‘Tis the season to celebrate and the region is ready to share a bounty of sounds and sights that range from musical traditions to new slants on old themes, as the following handy schedule of holiday events readily demonstrates:
Sounds of the Season
Princeton Chapel Choir. Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols with Princeton’s Chapel Choir Glee Club, a cappella singers, and Eric Plutz, university organist. Free. Princeton University Chapel, Wednesday, December 7, 7:30 p.m.
Messiah Sing, the annual sing-along of Handel’s classic work with student and alumni soloists, University Organist Eric Plutz, and instrumental ensemble. Bring your own score or borrow one at the door. $5 general admission; free for students. Princeton University Chapel, Monday, December 12, 7:30 p.m. princetonchapelchoir.com.
“An Evening of Readings and Carols.” Westminster Choir College of Rider University will celebrate the annual event created by WCC faulty members James Jordan and Kathleen Ebling Shaw. Based on the King’s College service in England, the event features Bible texts, hymns, prayers, and other musical and spoken expression from around world. $25 to $70.
Princeton University Chapel, Friday and Saturday, December 9 and 10, 8 p.m. rider.vbotickets.com.
The Princeton Symphony Orchestra. “Holiday POPS!” returns with Broadway singer Janet Dacal (“In the Heights,” “Prince of Broadway,” “Wonderland,” “The Band’s Visit – National Tour”), the PSO, and the Princeton High School Choir presenting a program of holiday songs from the stage and screen, traditional carols, music from Engelbart Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel,” and orchestral pieces including Nigel Hess’ “A Christmas Overture” and Leroy Anderson’s “Christmas Festival” and “Sleigh Ride.” Rossen Milanov conducts. $20 to $80.
Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University. Saturday, December 17, 3 and 6 p.m. princetonsymphony.org.
Princeton Singers. “Star In the East” is a new musical Christmas tale by artistic director Steven Sametz featuring songs of the season with text read by director and playwright Emily Mann and actor Christopher Coucill. $20 to $40.
Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street, Princeton, Friday, December 9, 6 p.m. All Saints Church, 16 All Saints Road, Princeton, Saturday, December 10, 6 p.m. princetonsingers.org.
Princeton Pro Musica. A Feast of Carols, featuring guest artist bass-baritone Joseph Parrish, mixes hymn and folksong, oratorio selections, Margaret Bonds’ “Ballad of the Brown King” illustrating the Christmas journey of Ethiopian King Balthazaar, and music director Ryan James Brandau’s “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” for chorus, orchestra, and baritone soloist. $10 to $60.
Richardson Auditorium Princeton University, Sunday, December 11, 4 p.m. princetonpromusica.org.
New Jersey Symphony. The traditional holiday presentation of Handel’s “Messiah” conducted by NJSO music director Xian Zhang features Montclair State University’s Prima Voce. $25 to $85.
Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University, Princeton, Friday, December 16, 8 p.m. njsymphony.org.
Voices Chorale. “Winterlight” is a song celebration featuring selections from Ralph Vaughn Williams’ “Folk Songs of the Four Seasons,” plus “Bring Light” and jazz carols by internationally known composer Will Todd, who will join in the celebration. $20.
Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street, Princeton. Livestream available. Friday, December 16, 7:30 p.m. voiceschoralenj.org.
New Jersey Capital Philharmonic. “The Fabulous 40s and 50s Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald” continues the symphony’s traditional New Year’s Eve concert and features Philadelphia jazz soprano Paula Johns. $10 to $60.
Trenton War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive, Trenton. Saturday, December 31, 8 p.m. capitalphilharmonic.org.
Westminster Community Orchestra. “Holiday Chestnuts and Sing-Along” is the free, family-friendly annual concert featuring festive favorites and a sing-along.
Robert L. Annis Playhouse, 101 Walnut Lane, Princeton. Wednesday, December 14, 7:30 p.m. rider.edu/about/events.
Hopewell Theatre. James Maddock’s Festivus Show is the British-born, New York-based singer, guitarist, composer, and recording artist’s tour stop where he conjures up a rock’n’roll spirit to liven up the holiday season. $33 to $45.
5 South Greenwood Avenue, Hopewell, Saturday, December 10, 8 p.m.
Danielia Cotton, the New York City singer/songwriter with deep Hopewell roots, brings her intoxicating mix of gospel, blues, and rock home for the holidays. $33 to $45.
5 South Greenwood Avenue, Hopewell, Saturday, December 17, 8 p.m. hopewelltheater.com.
Kelsey Theater. The Mercer County Community College Jazz band provides some December warmth at 7:30 p.m., December 14, while the MCCC Symphonic Band makes things bright, 7:30 p.m., December 21. Both events are free; reservations are required for the Symphonic Band performance.
Kelsey Theater, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. kelsey.mccc.edu.
Music Mountain. The Big Band Holiday Concert is a song and dance event featuring MMT performers and a 17-piece band playing music in the style of Mariah Carey, Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, and others. $25.
1483 Route 179, Lambertville. Friday through Sunday, December 16 through 18. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. musicmountaintheatre.org.
State Theatre of New Jersey. “The Irish Tenors” — the classically trained singers Anthony Kearns, Ronan Tynan, and Declan Kelly — present their “We Three Kings” Christmas concert. $39 to $79. Thursday, December 8, 8 p.m.
Kenny G’s “The Miracles Holiday & Hits Tour 2022” brings the noted smooth jazz saxophonist to New Brunswick. $39 to 99. Sunday, December 11, 7 p.m.
And “Yule Love It!” is the musical ensemble The Queen’s Cartoonists’ mixture of holiday music, films, and cartoons. $24 to $44. Friday, December 23, 8 p.m.
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. stnj.org.
Holiday Stages
McCarter Theater. “A Christmas Carol” returns with a new adaptation written and directed by New York-based theater artist and former Guthrie Theater associate producer Lauren Keating. For the first time a female actor, Dee Pelletier, will play the role of the male main character, Ebenezer Scrooge. $35 to $75.
91 University Place, Princeton. December 7 through 24. mccarter.org.
Crossroads Theater. “Chicken & Biscuits” is New York-based actor and playwright Douglas Lyons’ Broadway work examining love, racism, forgiveness, and healing in a comically complex Black family. $20 to $150.
Arthur Laurents Theater – New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. December 21 to 31. crossroadstheatrecompany.org.
Bucks County Playhouse. “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas” brings Johnny Cash, Jerry-Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley back to Sun Records to celebrate the holidays in song. $70 to $75.
70 South Main Street, New Hope, Pennsylvania. Through Sunday, January 1. bcptheater.org.
Bristol Riverside Theater. “An American Christmas Songbook” continues the musical tradition featuring holiday favorites performed by BRT’s Keith Baker and the BRT Concert Band. $20 to $50.
120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, Pennsylvania. December 8 through 18. brtstage.org.
Don Evans Players. “Redemption Alley” is Trenton-born writer Todd Evans’ “Afro Urban” Dickens adaptation told through a cast of 10 and an art set. Free.
Trenton Free Public Library, 120 Academy Street, Trenton. Wednesday, December 7, 1 p.m. 609-346-4329.
Passage Theatre Company. The Trenton-based professional theater presents “A Christmas Carol” performed by two actors with props and puppets. $40.
Mill Hill Playhouse, 205 East Front Street, Trenton. Friday through Sunday, December 9 to 11, 609-392-0766 or passagetheatre.org.
Kelsey Theater. “The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge” is a comic take on the Dickens Christmas fable where Scrooge returns to his miserly ways and accuses the ghosts who saved his soul with breaking and entering and kidnapping. $20 to $22.
Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Friday through Sunday, December 9 to 11. kelseyatmccc.org.
Actors’ Net. “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley” is Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon’s 2017 mannerly, witty, romantic follow up on Jane Austen’s 1813 novel “Pride and Prejudice.” $24.
635 North Delmorr Avenue, Morrisville, Pennsylvania. Through December 18. actorsnetbucks.org.
Music Mountain Theater. “A Christmas Carol” with music by Broadway and film writer Alan Menken is MMT’s traditional event. $25.
1483 Route 179, Lambertville. Friday and Saturday, December 9 and 10, 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, December 10 and 11, 3 p.m. musicmountaintheatre.org.
Gotta Dance
American Repertory Ballet. “The Nutcracker,” the company’s annual holiday presentation of Tchaikovsky’s musical journey through an enchanted world, arrives at two locations.
The first is Trenton, where the company dances to the live music accompaniment provided by the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey at the Trenton War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive Trenton. $25 to $55. Sunday, December 11, 3 p.m.
The second is New Brunswick, where the company dances to the music provided by the ARB orchestra and the Princeton Girlchoir at the State Theatre of New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. $68 to $102. Friday through Sunday, December 16 through 18. arballet.org.
Princeton Youth Ballet. The company’s annual “The Nutcracker” presentation features 60 young artists and screen-projected backdrops. $25 to $30.
Princeton High School Performing Arts Center, 16 Walnut Lane, Princeton. Saturday, December 10, 4 p.m., and Sunday, December 11, noon and 4 p.m. princetonyouthballet.org.
Kelsey Theater. Dance Connection once again presents its abridged and narrated “The Nutcracker,” designed for young audiences and presented by young performers. $16.
Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Friday, December 16, 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, December 17 and 18, 1 and 4 p.m. kelseyatmccc.org.
Patriots Theatre at the War Memorial. “Sleeping Beauty,” 19th-century Russian composer Petyr Tchaikovsky’s musical adaptation of the famous fairy tale, will come to life when the State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine arrives at the Trenton War Memorial. $31.50 to $67.50.
1 Memorial Drive, Trenton. Thursday, December 15, 7 p.m. nj.gov/state/memorial/index.shtml.
Getting Out
Palmer Square. Palmer Square in Princeton is getting into the seasonal swing by resuming “Skating on the Square” at its outdoor skating rink behind the Nassau Inn. Skating hours are Thursdays and Fridays, 4 to 7 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 3 p.m., and 4 to 7 p.m. Bring your own skates or rent them there.
Other events at the square include live holiday music and a strolling Santa, noon to 2 p.m., weekends through December 18. And the Annual Menorah Lighting on Tuesday, December 20, at 4 p.m. palmersquare.com/holidays.
Decking the Halls
Morven Museum. The historic building’s annual Festival of Trees display is up and welcoming with decorated rooms and mantels. $8 to $10.
55 Stockton Street, Princeton. Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., through January 8. 609-924-8144 or morven.org.
Drumthwacket. New Jersey’s official governor’s mansion is opening the 19th-century Greek revival-style house to visitors with holiday displays. As of press time, all tours and waitlists were full. drumthwacket.org/visit/december-holiday-open-houses
History Comes Alive
Washington Crossing Historic Park in Pennsylvania. Get set for the annual reenactments of George Washington’s Christmas Day crossing of the Delaware River to take Trenton — at the very location where the major historical event occurred.
The first is the dress rehearsal crossing on Sunday, December 11. The fun-filled fundraiser that includes visits to the site’s historic buildings runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the crossing event at 1 p.m. $4 to $8.
The second is the annual Christmas Day crossing taking place at 1 p.m. Visitors can also march with the troops, tour buildings, and join fellow festival lovers waiting for the cannon shot to signal the launching of the boats.
Washington Crossing Historic Park, Routes 32 and 532, Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. 215-493-4076 or washingtoncrossingpark.org.
Washington Crossing State Park in New Jersey. “Washington’s Landing in New Jersey” is a day featuring a visit with the First Rhode Island Regiment, a group of African-American reenactors who tell the stories of the historically underrepresented men and women who fought in the Revolutionary War, and other reenactment groups demonstrating life of the Revolutionary War Soldiers during the time of Washington’s famous 1776 crossing of the Delaware. Other attractions include tours of the historic Johnson Ferry House and a talk by area-based historian and writer Larry Kidder. Free. Sunday, December 11. www.wcpa-nj.com.
Patriots Week. The week-long commemoration of the Battle of Trenton, the event that put the American colonists on the path to victory, returns to downtown Trenton on Monday, December 26, and continues through December 31 with historic tours, talks, and reenactments. Most events are free. www.patriotsweek.com.
Need gifts with your event guide?
See “The Art of Holiday Shopping,” also from our December 7 issue, for potential spots to peruse for presents.
