The Holidays have a funny way of bringing out the gentler, more cheerful side of people ... Even us bassed-out party animals here at New Times.
Maybe it's all the spiked eggnog or "sugar" cookies, but whatever it is, it's something, well, pretty magical.
And since we're in that wholesome Christmas spirit, we're hooking you up with a month's worth of Holiday lights and musical goodness, from George Balanchine's The Nutcracker to classic Christmas carols with the Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical.
Just check out Broward and Palm Beach's Holiday 2014 concert guide.
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Country for the Holidays. With Eric Paslay, Rodney Atkins, Josh Thompson, and Brooke Eden. Friday, December 5, 6 to 9 p.m. Harbourside Place, 200 U.S. Hwy 1, Jupiter; 561-935-9533. Free. Grab your partner, dosey doe, and kick off "Friday Night" with a fireworks display and holiday country music.
A Very Lennon Christmas. Presented by Classic Albums Live. Friday, December 5, 8 p.m. Parker Playhouse, 707 NE 8th St. Fort Lauderdale; 954-761-5374; parkerplayhouse.com. Tickets cost $39 to $59 plus fees via ticketmaster.com. How could you not have a happy holiday with John Lennon at the helm?
Noel and Good Cheer! With Florida's Singing Sons Boychoir. Friday, December 5 and Saturday, December 6, 8 p.m. Second Presbyterian Church, 1400 N. Federal Hgwy., Fort Lauderdale; 954-564-7600. Tickets cost $10 to $35 plus fees via brownpapertickets.com. Celebrate the holidays like the French and Brits do with the little elves of the Florida's Singing Sons Boychoir. The show begins with a candlelight procession and English Christmas carols, followed by a performance of Marc-Antoine Charpentier's 1694 "Midnight Mass for Christmas." The show ends with the boychoir's "12 Days of Christmas" extravaganza.
Wonder of the Season. With the Delray Beach Chorale. Saturday, December 6, 3 to 4:30 p.m. First Presbyterian Church of Delray, 33 Gleason St., Delray Beach; 561-276-6338. Saturday, December 13, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Duncan Theatre, 4200 Congress Ave., Lake Worth; 561-868-3309; palmbeachstate.edu. Tickets cost $25 plus fees via delraybeachchorale.org, or $30 the day of. Take in the Wonder of the Season with the 65-voice Delray Beach Chorale and music that's good for both the Christian and Jewish folks out there.
Colors of Christmas. With Peabo Bryson, Taylor Dayne, Jennifer Holliday, and Ruben Studdard. Saturday, December 6, 8 p.m. Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, 501 S. Sapodilla Ave., West Palm Beach; 561-802-6000; awdsoa.org. Tickets cost $25 to $105 plus fees via kravis.org. Paint the season red and green with Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Peabo Bryson, freestyle princess Taylor Dayne, Broadway sensation Jennifer Holliday, gospel legend Ruben Studdard, and all the Colors of Christmas.
Symphony Holiday Spectacular. With the Dunlap and Pennington Keyboard Duo and the Symphony of the Americas. Sunday, December 7, 2 p.m., and Tuesday, December 9, 8:15 p.m. Amaturo Theater, 201 SW 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 954-462-0222; browardcenter.org. Tickets cost $62 to $85 plus fees via ticketmaster.com. Feel like you're on the set of a Hallmark Christmas movie with the Dunlap and Pennington Keyboard Duo, Symphony of the Americas, and their Symphony Holiday Spectacular.
12th Annual Gingerbread Holiday Concert. Hosted by Lynn University Friends of the Conservatory of Music. Sunday, December 7, 3 p.m. Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center, 3601 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton; 561-237-7000; lynn.edu. Tickets cost $35 plus fees via lynn.tix.com. Do you wanna build a gingerbread man? The Lynn University Friends of the Conservatory of Music do. That's why they're throwing the 12th annual Gingerbread Holiday Concert with Anna, Elsa, and all the characters from Walt Disney's 2013 flick, Frozen and a visit from Santa Claus and his wifey.
Holiday Pops. With the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Conducted by John Morris Russell. Monday, December 8, 8 p.m. Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 954-462-0222; browardcenter.org. Tickets cost $40 to $125 plus fees via ticketmaster.com. Go "(Walking in a) Winter Wonderland" with "Mr. Christmas" AKA John Morris Russell and his Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.
George Balanchine's The Nutcracker. With the Miami City Ballet. Friday, December 12, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 13, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, December 14, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 954-462-0222; browardcenter.org. Tickets cost $25 to $79 via ticketmaster.com. Because it's just not Christmas without The Nutcracker.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Presented by the Hallmark Channel. Friday, December 12, 4 and 8 p.m. BB&T Center, One Panther Pkwy., Sunrise; 954-835-8000; thebbtcenter.com. Tickets cost $30 to $68.50 plus fees via ticketmaster.com. And in SoFla, a performance by TSO marks the official start of Santa season.
The Perfect Gift: Christmas With the Tenors. Friday, December 12, 8 p.m. Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, 501 S. Sapodilla Ave., West Palm Beach; 561-802-6000; awdsoa.org. Tickets cost $15 to $100 plus fees via kravis.org. What is the perfect gift, you ask? Christmas with the Tenors, of course.
Comfort & Joy. With the Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida. Friday, December 12 and 19, 8 p.m., and Saturday, December 13 and 20, 8 p.m. Sunshine Cathedral, 1840 SW 9th St., Fort Lauderdale; 954-462-2004. Tickets are sold out via ovationtix.com. Have a very fabulous X-Mas as the Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida spreads Holiday cheer and plenty of comfort and joy across Fort Lawdy.
Holiday Soirée. With Javen. Presented by Worship in the Now Ministries Inc. Proceeds benefit His House Children's Home. Saturday, December 13, 6:30 p.m. Hillcrest Country Club, 4600 Hillcrest Dr., Hollywood; 954-983-3142. Tickets cost $45 via paypal.com. 'Tis the season of giving. Help make Christmas bright for the kids at His House Children's Home with "Christian, gospel, urban pop" singer, Javen.
The Chocolate Nutcracker. Presented by Ashanti Cultural Arts with African drummers and multi-cultural modern dancers. Saturday, December 13, 7 p.m. Amaturo Theater, 201 SW 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 954-462-0222; browardcenter.org. Tickets cost $15 plus fees via ticketmaster.com. Experience George Balanchine's The Nutcracker from a "Black perspective" through performances of "African dancers and drummers, stilt walkers, and Indian, Chinese, classical, carnival, and modern dancers."
Winter Dreams. With the Girl Choir of South Florida. Sunday, December 14, 4 p.m. Amaturo Theater, 201 SW 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 954-462-0222; browardcenter.org. Tickets cost $20 plus fees via ticketmaster.com. Hear the voices of a thousand angels fill the Amaturo Theater with classic holiday carols.
First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale's Annual Christmas Concert. With the Cathedral Choir and Orchestra conducted by Robin L. McEachern. Sunday, December 14, 4 p.m. First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale, 401 SE 15th Ave. Fort Lauderdale; 954-462-6200; firstpres.cc. Suggested donation for tickets are $10. Count down the days till the 25th with the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale's Cathedral Choir and Orchestra at their yearly Christmas celebration.
Seraphic Fire. Performing Handel's Messiah. Friday, December 19, 8 p.m. Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 954-462-0222; browardcenter.org. Tickets cost $35 to $75 plus fees via ticketmaster.com. Listen to Seraphic Fire as the vocal ensemble performs Handel's classic Christmastime number, Messiah.
Martha and Mory: A Holiday Cabaret. With mezzo soprano Martha Bartz and Mory Ortman on piano. Sunday, December 20, 8 p.m. Arts Garage, 180 NE 1st St., Delray Beach; 561-450-6357; artsgarage.org. Tickets cost $25 to $240 plus fees via artsgarage.org. Bring out your jingle bells and reindeer ears and get festive with Martha and Mory at the Arts Garage.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. Tuesday, December 23, 2 and 7 p.m. Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, 501 S. Sapodilla Ave., West Palm Beach; 561-802-6000; awdsoa.org. Tickets cost $20 to $75 plus fees via kravis.org. Feel all warm and fuzzy inside and relive your childhood Christmas memories through song with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical.
Tchaikovsky Spectacular. With the State Ballet of Russia. Sunday, December 28, 3 p.m. Parker Playhouse, 707 NE 8th St. Fort Lauderdale; 954-761-5374; parkerplayhouse.com. Tickets cost $26.50 to $56.50 plus fees via ticketmaster.com. Wrap up the Holiday season and get ready for a triple ballet threat as the State Ballet of Russia performs scenes from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker at the Parker Playhouse.
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