Holiday performances for kids from 1 to 92

As the end of the semester approaches, students are faced with the stress of multiple projects, papers and finals. What better way to unwind from the burden of classes than with holiday performances? These festive shows and concerts will put anyone in the holiday spirit.

The Nutcracker
WHEN  8 p.m. Friday and
Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
WHERE Musical Arts Center
COST Tickets $18 to $35
Ever since I was little, seeing Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s classic has been one of my favorite holiday traditions.
The Nutcracker tells the story of a young girl, Clara, who receives a toy nutcracker from her godfather for Christmas. When she falls asleep, she dreams the nutcracker into life and enters a world of magical characters.
IU’s production of this ballet, choreographed by Michael Vernon, is sure to astound audiences with its dazzling costumes, magical set designs and festive music. I can also warn you that you will leave the performance with “The Nutcracker Suite” playing in your head.

Chimes of Christmas
WHEN 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9
WHERE IU Auditorium
COST Tickets $11 to $20
This annual performance, presented by the Jacobs School of Music, features Christmas favorites for all ages. “Chimes” will showcase the Singing Hoosiers, the IU Wind Ensemble and the IU Trombone Choir – and there might just be a special appearance by the Big Man himself!
Doug Booher, director of the IU Auditorium, said that “‘Chimes’ has become a true holiday tradition for IU and Bloomington because the caliber of the performance and pure enjoyment that the audience experiences as they listen to favorites such as George Frederic Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus, the carol sing-along and of course Leroy Anderson’s ‘Sleigh Ride.’”
A Bloomington staple in the holiday season, Booher said “Chimes” will be “a concert packed with holiday favorites and the spirit of the season.”

Straight No Chaser – The Holiday Show
WHEN 8 p.m. Dec. 11
WHERE Buskirk-Chumley Theater
COST Tickets $10 to $12
Straight No Chaser has been one of the nation’s premier men’s a cappella groups since its founding in 1996. The group will perform its annual holiday show at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater the Friday before finals week – a perfect way to unwind from this hectic semester.
SNC’s “The 12 Days of Christmas” has topped my Christmas playlist ever since I heard it several years ago. The group shows its musicality and whimsicality in this song, and their other numbers are a delight to hear as well.
 Straight No Chaser will be sure to put on an enjoyable performance for the holiday season.

Cirque Dreams Illumination
WHEN 8 p.m. Dec. 11
WHERE IU Auditorium
COST Tickets $17 to $48
Cirque Productions, developed in 1993, has long entertained and thrilled audiences of all ages with its dazzling shows. Now comes Cirque Dreams Illumination, a new family-friendly spectacle that takes ordinary metropolitan characters and transforms them into urban acrobats.
“The show will be a combination of the most compelling aspects of the European circus tradition from acrobatics, clowning and high-wire work to juggling, contortion and original live music,” Booher said. “These incredibly talented performers from around the globe have been assembled to create a cast of artists which will awe the crowd.”
Cirque is the perfect performance to relieve your finals anxiety.
“As the gray days of winter roll into Bloomington, Cirque Dreams Illumination brings a vivid and vital feeling to the stage,” Booher said. “It truly is a spectacle for all ages.”

With an abundance of festive shows, you can be sure to have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the final days of the semester. So grab your friends and head to the MAC, the Buskirk or the Auditorium to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.