Arts Alive San Antonio

‘Tis the season for “The Nutcracker”!

 Though Ballet San Antonio’s 2020 edition of the beloved show closed last Sunday, here comes another one, produced by the Children’s Ballet of San Antonio, the pre-professional company of talented dancers led by the former principal dancer of the National Ballet of Panama, Vanessa Bessler. These dancers may be young but many are quite accomplished, including 16-year-old Kate Thomas who will be the Sugar Plum Fairy on opening night. The familiar story has been tweaked a bit to reflect the current times, so don’t be surprised to see dancers wearing masks and Clara’s family members meeting via Zoom. Unlike the BSA production, however, this one will be presented via video. (Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.; Dec.19 at 2 & 7 p.m.; Dec. 25 at 7 p.m.; Dec.26 at 2 & 7 p.m.; for tickets go to https://www.childrensballetofsanantonio.org) To learn more about it, see our feature story from Dec.15.

Jazz lovers will rejoice to learn that the folks behind the Balcones Heights Jazz Festival have decided to produce a Christmas Jazz Concert that was recorded a few days ago at the Wonderland of the Americas Mall. It features San Antonio’s First Lady of Soul, MiChelle Garibay-Carey with her PM Soul band, and the amazing Toro Flores and his Zarabande group. This concert is also the inaugural event of the new jazz series that will have three more concerts in the upcoming months. You can see the concert for free on the City of Balcones Heights YouTube channel at 7 p.m., Dec.22. But it will still be available for streaming after that date. (To learn more, see our feature story from Dec.16)

For a different kind of music, you may want to get tickets to see the enduring and beloved San Antonio-based Two Tons of Steel at Sam’s Burger Joint tonight at 8:30 p.m. (330 E. Grayson St. www.samsburgerjoint.com) They are regulars at Gruene Hall where they draw thousands of loyal fans but they have performed at the Grand Ole Opry and toured Europe as well.

The Music of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” featuring San Antonio’s Doc Watkins and his Trio, will have four more shows this weekend, closing Dec. 20. It’s presented cabaret style at the Alvarez Studio Theater of the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. (Tickets are $55, $260 for a table for four; 210-223-8624, www.tobincenter.org

Unfortunately, the YOSA Winter Showcase, originally scheduled for Dec. 19 at the Tobin, has been cancelled.

But there’s a lot more music and holiday fun to keep us happy. The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center will present a virtual production of La Pastorela Folklorica Dec. 23 at 7 p.m. Performed by the Guadalupe Dance Academy, this annual event is a version of the traditional shepherds’ play with Mexican folkloric and flamenco flair. The academy is also inviting interested students to sign up for upcoming classes in Mexican folkloric dance and flamenco. To watch La Pastorela, go to the Guadalupe’s YouTube channel. (find it on www.guadalupeculturalarts.org)

This is the last weekend for the Woodlawn After Dark Holiday Cabarets, so catch live performances by Woodlawn performers Miguel Ochoa, Jillian Sainz, Amanda Golden and Jimmi Nelson-Reid tonight and Saturday, as they celebrate a “Home for the Holidays” cabaret. Hosted as usual by Christopher Rodriguez and pianist Darrin Newhardt, the in-person show at the Woodlawn Theater is $20, and the virtual version is $15. Both start at 8 p.m. In-person tickets must be purchased online.

And the Woodland is also inviting you to join its staff and artists for the Holiday Family Night at Cool Crest Golf, an outdoor event scheduled for Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. In addition to mini golf, you’ll be treated to live performances by the artists mentioned above and a number of others. A food truck will be there, too. Sounds like great fun! ($20 per person; 1402 Fredericksburg Rd. www.wodlawntheatre.org)

Also wrapping up its run this weekend is the Magik Theatre’s production of “Snow White,” a very funny new version of the classic fairy tale. (420 S. Alamo, in Hemisfair Park, 210-227-2751; www.magiktheatre.org)

The Harlequin Theater is in the Christmas mood, too, with “We Need a Little Christmas,” arevue of favorite holiday songs. They are masters of musical revues over there!  (8 p.m. today and Saturday Dec.19. The Harlequin is located inside the Fort Sam Houston base, 2652 Harney Rd.; tickets $10-$22; 210-222-9694)

And the Briscoe Western Art Museum “adds Western fun to the Holidays” with its Cowboy Christmas on the Riverwalk, Dec.19. The festivities include visits with Cowboy Claus – either virtual or in-person – Christmas crafts, story times, Lady Picoza food trucks and a special holiday scavenger hunt. Carols will be playing in the museum’s Sculpture Garden and the gift shop may entice you to do a little holiday shopping. (Dec. 19, 11a.m. to 4 p.m. Visits and story time with Cowboy Claus are ticketed separately and limited to those who pre-reserve. All Bexar County residents will receive half off of general admission to enjoy the festivities and the museum itself. Safety protocols will be in place. Briscoe Museum, 210 W. Market St., 210-299-4499; www.briscoemuseum.org)

Not be left out of the holiday excitement, Santikos Entertainment, the parent company of Santikos movie theaters, has also cooked up something special for the season: “an exclusive showing” of the Christmas classic “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch” with a surprise visit from Santa Claus after the movie. Each movie ticket will include a small popcorn, small drink, and a socially distant photo opportunity with Santa. You can get unlimited copies of the Santa photos. (For details and booking info, go to https://www.santikos.com/santaexperience/)

For something completely different, you may want to visit the Art Gallery Prudencia’s newest exhibit “The Ins and Outs – Beauty is Everywhere,” featuring still-life and landscape paintings by Texas artists Joanna Burch and Lilli Pell. It may calm the jazzed-up holiday nerves. (2518 N. Main Ave.; 210-422-8681, www.prudenciagallery.com

On a more practical note: nonprofit arts organizations – and that’s just about all of them – may be interested in attending the free non-profit webinar “Breaking Through the Noise” that will address strategies and insights on how to effectively connect to donors and prospects through a variety of channels. Presented by Eskin Fundraising Training, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 4-5 p.m. (for more info visit www.eskinfundraisingtraining.com)