Christmas in Orlando: A merry month of concerts, plays, events
We know Santa and his elves are super-busy making all those toys, but Central Florida arts groups are also hard at work. December is chock-a-block with Christmas-themed concerts, plays, dance programs and more — far too many to fit into one column. Here’s a chronological look at some of the ho-ho-ho highlights.
Dec. 1: At Osceola Arts in Kissimmee, it’s time for “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical,” in which rambunctious kids threaten to wreck a holiday tradition with humorous results. (osceolaarts.org). At Orlando Shakes, it’s the return of “A Christmas Carol,” in which miser Ebenezer Scrooge finds redemption thanks to ghostly visitors (orlandoshakes.org).
And the Renaissance Theatre in Orlando brings back the annual “Office Holiday Party Musical Extravaganza Show,” in which you join a celebration with a group of eccentric co-workers. The show features new music this year, but as with nearly all office parties, this one’s for adults only; leave the children at home. On select nights, the show is followed by “The Winter Late Night Holiday Drag Exxxtravaganza Show” (rentheatre.com).
Meanwhile, the Breakthrough Theatre opens “Young at Heart: The Holiday Edition,” which runs through Dec. 11. (breakthroughtheatre.com).
Dec. 2: The Stetson University Symphony will give an open-air concert titled “Holiday Symphony” in Mount Dora’s Donnelly Park at 4:30 p.m., so as the concert reaches its conclusion, the park and the historic downtown will come alive with more than 2 million colorful lights.
Dec. 3: The Sanford Jazz Ensemble presents “Let’s Celebrate Christmas” at the Ritz Theater (ritztheatersanford.com), and the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Orlando hosts the UCF “Season of Joy” choral concert (drphillipscenter.org). In Winter Park, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra presents a free “Holiday Pops” concert at 5 p.m. in Central Park. Bring a blanket and a picnic.
Dec. 7-8: Central Florida Community Arts presents its annual holiday extravaganza, with singers, orchestra, dancers and more, at Northland Church in Longwood. This year’s theme: “Christmas at the Movies” (cfcarts.com).
Dec. 8-24: Orlando Ballet’s brand-new production of “The Nutcracker” takes the stage in Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center (orlandoballet.org).
Dec. 9-10: Phantasmagoria’s “A Most Haunted Victorian Christmas” — spooky yuletide tales from days of yore — begins its seasonal tour at the Dr. Phillips Center before heading to Sanford’s Ritz Theater (Dec. 15), the Reilly Arts Center in Ocala (Dec. 17), the Melon Patch Theatre in Leesburg (Dec. 21) and the Athens Theatre in DeLand (Dec. 22-23) (phantasmagoriaorlando.com).
Also, playing this weekend: The Bach Festival’s Classic Christmas concert in Knowles Memorial Chapel at Rollins College in Winter Park (bachfestivalflorida.org) and Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra’s “Holly Jolly Sounds of the Season” for the littlest music fans (orlandophil.org).
Dec. 10: Lots of music today. The free 3 p.m. “Sunday Live” program at Orlando Lutheran Towers features Christmas favorites from the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe, while the Howey Mansion Music Series in Howey-in-the-Hills presents trumpeter Enrique Sanchez in “Swinging Into the Holidays (howeymusicseries.org).”
At the First Baptist Church of Winter Garden, the Orlando Choral Society presents “The Many Moods of Christmas,” selections from a 1963 LP of 18 Christmas carols (orlandochoralsociety.org). The Steinway Society of Central Florida presents its holiday showcase with Dickens carolers, piano students and a visit from Santa. The showcase is at the Steinway Piano Galleries in Altamonte Springs (steinwaysocietyorlando.com).
The Orlando Gay Chorus presents “Make the Yuletide Gay.” Celebrating the region’s cultural diversity, the program features singing in English, Swahili, Korean, Zulu, Spanish, Hawaiian, Mandarin Chinese and German. The concert will be at Lake Highland Preparatory School in Orlando and will have a repeat performance Dec. 16 at the Ritz Theater in Sanford. (orlandogaychorus.org).
Dec. 13: Soprano Sarah Brightman, the original Christine in “The Phantom of the Opera,” brings her “Christmas Symphony” tour to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. (drphillipscenter.org).
Dec. 14-23: Chase Padgett of “6 Guitars” fame brings an all-new show to Orlando Shakes’ cabaret series. In “A 6-String Christmas,” the acclaimed performer will share songs, stories and laughter tied to the holidays (orlandoshakes.org).
Dec. 15: Featuring a choir and 40-piece orchestra, “Christmas With the Basilica Choir” will present sacred and secular music at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Lake Buena Vista. The free event, sponsored by the Guarisco Family Charitable Fund, will conclude with an audience sing-along (maryqueenoftheuniverse.org/concerts).
Dec. 15-18: “A Breakthrough Family Christmas,” with homespun holiday stories and songs, takes the stage at the Winter Park theater (breakthroughtheatre.com).
Dec. 16: Tuba, euphonium, sousaphone and baritone players of all ages gather at 1 p.m. to perform a free concert in the annual “Merry TubaChristmas” event at Winter Park’s Central Park. The Orlando Big Band follows with a free concert, sponsored by Winter Park Rotary Club, at 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 16-17: Central Florida Ballet’s “Nutcracker,” with pyrotechnics and aerial stunts, takes the stage at the Orange County Convention Center (centralfloridaballet.com).
Dec. 17: The Central Florida Sounds of Freedom, an LGBTQ-friendly band and color guard, presents “Hope Eternal” at the Wyndham Orlando Resort on International Drive (centralfloridasoundsoffreedom.com). With the beautiful Mead Garden as a backdrop, seven ensembles of the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras perform holiday classics in “Miracle at Mead” (fsyo.org).
Meanwhile, the Ritz Theater in Sanford hosts “A White Christmas” with the Orlando Big Band. (ritztheater.org)
Dec. 19-23: With caroling, cookies and tea, three actors retell the story of “A Christmas Carol” in “Dickens by Candlelight,” this year at Audubon Park Covenant Church in Orlando (facebook.com/dickensbycandlelight).
Dec. 21: The professional vocalists of Orlando Sings present a seasonal tribute in two performances of “Solaria Solstice.” The poetry and songs of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, along with musical meditations on light and renewal, take place at Timucua Arts Foundation in Orlando (orlandosings.com).
Dec. 22: The Orlando Artist Guild gathers local actors, singers, puppeteers and comedians to pay tribute to cult favorite “A Muppet Christmas Carol” in a parody titled “When Love Is Found.” The one-night-only event takes place at Fringe ArtSpace in downtown Orlando (orlandofringe.org).
Dec. 29-30: In the Christmas comedy “The Trial of Santa,” Kris Kringle is taken to court by a 9-year-old girl who received the wrong present. Breakthrough Theatre is closing out the holiday season with this silly show (breakthroughtheatre.com).
And after all that, to all, a good night.
Follow me at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find more arts news and reviews at orlandosentinel.com/arts, and go to orlandosentinel.com/theater for theater news and reviews.
