Ten shows in Vancouver that will get you in the holiday spirit this year
The beginning of December marks the official start of the Christmas season for many people. To help you get into the festive mood, here are ten shows that we think you should not miss this year.
The Arts Club Theatre Company presents the musical version of the classic 1983 film A Christmas Story. In what our reviewer called “a great big holiday feast, bursting with scrumptious goodness”, A Christmas: The Musical(until Dec 27) hits all of the film’s iconic moments of young Ralphie’s quest for the perfect present. Photo by David Cooper.An East Van Panto is back for its third year, as Theatre Replacement steps way off the beaten path for this year’s edition with the weird and wonderful Hansel and Gretel(Dec 4-Jan 3). This family-friendly entertainment puts a wacky new twist on the story of the two children who like sugar a little too much.Ballet BC once again presents the opulent Alberta Ballet production of The Nutcracker (Dec 29-31) complete with live music from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, plus sets and costumes designed by Emmy Award-winning designer Zack Brown.The Christmas Queen(until Dec 20) returns to the Improv Centre on Granville Island this holiday season with a new take on this improvisational saga that sees the larger-than-life Christmas Queen drop in on Saint Nick and create a little chaos in the week leading to the big day.What is Mrs. Claus’s Christmas secret? The only way to find out is by visiting Mrs Claus’s Kitchen(Dec 2-20), a holiday musical for the whole family. And yes, we even hear there will be baked treats!Pacific Theatre is host to the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present & Future in A Christmas Carol: On the Air, the 1940’s-style live radio show of the Dickens classic. Photo by Emily Cooper.We’re definitely not in Kansas anymore as Dorothy, Toto and all the Munchkins take a trip down the Yellow Brick Road to Emerald City in Richmond Gateway Theatre’s production of The Wizard of Oz (Dec 10-Jan 3).Chor Leoni Men’s Choir returns with All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914(Dec 5) in what our reviewer last year called “a show of grace, beauty, and stillness and a reminder that the true spirit of Christmas can be found in all of us”.Carousel Theatre for Young People returns with its popular family musical James and the Giant Peach (Dec 5-Jan 3). Embark on a journey with James and his fantastical creatures as he celebrates what it means to find a home.Christopher Gaze once again plays host to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s annual concerts of A Traditional Christmas (Dec 10-20), with performances in Burnaby, Surrey, Delta, the North Shore and Vancouver.
