Independent Arts News Reporting 
Pictured Above: Joel McKinnon Miller as Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol”. Photo Credit: T. Charles Erickson.
The Great Holiday Concert Ticket Reveal
By: Lori Goldstein
In her latest Arts News Now feature, Lori Goldstein highlights a cheerful array of concert and musical experiences that could make for the perfect gift —spanning from New York to Philadelphia and the festive river towns in between!
One of the best gifts to give and receive are tickets to a music performance. With the holiday season fast approaching, concert tickets provide more than a material gift–they create a special experience and memory for the lucky recipients. In the Philadelphia region, including Bucks County and Princeton, NJ, there is an abundance of holiday concerts from which to choose. Here are some of the upcoming performances (in chronological order) I’ve culled as gift-worthy. For clever ways to present your gift, scroll to the bottom of this guide.
November 26-December 29
“Elf, The Broadway Musical,” the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia
Just about everyone’s familiar with the beloved Christmas movie Elf, starring Will Ferrell and Zoey Deschanel. Elf, the musical, first premiered on Broadway in 2010, with a bouncy score by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, while the book came courtesy of Broadway vet Thomas Meehan (who also wrote the Tony Award-winners Annie, The Producers, and Hairspray) and comedian Bob Martin.
The Walnut Street Theatre is presenting Elf with a run time of 2 hours and 15 minutes, including one intermission. Parents are advised that while Elf is billed for all audiences, some humor may be inappropriate for children. Tickets are available at www.walnutstreettheatre.com.
A special Kids Night at the Walnut is Friday, December 13 at 8:00 pm. Buy one adult ticket, get a kid’s ticket (17 and under) free! Available by phone or in person at the Walnut Street Theatre Box Office only.
Pictured Above: Elizabeth (Poppy) Song, violin soloist. Photo Credit: Riverside Symphonia.
December 7
Riverside Symphonia’s “Around the World at Christmas Time,” First Presbyterian Church, Lambertville
Maestro Mariusz Smolij is eager to present Lambertville’s stellar chamber orchestra, Riverside Symphonia, in its annual musical celebration of the holidays. Along with a host of traditional holiday favorite melodies, the program will feature splendid Baroque sounds, including Corelli’s Christmas Concerto and excerpts from Handel’s Messiah. Gershwin’s Lullaby, Leroy Anderson’s Christmas Suite, and Wendell’s Coventry Carol are also on the program.
The winner of Riverside Symphonia’s 2024 Caprio competition, 14-year-old violinist Elizabeth (Poppy) Song, will perform the “Winter” Concerto from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, as well as Chopin’s Nocturne, arranged for violin and string orchestra by Maestro Smolij. Poppy made her orchestral debut in March 2023 with the Grammy-winning maestro Michael Repper and the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra as the first prize winner of the 2023 Elizabeth Loker Concerto Competition.
Soprano Beautiful Sheriff, resident artist at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, will perform an aria from Handel’s Messiah and Mims’ A Hymn and Three Spirituals. Beautiful recently won the Houston District and received an Encouragement Award at the regional level in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.
Tickets for family and friends may be purchased via www.riversidesymphonia.org or by calling 609-397-7300.
Pictured Above: Joel McKinnon Miller and Rafaella Mousa from the 2023 production. Photo Credit: Frank Wojciechowski.
December 10-29
“A Christmas Carol,” McCarter Theatre, Princeton
Adapted and directed by Lauren Keating, McCarter’s annual holiday tradition returns with magic, music, and merriment for all. This year, Joel McKinnon Miller (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) reprises his widely acclaimed performance as Ebenezer Scrooge, leading the audience on a fantastical journey through Christmases past, present, and future. Let this festive spectacle usher in the spirit of the season with all the delight, wonder, and generosity that Scrooge himself discovers.
On December 13, 14, 18, and 20, carolers from local schools and community choirs will perform 45 minutes before curtain time in McCarter’s lobbies. Purchase tickets at www.mccarter.org.
Pictured Above: Broadway vocalist, Andrea Ross. Photo Credit: Maggie Sweets Photography.
December 14
Holiday POPS! with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University Campus
The Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s holiday pops concert will feature Andrea Ross, an internationally recognized vocalist, recording artist, and Broadway performer. Her career was launched by the mentorship of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who produced her UK chart-topping album, Moon River. She has performed lead roles in Broadway national tours of Webber’s Whistle Down the Wind and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music. She received the prestigious Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Actress from the Boston Theater Critics Association, and recently received the Gold Medal at the American Traditions Vocal Competition. A sought-after soloist, Andrea has appeared with top symphony orchestras around the world. She was a guest artist for Concert for Diana, Princess of Wales, hosted by Prince William and Prince Harry.
Conductor John Gennaro Devlin says, “I’m thrilled to once again conduct Holiday POPS! and to work with the talented Andrea Ross to immerse audiences in the spirit of the season. It’s such a joyful time of year, and I love hearing patrons chiming in on holiday carols.”
In his fourth season as Music Director of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, Devlin was named a recipient of the 2023 Georg Solti Foundation Career Assistance Award. An ardent champion of American music, he is a sought-after guest conductor with major orchestras across the nation. Along with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Devlin will lead the Princeton High School Choir and the audience in a cheerful carol sing-along.
Purchase tickets at www.princetonsymphony.org. For youth ages 5-17 there is a 50% discount. Call 609-497-0020 for group ticket rates for family and friends.
Pictured Above: Na’Zir McFadden. Photo Credit: Andrej Grile..
December 14
Formerly known as The No Name Pops, the Philly Pops will be led by up-and-coming conductor Na’Zir McFadden in its holiday extravaganza. The afternoon performance will occur at 2:00 pm.
A native Philadelphian, Na’Zir McFadden is the Assistant Conductor and Community Ambassador of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, as well as music director of the Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra. Having made his debut with several major American orchestras in Boston, Baltimore, and Nashville, Na’Zir was one of two 2024 Tanglewood Music Center Conducting Fellows invited by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
“I am thrilled to return to my hometown of Philadelphia to conduct the Philly Pops! I grew up attending concerts at the Pops, and some of my first musical memories were of concerts and events in Marian Anderson Hall,” says Maestro McFadden.
“Prepare to feel the holiday joy with a Philly twist in this program. You’ll laugh, dance, sing along, and be immersed in all things Philly! In my opinion, Philly is home to the most diverse arts scene, and in our program, you’ll get to experience the amazing artists of the Philly Pops. Get ready for a homecoming!”
The festive program will feature Broadway vocalists Nikki Renee Daniels and Jeff Kready, the Philly Pops Chorus, and the St. Thomas Gospel Choir. Along with traditional carols you know and love, you’ll hear popular new tunes, with a possible surprise visit from someone from the North Pole! Purchase tickets at www.ensembleartsphilly.org.
December 16
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: The Brandenburg Concertos, Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University Campus
In what has become an annual tradition, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will perform Bach’s six Brandenburg Concertos. Hailed by the New Yorker as “joyous, effervescent, and yes, festive,” the concertos display the unparalleled beauty of Johann Sebastian Bach’s masterpieces. The Chamber Music Society is known for their exceptional performances, which will clearly be on display as they bring to life the composer’s captivating melodies, unmatched mastery, and musical ingenuity. Tickets are available at www.mccarter.org.
December 19-29
Cirque du Soleil’s “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” the Met, Philadelphia
“‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” is Cirque du Soleil’s first holiday show, based on the classic poem, “A Visit from Saint Nicolas” by Clement Clarke Moore. Memorable lines from this cherished classic inspire Cirque’s story about a jaded young girl who rediscovers the magic of the holidays. It’s a festive flurry of love and cheer created especially for families. Like every other Cirque du Soleil show, “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” features thrilling acrobatics, lovable characters, and a catchy soundtrack, including holiday classics re-invented by Cirque du Soleil. The show was conceived and is directed by Cirque du Soleil Senior Artistic Director James Hadley, a 25-year veteran of circus productions and live theater. Shop online at www.cirquedusoleil.com for tickets.
December 20 – 22
Music Mountain Theatre’s Holiday Concert
Join us at Music Mountain Theatre for this festive evening of song and dance combining quintessential holiday music in the style of Mariah Carey, Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, and more! This concert is played live by a 17-piece big band and performed by some of your favorite MMT personalities. This annual event is the perfect way to share in the holiday spirit with our wonderful community. Tickets are available at www.musicmountaintheatre.org
December 20 & 21
New Jersey Symphony: Handel’s Messiah, Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University Campus
Led by Jeannette Sorell, who “brings revelations” (Philadelphia Inquirer) to everything she conducts, the New Jersey Symphony triumphantly re-creates Handel’s incomparable classic Messiah, in its entirety. Performances will occur at the Richardson Auditorium, on the campus of Princeton University.
The following soloists will be featured: Sonya Headlam, soprano; John Holiday, countertenor, Ed Lyon, tenor, Kevin Deas, bass-baritone. The Montclair State University Singers are led by their director, Heather J. Buchanan.
Contemporary composer John Adams recently reviewed in the New York Times the newly published book by Charles King: Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made HANDEL’S MESSIAH. According to King, Handel based his immortal oratorio on a script provided by his contemporary, Charles Jennens, “a wealthy 18th-century English country squire, art and book collector, music lover, hoarder of manuscripts and all-around aesthete who…would provide both the concept and the text for what would become the most popular and enduring work of all time…Although well into his 50s by then, Handel had lost none of his superhuman creative energy. Composing in a frenzy, he completed it in an astonishing 24 days, 260 pages of full score that looks as if he were writing as fast as his hand would allow.”
Your spirits will soar at “For Unto Us a Child is Born” and the “Hallelujah Chorus,” as well as the treasured arias that make Handel’s Messiah the must-hear classic of the holidays. Tickets are available at my.njsymphony.org.
Pictured Above From Left: Kyle Diamond, Chris Jason and Drew Anthony. Photo Credit: Rat Pack is Back Website.
December 21
Christmas with the Rat Pack, Sellersville Theater, Sellersville
When you enter the Sellersville Theater, you’ll step back in time to one of the most dazzlingly glamorous periods in entertainment as it is recreated with incredible accuracy–with Ol’ Blue Eyes and Co. serving up a smorgasbord of Christmas hits, just as they did from Vegas’s world-famous Sands Hotel back in the day! The show includes classics such as Baby It’s Cold Outside, Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Let It Snow, Let It Snow, White Christmas, and Auld Lang Syne–with accompaniment from a live band.
The now-closed Sands Hotel was a beacon of Las Vegas sophistication during the ‘50s and ‘60s. It provided a glamourous backdrop to the original Ocean’s Eleven when, for the first time, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford all performed together for the first time: thus, the Rat Pack was born. Tickets are available at www.st94.com.
December 22
The Lost Christmas Eve Tour with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) brings an all-new stage version of the studio album, the final chapter of its Christmas trilogy. TSO was created to push the boundaries of what was possible for a band to create–both musically and visually. Not limited by the confines of traditional rock acts, TSO established one with multiple singers who can inhabit the various characters that Paul O’Neill dreamed of as he was writing his rock operas.
Since its touring debut in 1999, TSO has played over 2,000 Winter Tour shows for more than 17 million fans. It has donated over $11 million from these tours to local charities. Purchase tickets at www.trans-siberian.com.
Potted Potter Promotional Video
December 26-January 5
Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience, Penn Live Arts, Philadelphia
Potted Potter—the acclaimed and unauthorized comedic rendition of all 7 Harry Potter books in 70 hilarious minutes—has been seen by over 1 million Harry Potter fans worldwide. The hit parody is the perfect show for muggles, witches, and wizards of all ages. The cleverly crafted show includes all your favorite characters, perfect Potter props, and even a live Quidditch match! Procure tickets at www.pennlives.org.
Pictured Above: The Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey. Photo Credit: Capitol Philharmonic Website
December 31
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey, Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, Trenton
In the magnificent Patriots Theater, the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey will ring in the New Year with a diverse program, including four love themes from the movies Somewhere in Time, Romeo & Juliet, The Mission, and Wilde. You’ll also hear the Overture from Bernstein’s Candide, Arnold’s Four Scottish Dances, Johann Strauss, Jr.’s Tales from the Vienna Woods, and Smetana’s The Moldau. Conductor Sebastian Grand will lead the orchestra in a rousing finale with Gershwin’s Strike Up the Band and Johann Strauss. Sr.’s Radetzky March. Purchase tickets at www.capitalphilharmonic.org.
Here are 4 clever ways to present your gift, courtesy of ratherrudecards.co.uk.
-Make a jigsaw puzzle containing the concert reveal: Take a snapshot of the concert tickets or a special message for your reveal, then put it in jigsaw form for your recipient to assemble the puzzle and discover your surprise!
-Hide little clues about the concert around the room to create a scavenger hunt with guaranteed reward.
-Write a secret message (with a Sharpie) about the performance at the bottom of a mug. Fill the mug with wrapped chocolates.
-Gift a ticket in cookie form to announce the surprise. You can get creative and ice all of the concert details on to make a cookie replica of a real ticket.
