Holiday happenings: Roundup of virtual holiday shows and events.
Here’s a rundown of holiday shows offered by Bay Area arts organizations
Holiday shows and concerts have gone online due to the pandemic, but that doesn’t make them any less festive. Here’s a rundown of some the top seasonal productions.
Dance
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET >> Presents “The Nutcracker Online,” a high- definition recording of a 2007 production with digital scenes of a holiday- decorated War Memorial Opera House and other attractions. DETAILS >> Friday through Dec. 31; $49 for 48-hour access; www.sfballet.org.
SAN JOSE DANCE THEATRE >> The troupe will be streaming three different productions of “The Nutcracker,” from 1995, from 2019 and a new version filmed at locales around the Bay Area. They will be offered in a staggered schedule. DETAILS >> Friday through Dec. 25; free to streaming platform subscribers ($11.99 a month), $25 apiece otherwise; www.sjdt.org.
NEWBALLET >> Presents “The San Jose Nutcracker: Short and Sweet,” livestreamed from the Hammer Theatre. DETAILS >> 7 p.m. Dec. 12; $15-$250; hammertheatre. com/events-list.
MOSCOW BALLET >> Streaming acclaimed production “The Great Russian Nutcracker” 5 p.m. Dec. 19. DETAILS >> $25-$70; www. nutcracker.com.
“THE VELVETEEN RABBIT” >> ODC/Dance presents virtual rendition of its annual adaptation of the beloved children’s tale.
DETAILS >> Dec. 10-31; $35$80; odc.dance/velveteenrabbit.
Theater/comedy
“A CHRISTMAS CAROL” >> American Conser vator y Theater’s 44-year- old tradition has been reinvented as a radio play, with much of the same cast. There will be live “listening parties” Dec. 4 and 23, and certain ticket packages include a book full of activities and games for the family.
DETAILS >> Dec. 4- 31; $40$60 per family; act-sf.org.
MANUAL CINEMA >> T he award-winning troupe combines shadow puppetry, film, sound effects and theater in an adaptation of “Christmas Carol.” DETAILS >> Dec. 17-19; accessible via Cal Performances at Home — calper for
mances.org — for $15-$60, and Stanford Live — live. stanford.edu — which is free with a membership
donation of $100 or more (which provides access to most Stanford Live streaming productions).
THEATREWORKS SILICON VALLEY >> Presents the world premiere of “Simple Gifts,” a series of songs, stories and
other presentations touching on such winter holidays as Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Bodhi Day, Noche Buena, Diwali, Las Posadas, Winter Solstice and Christmas. Directed by company artistic director Tim Bond and featuring a cast of more than a dozen performers. DETAILS >> Dec. 10-27; suggested donation $10; free to subscribers and those who have donated tickets from canceled shows; theatreworks.org.
BERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE >> Presents “The Steadfast Tin Soldier,” written and directed by acclaimed theater-maker Mary Zimmerman and produced by Lookingglass Theatre Company, based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen. Production opens 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and will be available for livestreaming and on demand through Dec. 27.
DETAILS >> $75 for opening night (which includes live music performance and Q& A with artists), $20-$25 otherwise; www.berkeleyrep.org.
“TAYLOR MAC’S HOLIDAY
SAUCE … PANDEMIC!” >> The actor and theater-maker tweaks his acclaimed and outrageous holiday show for a virtual production that will be streamed at theaters around the world 7 p.m. Dec. 12 and will be available on demand Dec. 13-Jan. 2.
DETAILS >> Tickets are pay what you can (suggested $ 10); access available at The Curran theater, sfcurran.com, or Stanford Live, live.stanford.edu.
KUNG PAO KOSHER COMEDY >> The beloved Bay Area tradition of serving up comedy in a Chinese restaurant over the Christmas holidays continues — with a few changes. The show will be filmed (not in a restaurant) and streamed via Zoom and YouTube Live. Comedians include Judy Gold, Alex Edelman and Lisa Geduldig (the event’s founder and organizer).
DETAILS >> 5 p.m. Dec. 2425, 2 p.m. Dec. 26; $25-$50; www.koshercomedy.com.
A MIGHTY QUEER VIRTUAL VARIETY SHOW >> A holiday revue presented by New Conservatory Theatre featuring music, comedy, spoken word and more; hosted by Bay Area drag queen Dusty Porn; Dec. 13-Jan. 3. Meal packages and other extras offered.
DETAILS >> Access is pay what you can, ($10-$40 recommended); nctcsf.org.
“PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: A NEW MUSICAL” >> TheatreWorks Silicon Valley staged the world premiere of Tonynominated composer Paul Gordon’s adaptation of the classic Jane Austen novel as its holiday show last year. The production, a hit with critics and at the box office, is now available for streaming on Amazon.
DETAILS >> Free to Amazon Prime members; available for rent or purchase $3-$20. TheatreWorks plans to announce holiday streaming fare in the near future.
CONTRA COSTA CIVIC THEATRE >> Presents its annual adaptation of the classic Frank Capra movie “It’s a Wonderful Life ” as a radio play delivered on Zoom. DETAILS >> Friday through Dec. 20; ticket packages $20-$50; ccct.org.
TABARD THEATRE >> Present s a mu lt ic a mer a , livestreamed 1940s radio play version of the classic Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
DETAILS >> Dec. 4-20; $15$ 50. www.tabardtheatre. org.
“HOLIDAY FAMILY SING ALONG” >> Virtual cabaret show presented by Palo Alto Players, livestreamed from Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto.
DETAILS >> 7 p.m. Dec. 4- 5 and 11-12, 2 p.m. Dec. 6 and 13; production is available on demand 24 hours after showtime; $20; paplayers. org.
SAN FRANCISCO MIME
TROUPE >> Presents “Red Carol,” a radio play offering a “working- class take” on Dickens’ classic play, by Michael Gene Sullivan. DETAILS >> Dec. 11-Jan. 17; $20 suggested donation; www.sfmt.org.
Music
OPERA SAN JOSE >> Presents a new digitally filmed production of Jake Heggie’s chamber opera “Three Decembers,” starring mezzosoprano Susan Graham. Available beginning 10 a.m. Dec. 3.
DETAILS >> Through Dec. 31; $40 per household, $50 includes access to OSJ virtual gala ( Dec. 3 only); operasj.org.
CHANTICLEER >> The Bay Area men’s choir’s revered holiday concert is a streaming production this year titled “A Chanticleer Christmas: From Darkness to Light.” Presented with
Stanford Live.
DETAILS >> Access to the production is available noon Dec. 15-Jan. 1, with unlimited viewings; $25 individuals, $42 households; www. chanticleer.org.
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY
>> Presents virtual version of annual holiday concert “Deck the Hall,” featuring selections from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite,” a reading of “’ Twas the Night Before Christmas” by NBC anchor Raj Mathai, and sea sona l songs performed by members of the Symphony Chorus and the San Francisco Boys Chorus.
DETAILS >> Airing 3:30 p.m. Dec. 5 and 19 on NBC Bay Area and 11:30 a.m. Dec. 6 on Telemundo 48; also will be available for streaming at symphony website beginning 3:30 p.m. Dec. 5; free; sfsymphony.org.
“WINTER’S GIFTS — TREASURES” >> Virtual concert presented by The Choral Project with San Jose Chamber Orchestra, featuring Ola Gjeilo’s “Across the Vast Eternal Sky” and global assortment of seasonal songs.
DETAILS >> 7 p.m. Dec. 19; $30; wintersgifts.com.
OAKLAND INTERFAITH GOSPEL CHOIR >> The award-winning chorus’s revered annual holiday concert will be delivered on Zoom. DETAILS >> Dec. 5, includes a “backstage” event and performance by Terrance Kelly at 6 p.m. and the choir concert at 7 p. m.; $25-$75; www.oigc.org/oigc35.
SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS >> The chorus presents the 30th anniversary edition of its holiday show, streaming this time, featuring festive songs, videos “and a few surprises.” Guest performers include Tony Award winner Laura Benanti, comedian and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” champion Bianca Del Rio and more. DETAILS >> 5 p.m. Dec. 24; $25-$150; www.sfgmc.org.