Arts Alive San Antonio

This Sunday, Dec. 13, The Agarita Chamber Players will kickstart their new initiative that brings music to the people in outdoor settings for free. Named Humble Hall, it will take the four Agarita members to all ten districts of San Antonio, starting with District 1. The first concert will take place at the open-air garden behind the Witte Museum at 1:30 p.m. This is a very talented and innovative group, so it’s definitely worth your time. Also free, will be access to the Witte’s Holiday Market at the Mays Family Center. (For more information, see feature story from Dec. 8 on this site.)

Several big holiday events are continuing this weekend, including performances of Ballet San Antonio’s original new production of “The Nutcracker” at the Tobin Center. The last performance is Sunday at 2 p.m. For tickets call the box office at 210-223-8624 or visit www.tobincenter.org. Also, in-person at 100 Auditorium Circle, downtown. (See feature story from Nov. 24 on this site)

But that’s not the only news from BSA. After years of planning, San Antonio’s only professional ballet company has finally opened its own school for aspiring dancers. Overseen by artistic adviser and world-renown ballerina, Sofiane Sylve, and ballerina and teacher Mary Jo Crews, the School of Ballet San Antonio will be offering free trial classes Dec. 14 – Dec.19 at the company’s new studios located at 2211 NW Military Hwy, Suite 127A, in Castle Hills. The students who end up being accepted, will have the opportunity to see firsthand what the life of a professional dancer looks like as they train in the same facility as the company. To register go to www.school@balletsanantonio.org.

Another show that’s continuing its run at the Tobin, is the popular “The Music of Charlie Brown Christmas,” featuring well-known San Antonio jazz artist Doc Watkins and his trio. In fact, due to popular demand, two new performances have been added on Dec.21 and 22. Quite a few shows have already sold out so go to the Tobin site to see which ones still have tickets left. The show is a cabaret-style presentation in the intimate Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater. (tickets are $55, 210-223-8624 or tickets@tobincenter.org.

Other ongoing shows mentioned in previous weekly News Roundups are : “Fully Committed,” a hilarious virtually presented play by the Public Theatre of San Antonio; a new and also hilarious version of “Snow White” at the Magik Theatre, and “We Need a Little Christmas,” a holiday song revue, at the Harlequin Theater.

Robert Earl Keen and his band will present two Merry Christmas from the Fam shows at Gruene Hall this weekend, at 9 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday. (Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene Rd., New Braunfels, 830-606-1281; www.gruenehall.com)

For a different type of entertainment, you may want to check out the offerings at the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club where Felipe Esparza will hold court Dec. 11-12. His shows frequently sell out so don’t wait to buy tickets. Altogether, there are five shows: 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Friday, and 5, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. The last two are sold out. (The club is located at 618 NW Loop 410; 210-541-8805; https://improvtx.com/sanantonio/)

Cactus Pear Music Festival has a special holiday gift for you. Festival Founder, Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio paired up with pianist Jeffrey Sykes for a short concert of less known but very engaging compositions by three women composers, and “a jazzy tour de force” by the sole male composer, David Baker. The three women are: Rebecca Clarke, Florence Price and Ethel Smyth. We watched the video and truly enjoyed every moment of it. To watch: https://www.cpmf.us/mm16-wintersoiree

The Centro Cultural Aztlan is presenting its 25^th Celebracion a la Virgen de Guadalupe as a virtual exhibit this year. Viewers can explore the significance of the Virgen de Guadalupe as a religious and cultural icon “through secular visual narratives” created by San Antonio artists, including Richard Arredondo, Oscar Galvan, Frank Harris III, Cordelia Rios, Eugenia Silva, Alicia Zavala Galvan, and others. The virtual opening is scheduled for this Saturday at 7 p.m. Binisa Zentella of Los Inocentes will offer an introduction and perform. The exhibit includes a variety of media, from oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings to jewelry and mixed-media pieces. To join the opening go to https://www.facebook.com/CentroCulturalAztlan. The show closes Jan. 8, 2021. You can also visit the actual gallery by appointment. (Centro Cultural Aztlan, 1800 Fredericksburg Rd. 78201; 210-432-1896)

If you are interested in films created by talented young people from the U.S. and other countries, you may want to watch the online screenings this weekend, Dec. 11-13 and then re-screenings through Jan. 2021, when the winners will be announced and screened in a special award ceremony scheduled for Jan. 29-31, 2021. Named the Josiah Media Festival, the fest, organized by URBAN-15 has been around for 14 years. There will be three blocks of films: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with screenings at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. The festival also includes student workshops geared to aspiring middle and high school filmmakers. To see the full schedule, click on https://urban15.org/live-stream/

Saturday is also a Big Day for Play at the DoSeum where kids will have the opportunity to explore holiday traditions from around the world with the help of students from the International School of San Antonio. The science “of ice and snow” is also mentioned as “the coolest thing in town.” It all sounds like fun! No special admission will be charged. (Dec. 12, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; The DoSeum, 2800 Broadway, 78209; 210-212-4453)