Celebrating the Holidays with Theater
By NANCY C. HERMANN
Every year we say it: “We’re not going to focus the holidays on what ends up under the tree Christmas morning.” In my family, with our sons no longer wishing to recreate the Christmases of their childhoods, it really is time to invent new traditions.
If you’re hoping to do the same, consider adding a variety of live entertainment to your holiday plans. Downtown alone boasts five major performance venues: the PAC, with its four theaters, the BOK Center, the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, Cains and the Brady.
The Cains Ballroom, like the Brady, is a piece of Tulsa history. Out-of-town guests will get a taste of Tulsa, along with entertainment, at these locales.
Mannheim Steamroller once preferred the large arena-size venues but is now showcasing its signature high-voltage production in more cozy spaces.
News from our friends at the BOK Center is that the Winterfest ice rink will be expanded to 9,000 square feet. It was a major hit last year. Winterfest ‘09 opened Nov. 27 and welcomes skaters through Jan. 4.
I’m thinking about pitching a tent in the BOK Center’s lobby and staying there through January. I’d certainly do that if I weren’t already committed to doing the same at the PAC.
December at the PAC once was consumed with two major productions, The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol, but now there is much more.
American Theatre Company is back with A Christmas Carol (Dec. 10-23). Santaland features the always entertaining Mike Pryor in a piece based on David Sedaris’ real-life experiences as a Macy’s Department Story elf.
A Christmas Carol introduces a new Scrooge this year, New York actor Anthony Santelmo Jr. Joining him on stage is my co-worker, PAC’s Assistant Director Steven Fendt. Steve reprises the part of the “Ghost of Christmas Present,” which he played years ago. He’ll bring a special exuberance to the role. I’ve watched A Christmas Carol a dozen times or more, and highly recommend it for a family outing or a memory-making holiday event to share with friends. The music, action and eye-candy set keep even young children engaged.
A new addition to the PAC’s holiday lineup is It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play Dec. 15-20. The very intimate Norman Theatre will be the perfect place to enjoy this piece, staged by Playhouse Theatre. More about this play next month, as well as American Indian Theatre Company’s A Song of Winter, Dec. 18-19.
When my family is reminiscing about “the best of the best” from years past, experiences we’ve had together always top the list. Better than anything we could have unwrapped, those times give the most lasting gift – shared memories.
Nancy Hermann is Marketing Director at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center.
Updated 12-08-2009
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