Holiday Arts Events In Tuscaloosa: Nutcracker And More

One of the most enduring holiday traditions is in the midst of its performance run in Tuscaloosa. "The Nutcracker" opened Thursday at the historic Bama Theater in downtown Tuscaloosa and concludes with its Sunday presentation.

Performed locally by the Tuscaloosa Community Dancers, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's popular and world-famous Christmas ballet is marking its 54th anniversary of being a holiday staple in Tuscaloosa.

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"The Nutcracker" is a two-act classical ballet set on Christmas Eve at the foot of a Christmas tree in a child's imagination featuring a Nutcracker doll. It was performed for the first time on December 18, 1892, at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg, Russia.

One of the most endearing parts of the ballet is Tchaikovsky's 20-minute "Nutcracker Suite" that is, own its own, a Christmas tradition.

Tickets for tonight's 5:00pm performance.
Tickets for Sunday's 2:00pm Matinee Final performance.

Tuscaloosa Community Dancers is West Alabama's not-for-profit dance company that has performed since 1971. The goal of the company is to stimulate, promote, and develop interest in the art of dance.

The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa has two more holiday presentations that will delight the entire family.

Tuesday night at 7:00pm the popular movie "The Santa Clause" will be screened at the Bama Theater. The 1994 movie is about a divorced dad, Scott, who has custody of his son on Christmas Eve. After he accidentally kills a man in a Santa suit, they are magically transported to the North Pole, where an elf explains that Scott must take Santa's place before the next Christmas arrives.
Friday, December 19th, 8:00pm. Alabama Choir School Winter Concert. Presented at the UA Moody Music Building. The concert features the Children's Choir, Concert Choir, Ambassador Choir, Chamber Choir, and the combined choirs. Our students are bright young singers in grades 1-12 from all over west Alabama.
Monday, December 22nd, the holiday series presents "It's a Wonderful Life". This 1942 classic follows the mission of an angel sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman, George Bailey who has spent his entire life giving of himself to the people of Bedford Falls, by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.
Tuesday, December 23rd, Bama Theater, "Christmas at the Kranks". Finally, alone for the holidays, Luther and Nora Krank plan to eschew the Christmas traditions and take a cruise in the Caribbean instead. This doesn't sit well with their Christmas-obsessed neighbors Vic Frohmeyer and Walt Scheel, who are determined to win the annual "best-decorated street" competition, and the Kranks soon find themselves social outcasts because of their lack of Christmas spirit.
Tuesday, December 23rd, 7:00pm, "The Polar Express". An inspiring adventure based on the beloved children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. A doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole.

The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa presents a variety of stage performances throughout the year.