Holiday Shows, Plays, Musicals, Ballet and Concerts in Minneapolis and St. Paul

SteppingStone Theatre: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is the SteppingStone Theatre's annual children's holiday show. December 4-22.

In the Heart of the Beast: La Natividad

A unique holiday performance from In the Heart of the Beast re-tells the Nativity story on Lake Street, incorporating the Mexican tradition of Las Posadas. Each performance of La Natividad visits three locations and has street theater, a torchlit procession, puppets, and live music. Performances on selected dates December 10-20.

Minnesota Orchestra

The Minnesota Orchestra celebrates Christmas in all kinds of ways this December. This holiday season the Minnesota Orchestra performs in several different holiday shows, including children's concerts, ballet and opera. Handel's Messiah is performed on December 10, 11 and 14. A Scandinavian Christmas is December 11, 12 and 19. Jingle Bell Doc, with Doc Severinsen, is December 19 and 20. And Tonic Sol-Fa Christmas is December 14. The Minnesota Orchestra also hosts two college holiday concerts, St. Thomas' on December 6 and Concordia College Moorhead on December 10.

Ordway Center: Sister's Christmas Catechism

This year, the Ordway Center presents Sister's Christmas Catechism - The Mystery of the Magis' Gold, the latest installment of the long-running stage show from Chicago. November 18 - December 27.

Landmark Center: The Warmest Christmas and the Minnesota Boychoir

The Schubert Club Courtroom Concert - Seasonal Sounds performances on December 10 and 17 are part of a free convert series at the Landmark Center.

The Minnesota Boychoir's annual winter concert is January 3 2010, with two performances on that date. The free concerts benefit local food shelves, concert-goers are invited to bring non-perishable food items to donate.

Guthrie Theater: A Christmas Carol

The Christmas tradition, A Christmas Carol, is playing at the Guthrie from November 19-December 31. It's the 35th snniversary of the holday show.

There's also one performance of the one man show Kevin Kling - Tales from the Charred Underbelly of the Yule Log on December 10.

Hennepin Theater District

The Hennepin Theatre District has holiday entertainment for every taste with ballet, musicals, and concerts all December at the district's theaters.

Productions include musical acts The Kenny G Holiday Show on December 6, John Trones Christmas in the City on December 7, and Home For The Holidays: A Minnesota Christmas on December 10.

And then there's humor with A Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol, November 27 - January 3.

Performances of Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker are on December 11 and 12. An Intimate Christmas with Lorie Line - The 20th Anniversary Show is on December 12-13, and the play All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 on December 17-20. For families, Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy is on December 18-20.

Holiday Concerts at Colleges

Colleges in the Twin Cities' holiday concerts are produced and performed by students, faculty and staff. Most are in the first week of December, and purchasing tickets in advance is recommended. Several performances are free.

Minnesota Public Radio's Holiday Concerts at the Fitzgerald Theater

MPR presents The Steeles Christmas Concert on December 11 and 12, and then Peter Ostroushko's Heartland Holiday Concert on December 19.

Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus: Wonder

The Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus presents their holiday show Wonder: Celebrating the Wonder of Our Inner Child, filled with nostalgic carols and tunes we loved as children, on December 11-13. TCGMC invites you to bring new or gently used winter clothing which will be distributed via a community organization to local children and adults in need.

Handel's Messiah

A beloved holiday classic, performed by the Minnesota Orchestra on three dates in three locations, the St. Paul's Cathedral, Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, and at Orchestra Hall, December 10, 11 and 13.

VocalEssence: Welcome Christmas

Choral group VocalEssence's Welcome Christmas is in it's 35th year, this Christmas with several new carols. Performances on December 6, 11, 12, and 13 at Plymouth Congregational Church, and at Normandale Lutheran Church, Edina, also on December 6, 11, 12 and 13.