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Best 2015 Holiday-Themed Stage Productions In Baltimore

Most people face the same problem as December draws near: the television comes to life with all manners of holiday classics which are all-too familiar and played out. Why not try something new this holiday season and experience the multitude of professional-quality stage productions available for viewing in the Baltimore area? Nothing beats the immediacy of live theater, and even if you are seeing a holiday classic brought to life on-stage, you are in for a brand new experience each and every time.
The Nutcracker
The Hippodrome Theatre
12 N. Eutaw St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 837-7400
baltimore.broadway.com

Date: Dec.18-19, 2015 at 1 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m.

"The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" is a holiday story from Russia which is approaching its 200th anniversary, and the ballet based upon this story is one of the greatest classics of all time. Come see this masterpiece of theater, music, dance, art and puppetry for yourself, live. Done up in Broadway style, you can be certain that this is a high-level production and the set-quality will not disappoint. A tale for all ages, throughout the ages, this may be your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see what people have been talking about — in dozens of languages, for two centuries.

Sound Of Music
baltimore.broadway.com

Date: Dec.8-13, 2015 at 8 p.m.

While it may not always be associated with the holidays, Sound of Music has a very festive theme, and tends to be paired with the solstice season for its undertones of being true to oneself and of giving of oneself for the benefit of others. Come see this masterpiece of human drama and music as it was meant to be seen: on stage, acted out by a professional cast and accompanied by a full orchestra.

A Christmas Carol
Chesapeake Shakespeare Company
7 S. Calvert St.
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 244-8570
www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com

Date: Dec. 4-23, 2015 at 8 p.m.

More than simply a tale for Christmas, Charles Dickens' perennial classic is a tale of the warmth of common human decency and the loneliness that accompanies selfishness and inhospitality. This is a message for all people in all ages, and it's well worth a second look in this highly acclaimed stage production. Head down to the worthily-named Chesapeake Shakespeare Company this December and grab a seat to see the characters you have grown to love in a tale that everyone ought to see at least once a year.

CSC has a bar downstairs and a "kid's room" for parents to take their children when they get antsy. The kid's room has a closed-circuit TV, so parents won't miss the show.

MSU Christmas Concert
Murphy Fine Arts Center
2201 Argonne Drive
Baltimore, MD 21218
(443) 885-4440
www.murphyfineartscenter.org

Date: Dec. 13, 2015 at 4 p.m.

The best thing about the holidays is the music, and arguably the best type of holiday music is a choral arrangement. Under the direction of Dr. Eric Conway, come hear the nationally renowned sound of the Morgan State University Choir, a group which has performed internationally in a number of impressive venues, including the White House! They are singing here, for your listening enjoyment, a blend of holiday classics — Gospel and traditional music — with a full orchestra accompanying. It's an experience everyone should have for the holiday, and thanks to your local Fine Arts Center, you can!

Related: Best Places To Cut Your Own Christmas Tree In The Baltimore Area

Baltimore Philharmonia Orchestra Holiday Concert
Saint Anthony Of Padua Roman Catholic Church
4414 Frankford Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21206
(410) 488-0400
www.baltimorephilharmonia.org

Date: Dec. 6, 2015 at 3 p.m.

There is something to be said for the sweet sounds of a purely orchestral experience, especially when that experience is paired with holiday tunes which echo back into the ages. Head out to St. Anthony's this year and get your ear full of the lustrous melodies of Baltimore's one and only Philharmonia Orchestra as it presents tunes you have come to love, or ones you may not have heard, but will quickly grow to love. The Philharmonia is a volunteer, not-for-profit orchestra of semi-professional local musicians who work purely for love of the music they express. And you will love their music too. Come out and see.

Related: Best Holiday Markets In The Baltimore Area

Joel Furches is a freelance writer and researcher for The Examiner and Logos Software, and also manages his own catalog of writing on Hub Pages. Joel is on the board of directors for Ratio Christi. He has a bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Education.
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