Arts Alive San Antonio

This will be another early NEWS ROUNDUP as we focus on the holidays and family-oriented celebrations.

There are a few musical events to enjoy, such as the annual Doc Watkins: Charlie Brown Christmas at the Tobin Center. Watkins is a jazz master both as pianist and singer, who created and co-hosts the weekly radio program “Live at Jazz, TX” which is syndicated through Texas Public Radio. Jazz TX is a venue, here in SA, to hear live jazz music. (Dec.22 at 8 p.m. Tobin Center for the performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets are $35 -$95 at tickets@tobincenter.org or by calling 210-223-8624)

More at the Tobin: Cirque Musica – Holiday Wonderland, which is promoted as “a must-see holiday event to usher in the magic of the season.” “Wonderland” is a new musical journey that will feature acrobats, aerialists, hilarious hijinks, etc. Today’s greatest circus performers will show their daredevil moves to the sounds of seasonal musical favorites. (Dec.20, 2023 at 7 p.m., Tobin Center, (see address above), tickets start at $49.50; (see how to get tickets above.)

Holiday concerts in different musical genres are also on the calendar. The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center presents its popular Annual Holiday Saxophones, which may be sold out by the time you read this. (Dec. 23, 1-4 p.m. it’s the 40^th annual concert. (Guadalupe Center, 1301 Guadalupe St.; 210-271-3151; www.guadalupeculturalarts.org)

A Holiday Concert at Paper Tiger will focus on country music, with three sets of music from past decades – 70s, 80s and 90s – performed by The Texases. (Dec. 23, 8-10 p.m.; Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Maty’s St.,
tickets are $10 plus fees; info at 817-630-1279; www.papertigersatx.com)

The “Swinging Holiday Show” by popular crooner Ken Slavin will take place at another well-known club, Sam’s Burger Joint. (Dec. 23, 8-10 p.m.; 330 E. Grayson St.; 210-223-2830, www.samsburgerjoint.com)

If in the mood for sacred music, you have a few good choices.
“Sing! An Irish Christmas” – an Evening with Keith and Kristyn Getty, coming up at the end of the month. Known for modern hymns and carols such as “In Christ Alone,” the Gettys’ performance will be live at Trinity Baptist Church. Previously featured internationally on public television, this year’s Christmas Tour will feature new songs, along with traditional carols. (Dec. 31 at 6:30 p.m.; Trinity Baptist Church, 319 E. Mulberry Ave., 78212; 210-733-6201; www.trinitybaptist.org

And here is something that will put you in the Christmas mood all over again: the 7^th Annual Messiah Sing-Along. The event is organized by the Hill Country Vocal Arts Society. You can bring your own score or borrow one of theirs. The group will sing Part I of Handel’s “Messiah” plus the beloved “Hallelujah Chorus,” accompanied by strings, organ and professional soloists. (Dec.31 at 3 p.m.; St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 321 St. Peter St., Kerrville, Texas 78028, http://hillcountrychorale.org/)

Speaking of Kerrville, that Hill Country town has a pretty lively arts scene. The Arcadia Live Theatre will host Landon Lloyd Miller who “makes his own brand of American roots music”. He is described as a biographical songwriter and multi-instrumentalist “whose career path is every bit as diverse as his music.” “He is a Renaissance man for the modern age,” says the promotional material. For the upcoming concert he will be backed by his full band. (Jan. 5, 2924 at 7 p.m.; Arcadia Live Theatre; 717 Water St., Kerrville, 78028; tickets are $15 atboxoffice@thrarcadialive.org)

And believe it or not, there’s yet another “Nutcracker.” This one is presented by the Cibolo City Ballet, a ballet school founded and run by Danae Quevedo who was a member and soloist of Ballet San Antonio. During her dancing career, which started in Caracas, Venezuela, she has had soloist roles in all the famous ballet, including, of course, “The Nutcracker.” (Dec. 22 at 6 p.m., and Dec. 23 at 5 p.m.; Carver Center, 226 N. Hackberry, 78202; 210-207-7211; tickets $40; for more info call 210-570-5285 or email: info@cibolocityballet.com)

Local theaters are rather quiet this weekend but you can see the famed musical “Wicked” at the Majestic Theater. It opens Dec. 20 and runs through Jan. 7, 2024. The show is part of the Broadway in San Antonio series.  The musical looks at what happened in the Land of Oz, long before Dorothy arrived. There were two young witches. One, named Elphaba, had green skin, and the other was blonde and beautiful. Elphaba became the Wicked Witch while her pretty friend became the Good Witch. The theme seems to be rejection and unwillingness to accept something different. For dates and times go to www.majesticempire.com/events/wicked/; tickets are $54-$214)

Several local shows continue their respective runs, including “The Velveteen Rabbit” at the Magik Theater, which closes its run with the last performance on Christmas Eve. You can get 20% discount on tickets for the final weekend. “All about Eve” will also continue playing but only through Dec.23. That’s not a children’s play. It’s an original production produced by the Overtime Theater; 5409 Bandera Rd., Ste 205, 78238 ; 210-557-7562; http://theovertimetheater.org)

                            Museum News                                     

The Witte Museum will have a new president and CEO come Jan. 1. The Board of Trustees chose one of their members to take the helm of San Antonio’s oldest museum, following the retirement of Marise McDermott who will become President Emeritus. Dirk Elmendorf joined the Board of Trustees in November 2012 and was chair of the board during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a co-founder of Rackspace Technology, which is now a publicly traded company. “The mission of the Witte to shape the future of Texas is a calling for me,” he said. Using technology to expand the Witte’s impact is among his priorities, according to the press release.

The McNay Art Museum has several new leaders. They are: Jenelle Esparza, head of education; Katy Silva Leon, head of Development, and Yolanda Urrabazo, head of Communication & Marketing.
Esparza is also an artist. “My practice as a conceptual artist combined with my career in art education uniquely position me to offer transformational art experiences from a creative lens,’ she said for the press release.

As head of development, Katy Silva Leon has the most challenging job. She previously served in fundraising roles at other nonprofits such as the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center and the Tobin Center. She believes that art should be inclusive and accessible to all, and has the power to heal, inspire and connect. She, too is an artist.

Yolanda Urrabazo has a considerable background in communications here in San Antonio and beyond.
“I am honored and excited to join the McNay’s extraordinary community,” she was quoted as saying.
“The museum’s mission to impact lives through the power of art and be a place of belonging aligns squarely with my values” We, at ARTS ALIVE AN ANTONIO, look forward to working with her as the museum’s spokesperson and liaison.

And we heard from SAMA, as well. The museum sent a reminder that the current exhibit “American Made: Paintings and Sculpture from the DeMell Jacobsen Collection” will be closing soon, on Jan 7, 2024. If you haven’t seen it, go now. The exhibition features more than a hundred artworks depicting the American experience, from landscapes, colonial portraits and still lifes to Impressionist paintings, abstraction and bronze sculptures. It’s a kind of a history lesson through art.  (San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 West Jones Ave., 782115; $20 for adults.; 210-978-8100, https://www.samuseum.org)

Another attraction that’s closing soon is Lightscape at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Last day to see it is Jan. 1. (555 Funston Place, 78209; tickets $18-$28; 210-536-1400; https://www.sabot.org/)