See ‘Christmas Carol, The Musical’ at nexStage
Now in its seventh year, the nexStage Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol—The Musical” opens Thursday, Dec. 19, at the theater on Main Street in Ketchum.
The family-oriented show has become a holiday tradition in Sun Valley. The show stars Scott Creighton as “Mr. Scrooge” and features a cast of more than 50 local actors and singers in the heartwarming adaptation of the timeless Charles Dickens classic.
“A Christmas Carol—The Musical” was adapted from the original by David Armstrong, Dick Gallagher and Mark Waldrop. It will be playing at the nexStage Theatre, 120 S. Main St, from Dec. 19-24. Tickets are $25 general admission, $15 children; $35 reserved; available at the theatre box office: 726-4857/4TKS.
Walk in the winter wonderland of Sun Valley
On Saturday, Dec. 14, the public is invited to the Winter Wonderland Kick-off and a Classic Christmas Window Stroll through Sun Valley Village at Sun Valley Resort.
Crowds will no doubt start with Santa, who will be outside the Boiler Room (or nearby) from 1-3 p.m. A Ginger Bread Men Decorating Work Shop will be from 2-4 p.m. There will be food cart offerings; cider, hot cocoa, beignets and other holiday treats.
The event marks the start of the Winter Wonderland Festival, which will run through Jan. 5.
More dates with the Hallelujah Chorus set
Put a little more jingle in the stockings of singers who belt out old-time gospel with the Sun Valley Hallelujah Chorus, Thursday, Dec. 12, from 5-8 p.m. during Cabaret at the Cornerstone.
Proceeds from the performers serenading with pianist Cliff Cunha will help support the choir’s “Sun Valley Classic Christmas” concerts Dec. 21 in Hailey and Dec. 22, at the Sun Valley Opera House.
Sing along for the Hunger Coalition this week
The Hunger Coalition reports that it has seen a 23 percent increase in new families needing their services for food assistance this year over last.
Caritas Chorale is hosting a Sing-a-long for the Hunger Coalition Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14 and 15, at 5:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Sun Valley.
Led by Artistic Director Dick Brown and accompanied on the piano by Dorinda Rendahl, the concert is free but cash and canned-food donations are encouraged.
Wood River Orchestra to perform ‘Sounds of the Holidays’
The Wood River Orchestra, under the direction of Brad Hershey, will perform two free concerts for the holiday season.
“Sounds of the Holidays” will include selections from the Nutcracker Suite and many other seasonal favorites. The first concert will be Friday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Community School Theatre in Sun Valley. The second concert will be Sunday, Dec. 15, at 4 p.m. at the Wood River High School Performing Arts Theatre at the Community Campus in Hailey.
Celebrate holidays at Bavarian Christmas Market
The annual Bavarian Christmas Market offers a chance to celebrate the holidays and support affiliations with Ketchum’s sister city, Tegernsee, Germany.
Ketchum-area resident Lisa Vierling organizes an annual holiday market at her Warm Springs canyon residence, eight miles west of Ketchum at Croney Cove. Vierling gathers items from her travels through Germany to bring back to Ketchum to sell. In addition, Vierling raises money through the market to send Wood River Valley students on exchanges to Germany.
The market will be open Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14, and Dec. 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Footlight Dancers on their toes this holiday
Footlight Dance Center performers will be spreading holiday cheer as they bring free performances to the Senior Connection in Hailey and Safe Haven (formerly Blaine Manor) on Thursday, Dec. 12. The dancers will perform at 12:30 p.m. at the Senior Connection and 1:10 p.m. at Safe Haven as part of the organization’s Community Outreach program presented free of charge.
Dancers Hilarie Neely and Michele Minailo have produced this show of ballet and tap for many years. This year, they are joined by Peter Burke, the newest faculty member, who is choreographing the hip-hop dance.
“Community outreach is an opportunity for our dancers to share their talents and compassion for the arts with as many people as possible,” Neely said. “The students look forward each holiday season to dancing for our community seniors.”
Flourish Foundation and Tarabella meld for Christmas market
Kids from the Compassionate Leaders Program, an extension of the nonprofit Flourish Foundation, will sell items alongside Tarabella designs and other holiday wares Friday, Dec. 13, from 4-8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 15, from noon-4 p.m. in Hailey.
The market will be at Tara’s Red Cottage at Galena Street and Second Avenue.
Holiday bells ringing for NAMI
Elves will be posted at various locations over the next couple of weeks, ringing a bell and raising funds for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Volunteers are still needed for Dec 13-15, 20-22, and 27-29, in front of local grocery stores in Ketchum, Hailey and Bellevue.
The goal is to help fight the stigma of mental illness and raise funds for support programs offered by NAMI all year.
For more information, call Rachel Cooper at 720-4146.