'Tis the season: From 'Nutcracker' to 'Rudolph,' Northeast Ohio has holiday shows covered

Holiday performances are a big part of what makes the season so merry and bright, from the new "The Little Nutcracker" with Ohio Contemporary Ballet at Firestone CLC Theatre to the second year for performances of "White Christmas," "Scrooge the Musical" and "Elf" at Akron theaters.

Ohio Contemporary Ballet, formerly Verb Ballets, will present a one-hour version of the classic "Nutcracker," created by Associate Artistic Director Richard Dickinson, at 7 p.m. Dec. 2 at Firestone, 470 Castle Blvd., Akron. Twelve professional dancers from around the world will join students from the University of Akron Dance Institute, Akron Public Schools and ArtsSparks to bring audiences on Clara's magical Christmas Eve journey.

Cost is $20 for adults, $10 for children. For tickets, see ocballet.org or call 216-397-3757 Ext. 1.

For some repeat holiday fun, Rubber City Theatre is bringing back the musical "White Christmas," set for Dec. 21-22 at E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron. The stage version of the Irving Berlin movie classic follows song-and-dance men Bob Wallace and Phil Davis and a duo of beautiful singing sisters as they hatch a plan to save a Vermont lodge.

Cost is $20-$50. See rubbercitytheatre.com.

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Boom! Theater is also bringing back "Scrooge the Musical," an adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," for the second holiday season at the Knight Stage at the Akron Civic Theatre Dec. 1-17. The theater company features actors age 50 and older. Cost is $25. See akroncivic.com or call 330-253-2488.

Weathervane Playhouse is getting “sparklejollytwinklejingley” again with the musical "Elf," featuring everyone's favorite man child, Buddy. The show has sold like gangbusters for the second holiday season in a row, with opening night Friday sold out. Very limited single tickets remain for other performances. Cost is $14 to $36.

"Elf" runs for 18 performances through Dec. 22 at 1301 Weathervane Lane, Akron. See weathervaneplayhouse.com or call 330-836-2626.

Longstanding holiday traditions

When it comes to holiday traditions, Northeast Ohio boasts numerous longstanding Christmas shows. Here are some to check out.

Nov. 24-Dec. 23: Great Lakes Theater will present its 35th anniversary production of the holiday favorite "A Christmas Carol" at Mimi Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square, 1511 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Some 825,000 people have seen this Gerald Freedman adaptation throughout its history. Cost is $35-$80. A sensory-friendly performance for children and adults on the autism spectrum and their families will be at 11 a.m. Nov. 29. Cost is $14. Community choirs and ensembles will perform before select shows. Call 216-241-6000 or see greatlakestheater.org.

Nov. 25-Dec. 3: Ballet Theatre of Ohio will present six performances of "The Nutcracker" at the Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S Main St. The pre-professional Munroe Falls company is celebrating its 31st year performing the holiday classic. Cost is $45-$55. See akroncivic.com or call 330-253-2488.

Dec. 8: The Akron Symphony Orchestra will offer the "merriest concert of the year" with a holiday pops show at 7:30 p.m. at E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St. The concert also will feature tenor Daniel Doty, the Akron Symphony Chorus, members of the Gospel Meets Symphony Choir and the Firestone Akron School for the Arts Symphonic Choir. Cost is $15-$60. See akronsymphony.org or call 330-535-8131.

Dec. 8-10: Canton Ballet, which has made "The Nutcracker" a holiday tradition for more than 50 years, will perform the ballet with the Canton Symphony Orchestra at the Canton Palace Theater, 605 Market Ave. N. Melissa Chapski of the Bavarian State Ballet and Zachary Catazaro, former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, will star. Cost is $18-$45. See cantonballet.com.

Dec. 13-23: The Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra Chorus will perform 12 holiday concerts at Severance Music Center, 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. The show, featuring popular vocalist Capathia Jenkins, also will feature the Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus, Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus Chamber Ensemble, Wooster Chorus of the College of Wooster and Cleveland State University Chorale. Cost is $49-$128. See clevelandorchestra.com or call 216-231-1111.

Dec. 15-17: Summit Choral Society will perform its 34th Christmas Candlelight Concerts at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 44 University Ave., Akron. The Metropolitan Chorus, Performance Choir, Advanced Choir, chamber orchestra and organ will perform at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 and 16. Metropolitan, Performance and Bel Canto choirs will perform with orchestra and organ at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 17. Music will include Benjamin Britten's "Ceremony of Carols." Cost is $25-$35. See summitchoralsociety.org.

Dec. 23: TubaChristmas will offer free holiday fun with a performance at noon at E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St. The low brass show, conducted by Christopher Blaha and Tucker Jolly, is Akron's 43rd annual singalong. Admission is free and tickets aren't required. Tuba players of all ages and abilities are invited to register for $10 at 9 a.m. Dec. 23, followed by a rehearsal at 10 a.m.

Other Northeast Ohio holiday happenings

Here's a smorgasbord of festive performances throughout the next month in the Akron, Canton and Cleveland areas.

Dec. 1-17: Magical Theatre Company will present the holiday comedy "Paddington Saves Christmas" with nine performances at 565 W. Tuscarawas Ave., Barberton. The show, most enjoyed by families with children 6 and up, costs $18-$20. See magicaltheatre.org or call 330-848-3708.

Dec. 1-16: Karamu House will perform the gospel celebration "Black Nativity" by Langston Hughes at the Allen Theatre, 1407 Euclid Ave., Playhouse Square. Cost is $50-$70. See playhousesquare.org or call  216-241-6000.

Dec. 2: Male a cappella group Straight No Chaser's "Sleighin' It Tour" will be at 7:30 p.m. at the State Theatre, 1519 Euclid Ave., Playhouse Square. Cost is $29.50-$69.50. See playhousesquare.org or call 216-241-6000.

Dec. 5: Tuesday Musical will present the King's Singers, who will bring holiday cheer from across the pond at 7:30 p.m. at E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 High St., The a cappella group from Great Britain will perform festive music from their recent travels around the world. Cost is $19-$65. See tuesdaymusical.org or call 330-761-3460.

Dec. 6: Cirque Dreams Holidaze, a Broadway-style production infused with contemporary circus art, will perform at 7:30 p.m. at E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 High St. Cost is $58-$100. See uakron.edu/ej or call 330-972-7570.

Dec. 8: "The Hip Hop Nutcracker" will return to Playhouse Square at 7 p.m. at the State Theatre, 1519 Euclid Ave. Cost is $28-$68. See playhousesquare.org or call 216-241-6000.

Dec. 8-10: Rubber City Youth Theatre will present the hourlong musical "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Jr." for four shows at the Daum Theatre, Kolbe Hall, 328 E. Buchtel Ave., the University of Akron. Cost is $10-$15. See rubbercitytheatre.com or call 330-972-7895.

Dec. 13: "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer: The Musical" will play at 7:30 p.m. at the Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St. Cost is $35-$59. See akroncivic.com or call 330-253-2488.

Dec. 14: The Straight No Chaser "Sleighin' It Tour" will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St. Cost is $29.50-$69.50. See akroncivic.com or call 330-253-2488.

Dec. 14-23: Cleveland Ballet will present 11 performances of the holiday favorite "The Nutcracker" at the Connor Palace at Playhouse Square, 1615 Euclid Ave. Cost is $28-$131. Call 216-320-9000 Ext. 107 or see playhousesquare.org.

Dec. 15: Broadway star Michael Cavanaugh, a Middleburg Heights native, will bring a show filled with Christmas classics and modern holiday songs at 7:30 p.m. at E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St. Cost is $25-$55. See uakron.edu/ej or call 330-972-7570.

Dec. 16: Lightwire Theater's "A Very Electric Christmas" will light up the Goodyear Theater with two shows at 1201 E. Market St., Akron. Cost is $20-$55. See goodyeartheater.com or call 330-253-2488.

Dec. 16: Mannheim Steamroller Christmas will perform holiday classics with dazzling multimedia effects at 8 p.m. at Playhouse Square's State Theatre, 1519 Euclid Ave. Cost is $15-$90. 1519 Euclid Ave. See See playhousesquare.org or call 216-241-6000.

Dec. 17: The Dave Banks Big Band will perform "Pop Goes Christmas" at 3 p.m. at Goodyear Theater, 1201 E. Market St., Akron. See goodyeartheater.com or call 330-253-2488.

Dec. 17: The Canton Symphony Orchestra will present its Holiday Pops! concert at 3 p.m. at Umstattd Hall, 2331 17th St. NW, Canton, featuring the world premiere of Eric Benjamin's "Ancient Yuletide Carols" for orchestra and chorus. Santa will make an appearance. Cost is $25-$55. See cantonsymphony.org or call 330-452-2094.

Dec. 22: ETC Heid's School of Musical Arts show choirs will perform at 7 p.m. at the Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St. Cost is $25-$35. See akroncivic.com or call 330-253-2488.

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Our list of live holiday shows new and old in Northeast Ohio