God Bless “A Christmas Carol,” Every One
There is a street in Naples, Via San Gregorio Armeno, where you can find shop after shop presided over by artisans whose specialty is building Nativity scenes out of papier-maché, terra-cotta, wax, and cloth. It is an art with roots in the eighteenth century, of which the Baroque crèche brought out by the Metropolitan Museum every year is a splendid example. This installation depicts entire street scenes: animals, food stands, fishermen, the Magi—and, of course, the cozy Nativity itself. (Metropolitan Museum of Art; through Jan. 6.)
“Radio City Christmas Spectacular”
The Radio City Rockettes kicked off a hundred years ago, in St. Louis. Their “Christmas Spectacular” in New York is a relatively young ninety-two. Over the decades, some technological innovations have accrued, including, this year, a new sound system. The group’s centenary hasn’t occasioned new material, but oldest is best anyway in this show: the well-maintained precision of the tapping, kicking dancers; and the built-to-last construction of the “Parade of Wooden Soldiers” number, which has been collapsing in slow motion since the Spectacular began. (Radio City Music Hall; through Jan. 5.)
Nutcrackers Galore
There is a point in December when “The Nutcracker” becomes ubiquitous; love it or hate it, it’s here to stay. But not all “Nutcrackers” are the same. In addition to the canonical version—“George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker,” at New York City Ballet (David H. Koch Theatre; through Jan. 4)—also worth a mention is “Nut/Cracked,” by the Bang Group, featuring tap dance in pointe shoes and a snow waltz in which everyone keeps slipping and falling on imaginary ice. (92Y, Dec. 13-16.) And “Nutcracker Rouge,” a naughty burlesque for the adult crowd, is set in a visually splendid, Baroque-inspired world filled with sensual Christmas delights. (Théâtre XIV; through Jan. 31.)
“It’s a Wonderful Life!”
The story of George Bailey, a small-town banker whose intentions of suicide dissipate after an angel shows him his life’s importance, is a gift that keeps on giving. It originated as a 1943 short story, became an iconic Frank Capra film three years later, and, in 2012, got the stage treatment at Irish Rep, reframed by Anthony E. Palermo as a radio play broadcast by actors in a sound studio. Following revivals in 2013 and 2017, it returns to the Rep stage this year (Dec. 3-31).
“Advent Carolndar” and “Sugar & Booze: A Holiday Spectacular”
For anyone liable to go full Grinch after hearing “White Christmas” one more time, Julia Mattison and Joel Waggoner’s “Advent Carolndar” (Joe’s Pub; Dec. 4-15) offers a refuge of holiday non-standards, drawn largely from the comedians’ 2019-21 Instagram series, which presented an original carol every day from December 1st through the 25th. Also reinvigorating ye olde merriment is Ana Gasteyer’s concert “Sugar & Booze” (Town Hall; Dec. 15), featuring music from her jazzy 2019 Christmas album; the title refers to, in her brassily sung phrasing, “the best part of the holidays.”
Sergei Prokofiev wrote “Peter and the Wolf” in 1936, for a children’s theatre in Moscow. It is both a parable and a clever example of music education using orchestra instruments. Peter is personified by a beautiful, forthright melody, on strings; he encounters a duck (oboe), a cat (clarinet), and, of course, the wolf (French horns). Isaac Mizrahi is the avuncular narrator; John Heginbotham conceived the witty choreography; Prokofiev’s characterful music is played by Ensemble Connect. (Works & Process, Guggenheim Museum; Dec. 5-14.)
Holiday Carols
Will there be snow to dash through this year? Who knows, but we can still sing about it. Jingle all the way to Judson Memorial Church, for West Village Chorale’s annual Caroling Walk around the neighborhood (Dec. 20). Or take your one-horse open sleigh to Brooklyn, for the Dessoff Choirs’ “Welcome Yule” concert (Dec. 6). Maybe bells on bobtails will ring (whatever that means) as you sway along with the songs of “A Goyishe Christmas to You!” at the Kaufman Center (Dec. 10). The opportunities are plentiful, and they might even make spirits bright.
