Tis the Season of Performing Arts

There is no shortage of holiday cheer in the Mile High City this season, as the Denver Center for Performing Arts has more than enough to go around. From musicals, ballets, to satirical Comedies, there is something here for everyone to enjoy.

Bobby Crew

The Nutcracker

Kick off the celebration with Colorado Ballet’s 54th annual presentation of the Nutcracker. It’s a pure gorgeous display of dance, and a timeless score by Tchaikovsky, performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra. Each year it remains one of Colorado’s most popular holiday performances as nearly 50,000 people see this production every season, and I see why.

Be carried away to a wondrous and colorful land where literally everything comes alive to dance. Meet memorable characters like the Sugarplum Fairy, Mother Ginger, and of course the Nutcracker Prince. The performance features vibrant costumes, huge dazzling sets, an onstage blizzard, and let’s not forget the incredible ballet talent. The robotic dance movement of the toys, and the Arabian duet were two of my favorite moments in the piece. I’m always so impressed by the strength of dancers to do lifts, and hold positions in the air with such grace and flexibility.

The production is nothing short of huge. Aside from so many characters like dancing sweets, dew drops, mice, and soldiers, more than 60 students from the Colorado Ballet Academy perform as angels, soldiers, sugarplum attendants, party children, and polichinelles. The production was beautiful and I’m sure I will return next year.

Santaland Diaries

Already sick of the holidays? No worries, Crumpet the elf can make you feel so much better in this hysterical satirical comedy. This is a lone elf show, and I could not stop laughing. Santaland Diaries comes from humorist David Sedaris’ tales about his personal experiences working as a Macy’s elf in New York City. “This play kind of examines the dark underbelly of the holiday in a hilarious way,” says Stephen Weitz, the director and producer of the play. “I always enjoy working on the piece. It’s become a canon to holiday performances.”

Colorado’s own Matt Zambrano is a one of the most energetic performers I have ever seen. He dominates the stage and I felt like I was at a comedy club. “Matt’s ability with the language, and different characters, and the physicality, and carrying 80 minutes by himself, the energy, it’s like a workout I could never do,” Says Emily Tarquin, the producing curator for Off-Center, the DCPA’s daring experimental theater.

“Matt is a very creative and talented individual,” Stephen says. “He briefly inhabits these different characters in unique ways.” He uses different voices and accents to portray different Santas and elves, and the stage itself transforms for different scenes.

“Santaland Diaries is very well-crafted and gives a huge bang for its buck,” Emily says. I agree as it is by far the most fun I have ever had at any Christmas performance.

A Christmas Carol

You can’t have a true holiday season without A Christmas Carol somewhere, as this classic tale from Charles Dickens is one of the most popular Christmas productions ever. This performance, adapted by Richard Hellesen, was truly heartwarming.

Philip Pleasants makes an all too adorable grump as Ebenezer Scrooge, a dry, cheap, and miserable old businessman who can suck the cheer out of any room. That is until he is forced by spirits to change his ways and he makes a miraculous overnight transformation into a generous and loving man.

I was particularly blown away by the voices and acting of so many talented young children. There were also actually a couple of dark moments in the play that were genuinely creepy, as it is a ghost story of sorts. This particular adaptation closely touches darker elements like poverty, death, loneliness, and greed, but shows that even when we are old and set in our ways, there is always time to make a change in our lives.

This is the 22nd production of A Christmas Carol and it never gets old as people continue to fill the theater.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Dr. Seuss’ children’s book transforms into a hit Broadway musical. Narrated by the Grinch’s four legged companion, Max, see the mean green Grinch like never before as he plots to steal Christmas from the overly cheerful Whos.

Dr. Seuss inspired sets and costumes will have you feeling like you are in Whoville. The musical includes the favorite songs “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch,” and “Welcome Christmas,” from the original animated tale. This will be a performance the entire family will enjoy.