUTCRACKER Led by assistant conductor Maurice Cohn, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra performs selections from Tchaikovsky’s beloved holiday ballet.

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• Nov. 25-26 at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 27 at 3 p.m. at the Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas. dallassymphony.org.

CHRISTMAS POPS The annual Dallas Symphony Orchestra concert includes holiday favorites and sing-along carols. The orchestra will be joined by soprano Jasmine Habersham, baritone Craig Verm, organist Bradley Hunter Welch, the Dallas Symphony Chorus and, for some performances, the Dallas Symphony Children’s Chorus. Lawrence Loh conducts.

• Dec. 2-11 at the Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas. dallassymphony.org.

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MESSIAH The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra teams up with the University of North Texas’ A Cappella Choir in Handel’s holiday classic. Soloists are soprano Molly Netter, mezzo-soprano Luthien Brackett, tenor Steven Soph and bass Jonathan Woody. George Jackson conducts.

• Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Will Rogers Auditorium, Fort Worth. fwsymphony.org.

HOME ALONE IN CONCERT The Dallas Symphony Orchestra joins forces with the Dallas Symphony Chorus to perform John Williams’ score while the movie plays on-screen. Jayce Ogren conducts.

• Dec. 16-17 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 18 at 3 p.m. at the Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas. dallassymphony.org.

CHRISTMAS AT THE MEYERSON The Dallas Winds band performs its annual holiday concert, with Yuletide favorites — and maybe even a visit from Santa. Shiree X. Williams conducts, and Carl Johnson narrates.

• Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas. dallaswinds.org.

The Dallas Bach Society performed Handel's "Messiah" at the Meyerson Symphony Center in...
The Dallas Bach Society performed Handel's "Messiah" at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas on Dec. 23, 2021. The annual performance will return to North Texas on Dec. 22-23.(Emil Lippe / Special Contributor)

MESSIAH The Dallas Bach Society early music ensemble, led by artistic director James Richman, presents its annual Messiah at the Meyerson, with soprano Haley Sicking, alto Nicholas Garza, tenor Barrett Radziun and bass David Grogan as soloists. A repeat performance at Zion Lutheran Church will include an audience sing-along.

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• Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas; Dec. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Dallas. dallasbach.org.

THEATER

EBENEZER SCROOGE Pocket Sandwich Theatre is producing co-founder Joe Dickinson’s take on A Christmas Carol for the 40th time. Music by Laurie Tirmenstein.

• Nov. 25-Dec. 23 at Pocket Sandwich Theatre, Carrollton. pocketsandwich.com.

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Kieran Connolly starred as Scrooge in Dallas Theater Center's 2013 production of "A...
Kieran Connolly starred as Scrooge in Dallas Theater Center's 2013 production of "A Christmas Carol." He's reprising the role for the 2022 run.(Karen Almond)

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Kieran Connolly returns to Dallas Theater Center to reprise his role as Scrooge. The former DTC troupe member was the first to play the part in artistic director Kevin Moriarty’s 2013 re-imagining of the holiday story.

• Nov. 25-Dec. 24 at the Wyly Theatre, Dallas. A digital version will be available Dec. 26. dallastheatercenter.org.

THE HAPPY ELF An ambitious, energetic elf named Eubie has to deal with Bluesville, a town where all the kids are on the naughty list. Music and lyrics by Harry Connick Jr. Appropriate for ages 5 and up.

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• Nov. 27-Dec. 23 at Dallas Children’s Theater. dct.org.

BLACK NATIVITY Inspired by Langston Hughes’ retelling of the Nativity story, the “hand-clapping, toe-tapping, finger-snapping theatrical wonderment” returns to Bishop Arts Theatre Center for its 18th anniversary. Directed by Sheridan Singleton.

• Dec. 1-18 at Bishop Arts Theatre Center, Dallas. bishopartstheatre.org.

DANCE

TEXAS BALLET THEATER: THE NUTCRACKER Texas Ballet Theater’s eye-popping Nutcracker opens with Ben Stevenson’s comic party scene in its performances in Dallas and Fort Worth.

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• Nov. 25-Dec. 4 at the Winspear Opera House, Dallas; Dec. 9-24 at Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth. texasballettheater.org.

Paige Nyman and Jiyan Dai performed during a dress rehearsal of Texas Ballet Theater's 2021...
Paige Nyman and Jiyan Dai performed during a dress rehearsal of Texas Ballet Theater's 2021 production of "The Nutcracker." The show returns Nov. 25-Dec. 4 at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas and Dec. 9-24 at Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth.(Amitava Sarkar / Texas Ballet Theater)

CHAMBERLAIN BALLET: THE NUTCRACKER Chamberlain Ballet’s Nutcracker features Tiler Peck and Tyler Angle of New York City Ballet in the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.

• Nov. 25 at 7 p.m., Nov. 26-27 at 2 p.m. at the Eisemann Center, Richardson. chamberlainballet.org; www.eisemanncenter.com.

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BALLET ENSEMBLE OF TEXAS: THE NUTCRACKER Ballet Ensemble of Texas’ Nutcracker includes guest stars Breanne Granlund and Nathan Vendt of American Ballet Theatre.

• Dec. 3 at 2 and 7 p.m., Dec. 4 at 2 and 6 p.m. at the Irving Arts Center. balletensembleoftexas.org; irvingartscenter.com.

AVANT CHAMBER BALLET: THE NUTCRACKER Avant Chamber Ballet performs North Texas legend Paul Mejia’s version of the fantasy Christmas story with a live orchestra.

• Dec. 9-11 at Moody Performance Hall, Dallas. avantchamberballet.org; ticketdfw.com.

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Dallas Black Dance Theater presented "Espresso Nutcracker" virtually on Dec. 12, 2020. This...
Dallas Black Dance Theater presented "Espresso Nutcracker" virtually on Dec. 12, 2020. This year, students of DBDT’s academy will perform it live Dec. 10 at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas.(Amitava Sarkar / Dallas Black Dance Theater)

DALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATER: ESPRESSO NUTCRACKER Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s Espresso Nutcracker, performed by students of DBDT’s academy, includes scenes set to Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite.

• Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre, Dallas. dbdt.com.

OTHER PERFORMANCES

A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS Broadway Dallas presents the performance, a tour of the 1890s, 1920s, ‘50s and ‘70s featuring acrobats, jugglers and contortionists.

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• Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Music Hall at Fair Park. broadwaydallas.org; magicalcirquechristmas.com.

‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE ... Cirque du Soleil’s first-ever Christmas show, a comedy about the wonders of sharing and friendship, makes its Dallas debut.

• Nov. 25-Dec. 11 at Texas Trust CU Theatre, Grand Prairie. cirquedusoleil.com/twas-the-night-before; axs.com