Shows on local stages will make your season bright

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

The theme this holiday season seems to be nostalgia.

Several performing arts groups, especially the theater companies are tripping down memory lane with their shows.

TADA Theatre revisits the 1950s with the musical “Forever Plaid Tidings,” the sequel to “Forever Plaid.”

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Local holiday events

Find your perfect winter concert or performance. (Katie Nieland, JournalStar.com)...

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The Lincoln Community Playhouse ventures back to the 1940s with the stage adaptation of the classic movie “A Christmas Story.”

And the Nebraska Repertory Theatre journeys into David Sedaris’ past with the humorist’s monologue about working as a Santaland Elf at Macy’s in the early 1990s.

The holiday season also has several musical choices, including tonight’s annual holiday concert by Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra.

Several events are free or reasonably priced, so this is the perfect time to set aside those shopping lists and treat yourself to some quality entertainment.

The following is a rundown of holiday performing arts events in Lincoln:

“Nutcracker Suite,” First Friday Concert Series, 12:10 p.m. today, Saint Paul United Methodist Church, 12th and M streets. Organist John C. Friesen performs Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic and traditional Christmas carols. Free.

“Deck the Halls,” Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 tonight, Lied Center for Performing Arts, 301 N. 12th St. Orchestra performs excerpts from “Messiah” and “The Nutcracker” with University of Nebraska at Kearney Choraleers, the Lincoln Christian Singing Crusaders and Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company dancers as special guests. Tickets: $25 to $45 ($15 to $27 for students); 476-2211.

“Forever Plaid Tidings,” 7:30 tonight, Saturday and Dec. 11-13 and 18-20; 2 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 14 and 21, TADA Theatre, Seventh and P streets. Jinx, Frankie, Smudge and Sparky are back from heaven to perform holiday songs and carols and pay tribute to Ed Sullivan. Tickets: $18 (Thursday-Saturday), $15 (Sunday); 438-8232 or www.tadatheatre.info.

“A Christmas Carol,” Nebraska Wesleyan Theatre, 7:30 tonight, Saturday and Dec. 11-13; 2 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 13, McDonald Theatre, 51st Street and Huntington Avenue. Brett Langenberg of Bertrand plays Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ holiday classic. Tickets: $10, $7.50 ages 12 to 18 and seniors, $5 children under 12; 465-2384.

“A Christmas Story,” 7 p.m. today, Dec. 11-12 and 18-19; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 13 and 20; 2 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 14 and 21, Lincoln Community Playhouse, 2500 S. 56th St. The stage adaptation includes many of your favorite scenes from the beloved movie and much, much more. Tickets: $20; 489-7529 or www.lincolnplayhouse.com.

“A Christmas Carol,” Nebraska Youth Theatre, 7 p.m. today and Dec. 12; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 13, Haymarket Theatre, Eighth and Q streets. Lincoln’s kids provide their own take on Scrooge, Marley and the Spirits of Christmas in a version written by former Haymarket Theatre executive and artistic director Fred Stuart. Tickets: $10, $8 for students and seniors; 477-2600.

“Joyful and Triumphant,” Abendmusik: Lincoln, 7 p.m. Saturday, First-Plymouth Congregational Church, 20th and D streets. Abendmusik Chorus and Plymouth Brass perform holiday music, with Jonathan Wilcocks’ “Magnificat” as the featured work. Tickets: $20, $15 seniors, $10 students; 476-9933 or www.abendmusik.org.

“Holiday With the Brass,” Canadian Brass, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Lied Center for Performing Arts, 301 N. 12th St. The renowned ensemble performs such favorites as “Frosty the Snowman” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” as well as works by Bach and Barber. Tickets: $46, $41 and $36 (half price for students); 472-4747.

NWU Elizabethan Christmas Celebration, 6 p.m. Saturday, Great Hall, Smith-Curtis Building, Nebraska Wesleyan University, 51st Street and Madison Avenue. Guests enjoy four-course meal and entertainment by the NWU Chamber Singers, the Recorder Consort, Herald Trumpet Ensemble and NWU theater students. Tickets: $16; 465-2269.

“A Choral Garland,” UNL School of Music, 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Kimball Recital Hall, 11th and R streets. Mezzo soprano and UNL voice professor Kate Butler is featured soloist in this seasonal favorite with the University Singers, University Chorale, East Campus Choir, City Choir, Chamber Singers and Varsity Men’s Chorus. Tickets: $5, $3 students and seniors; available at the door.

“A Hollywood Christmas With Mulberry Lane,” 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Rococo Theatre, 13th and P streets. Omaha’s favorite sister group performs a new holiday show, with a touch of classic Hollywood glam. Tickets: $12 to $26; 476-4467 or www.rococotheatre.com. 

“Hussies Holiday Hoopla,” 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Meadowlark Coffee, 17th and South streets. Wee Brazen Hussies (Deb Davis and Barb Biffle) and friends perform holiday music as a fundraiser for Lincoln Food Bank and Cedars Youth Services. Tickets: Freewill offering.

NWU Christmas Concert, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, O’Donnell Auditorium, 50th Street and Huntington Avenue. Wesleyan’s Men’s Glee, Women’s Choir and Touch of Class perform holiday-themed concert. Free.

“Santaland Diaries,” Nebraska Repertory Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 and 10 p.m. Dec. 12-13, 2 p.m. Dec. 14, Studio Theatre, Temple Building, 12th and R streets. Rep executive director Paul Steger performs humorist David Sedaris’ monologue about working as a Santaland Elf at Macy’s in New York City during the holiday season. Tickets: $20, $18 UNL faculty/staff and seniors, $10 students; 472-4747

“Swingin’ Into the Holidays,” Kara Leigh Jazz Combo, 7 p.m. Thursday, Rococo Theatre, 13th and P streets. Local jazz ensemble teams with UNL trumpet professor Darryl White to perform holiday music. Tickets: $15 ($20 day of show), $5 balcony admission for students, 476-4467 or www.rococotheatre.com.

“Fine Winter’s Night,” 7 p.m. Dec. 12, Lincoln Woman’s Club, 14th and L streets. The Lincoln Irish Dancers present couple Matt and Shannon Heaton playing original and traditional Irish carols. Tickets: $10, $7 for children under 12; available at the door.

“The Nutcracker,” Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 13 and 2 p.m. Dec. 14, Lied Center for Performing Arts, 301 N. 12th St. Lincoln Pius X senior Rachel Osterman dances as Clara in this annual production featuring more than 200 dancers from Southeast Nebraska. Tickets: $45, $32 and $25 ($32, $20 and $15 for students); 472-4747

“A Civic Choir Christmas,” Lincoln Civic Choir, 7 p.m. Dec. 14, O’Donnell Auditorium. Community choir performs holiday selections at annual concert with special guests. Tickets: $12, $7 for ages 12 to 18, free for children under 12; 430-2395

“A Celebration of Christmas,” Arts for the Soul, 3 p.m. Dec. 14, First Presbyterian Church, 840 S. 17th St. Choirs, brass, percussion and organ perform old and new favorites, with Z. Randall Stroope’s “Hodie” as the featured piece. Tickets:  $18, $15 seniors, $8 students; 477-6037 or www.firstpresbyterianlincoln.org.

“Christmas & All That Jazz,” Nebraska Jazz Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18, Embassy Suites Hotel, 1040 P St. NJO’s annual concert includes performances of “Little Drummer Boy,” “Sleigh Ride” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” Tickets: $20, $10 students; 477-8446.

“Christmas Around the World,” Lorie Line and her Pop Chamber Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18. Popular new age pianist celebrates Christmas traditions, costumes and beautiful music from far-away lands. Tickets: $49.35 and $41.35, senior tickets are $44.35 or $37.35; 472-4747 or www.liedcenter.org.

NSAI Christmas Show, 5-7:30 p.m. Dec. 19, Perfect Cup, 6801 O St. The Nebraska chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) presents benefit concert for Friendship Home. Tickets: Freewill offering.

Tomáseen Foley’s “A Celtic Christmas,” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19, Lied Center for Performing Arts, 301 N. 12th St. Warm up the holidays with a fiery performance of music, stories and traditional and Irish step dance. Tickets: $36, $31 and $26 (half price for students); 472-4747.

Malley Keelan & Friends Christmas Concert, 7 p.m. Dec. 21, Rosemont Alliance Church, 2600 N. 70th St. Keelan’s 21st annual benefit concert features singers and soloist performing holiday music, including a traditional audience singalong. Tickets: $8, $2 children 12 and under; available at the door.

“A Nebraska Brass Christmas,” 3 p.m. Dec. 21, St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 8550 Pioneers Boulevard. Quintet performs seasonal favorites and cuts from its new holiday release, “Season of Wonder.” Tickets: $15, $12 seniors, students admitted free; 477-7899.

“Last Blast 2008,” Plymouth Brass, 8 p.m. Dec. 31, First-Plymouth Congregational Church, 20th and D streets. Program includes Holst’s “Jupiter” from “The Planets,” a Duke Ellington medley and full brass arrangement of “Shenandoah.” Tickets: $22, $17 seniors, $5 students; 421-2452.