By Cindy Washburn
Christmas on Temple Square
Christmas on Temple Square is about more than twinkling lights, although those do help make it magical.
Throughout December, a plethora of performances, no matter the day, keep Temple Square alive with music. Christmas performances by high school, college and community choral groups are held throughout the holiday season everywhere from the Assembly Hall to the Church Office Building. Each free performance lasts 40 minutes and all ages are welcome to attend any of these concerts. To make the season brighter, throughout Temple Square there are many nativities celebrating the birth of Christ.
The schedule of events can be found at www.lds.org/events.
Undiscovered Christmas
The BYU Museum of Peoples and Cultures invites the BYU community to join them in exploring Christmas traditions from around the world through nativities, songs and stories from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Museum of Peoples and Cultures, 700 N. 100 East. People of all ages can visit the museum and view a collection of nativities from the American Southwest.
'They are really good representatives because they integrate things from native American Cultures into Christianity,' said Glenna Nielson, curator of collections at the MPC, in a news release.
Storytelling, music and crafts will get people in the holiday mood; visitors can color paper ornaments or make a glass bulb nativity ornaments for $1 or complete a word search to win a certificate to make one of the ornaments.
'This is really a fun event where people of all ages can participate, learn about Christmas in other places, and see some really unique nativities,' said Katie Criddle, promotions manager at the museum. 'The craft is fun, the stories are great and there''s free hot cocoa.'
'The Nutcracker' Ballet
Utah Regional Ballet Company has produced the full length Nutcracker in Provo every year for the past 25 years. The performances for this season begin Friday and run through Dec. 22 at the Covey Center for the Arts, 425 W. Center Street, Provo. Tickets are available online at coveycenter.org or at the box office.
Jacqueline Colledge, art director for the ballet company, encourages people to come to the show and share in the experience.
'It''s such a magical tradition for families,' Colledge said.
At the performance on Friday, Colledge said, there will be a celebration of 25 years of Clara, the main character in the ballet.
'We''ve invited all the girls who have ever danced the role of Clara to come,' she said. 'We''re honoring them and having a reception and bringing them up on stage and giving them flowers. There are over 70 Claras who have performed over the past 25 years.'
Colledge also said this year not only marks their 25th year performing 'Nutcracker,' but also a move to a new home.
'People need to see it this year especially because it''s our first year in our new home at the Covey Center for the Arts,' she said. 'It''s such a beautiful theater.'
Christmas Cruise
C.L.A.S. Ropes Course Christmas cruise is designed to be a peaceful and enchanting experience. Thousands of Christmas lights strung along the water sparkle and reflect off the water, Christmas music wafts through the night air and Christmas scenes peek out from the banks.
The ride lasts approximately 25 minutes. It departs every 30 minutes, on the hour and half-hour from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. C.L.A.S. Ropes Course is located at 3606 W. Center Street, Provo.
Admission is $5 per person or $20 per family. The cruise will be open through Dec. 31 but is closed Sundays, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
'We''ve had a lot of people who have come out year after year and say it''s just a unique experience,' said Benjamin Allen, owner of C.L.A.S. Ropes Course.
Trees of Diversity
With thoughts on shopping and filling out Christmas lists, people seldom get the opportunity to turn their thoughts outward, outside themselves, outside their culture, outside their country.
Until Jan. 4, the West Valley Cultural Center will be hosting, 'Trees of Diversity,' an exhibit exploring what other cultures are doing during this season. In the gallery, trees represent Korea, Persia, China, Mexico, Scotland, Africa, Jewish, Muslim and American cultures.
'It began with six trees ... and has grown to 18 trees from different parts of the world,' said Ross Olsen, executive director of the cultural center. 'The Africa tree is just elegant -- it would take your breath away.'
Olsen said the tree from Peru came right out of one lady''s home and really shows the depth and preservation of that culture. A 21-inch tall tree represents all the Asian countries together. A tree from Ten Thousand Villages features ornaments directly from hundreds of third-world countries.
The free exhibit is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Jan. 4, and is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday through Wednesday next week. During those nights, there will also be free concerts.
Christmas Carols
Through Dec. 22, the Hale Center Theater Orem and the Center Street Musical Theatre in Provo will be putting on performances of 'A Christmas Carol.'
The show is about a humbug named Ebenezer Scrooge and his journey with three ghosts through his past, present and future. He is shown what happened to make him the cruel man he is, then the impact he can have if he changes his ways. Scrooge eventually realizes the error of his ways and participates in the Christmas spirit by helping others.
At the Center Street Musical Theatre, performances run at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, with an optional dinner at 6:30 p.m. On selected Saturdays, there will be an optional breakfast before the performance at 11 a.m. For more information, visit www.csmtc.com.
The Hale Center Theater Orem will have performances at 8 p.m. nightly, except Sunday, and noon matinees on Saturday, 5 p.m. matinees on weeknights.
Holiday Night Live
UVSC''s Black Box Repertory Company will be saying sayonara to students by putting on a Christmas comedy show titled, 'Holiday Night Live,' at 7 and 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, in the Black Box Theater on UVSC Campus
'Tailoring to the obvious need of Christmas-lovers to unwind and enjoy a spoof of all the holiday things we adore and abhor, we took all those things that drive us crazy about the season and turned them into comical sketches,' director Dave Tinney said.
This is the second year this type of show will be performed because of the positive audience responses of last year''s show, according to a news release.
'The sketches are new, but it''s in the same style - comical all around.' Tinney said.
For tickets, call (801) 863-8797; $10 general admission, $8 for faculty and seniors and $6 for UVSC students.
Desert Star Theatre
Through Jan. 5, the Desert Star Theatre in Murray will strive to bring comedy with two Christmas shows, 'GingGrinch, or How Newt GingGrinch Saved Christmas,' a parody and, 'Home for the Holidays,' a musical revue featuring familiar carols and Christmas humor.
'GringGrinch' is about a has-been politician whose career is failing and even his dog gets the role he auditioned for when pursuing an acting career. After getting a new dog from the celebrity dog pound, he takes on a new identity and seeks out to take his revenge.
'Home for the Holidays' is a showcase of Christmas carols and ballads mixed in with humor. It features familiar actors as it looks at the comedic aspects of the holidays.
Tickets prices vary depending on show and show times. For more information, visit desertstar.biz.