Arts Alive San Antonio

The celebratory mood continues this week, with sacred music, folk dancing, pop and operatic singing, and so much more.

The San Antonio Choral Society continues to celebrate the season with the Candlelight Christmas Concert this Sunday at the Laurel Heights United Methodist Church.  The singers will once again be accompanied by the 8-piece Sonido Barroco ensemble of musicians who play on authentic period instruments. In addition to regular Choral Society’s members – about 80 singers – the concert will also showcase the talents of current and former students of the Choral Society’s education program, including four vocalists and three budding conductors. The singers are: sopranos Muffin Russell and Anna Schmelter, and mezzo-sopranos Willa Rubin and Sarah Hadsell. Conducting interns are Michael Fain, Hadsell and Kyree Harrison. The program will feature Vivaldi’s beloved Gloria, traditional carols, a candlelight processional and more. (Dec. 19 at 4 p.m.; Laurel Heights United Methodist Church, 227 W. Woodlawn Ave., 78212; tickets at https://sanantoniochoralsociety.org/57th-season-935238.html or at the door; $5 – $18; masks required; social distancing provided)

Two days later, the San Antonio Chamber Choir will be presenting “The Light of Hope Returning” at the Tobin Center. This event is described as a “concert-length ceremony” of folk carols featuring both classic Christmas settings as well as newly penned carols on the Christmas and Winter Solstice themes by LA-based composer Shawn Kirchner.  The music promises to take listeners on a journey from “distant hope, through darkness, into the rebirth of light and true hope for the future.” The Children Chorus of San Antonio, plus soloist, Allison Girvan, and a small instrumental ensemble will magnify the hopeful sounds. (Monday, Dec. 20 at 8 p.m.; H-E-B Performance Hall, Tobin Center; tickets@tobincenter.org, 210-223-8624)

The Tuesday Musical Club is bringing to town the acclaimed mezzo-soprano Raehann Bryce-Davis for a single concert on Tuesday Dec. 21. Bryce-Davis has received multiple awards and recognition throughout her opera career, not only in the U.S. but also in Italy, Austria, Turkey and other places. The San Francisco Chronicle praised her for her “electrifying sense of fearlessness.” She will be accompanied by Korean-born pianist, Heeyoung Choi (Dec. 21 at 2 p.m.; Laurel Heights United Methodist Church; 227 W. Woodlawn Ave., tickets $25; students free, at the door or go to www.satmc.org/event-4451812)

 The Agarita Chamber Players will be completing their Humble Hall series of neighborhood concerts this weekend with free outdoor performances in city districts 6, 9 and 10. The last two are actually lumped into one. Both take place this Saturday. No word about what they will be playing. (District 6 event is scheduled for 11 a.m. at H-E-B, 9255 Grissom Rd., 78251; the afternoon concert will be at 3 p.m., McAllister Park, 13102 Jones Maltsberger Rd., 78247. Bring chairs or blankets.) 

For a different kind of music, you may opt to see British superstar Sarah Brightman, who originated the role of Christine in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s immensely popular musical “The Phantom of the Opera.” Subsequently, Brightman developed her own, highly theatrical style of performing that audiences seem to love. Here, in San Antonio, she will be accompanied by both an orchestra and a choir (Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m., Majestic Theater; 224 E. Houston; 210-226-3333; info@majesticempire.com)

Though his style is very different, the equally popular, Robert Earl Keen, will also have just one show in San Antonio, at the Aztec Theater: “The Road to Christmas.” (Friday, Dec. 17 at 8 p.m.; Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s, 78205; tickets $30-$49; 210-812-4355, www.theaztectheatre.com)

And a trio that sounds completely different from the artists above is Khruangbin, a Houston-based band that mesmerizes with its fluid, harmonious approach to music, that you just go along with for as long as it lasts. The members of the trio are: bassist Laura Lee, guitarist Mark Speer and drummer D.J. Johnson. Apparently, there will be more vocalizing on their current tour. (Dec. 18-19, Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets $44.50 – 58.50; tickets@tobincenter.org, 210-223-8624)

Fans of folk dances from different cultures – and everyone else who enjoys dynamic dancing, beautiful costumes and traditional music – will love the new event “Joy to the World” Holiday Festival, organized by the nonprofit organization Heritage Festivals of San Antonio.  The fest celebrates the diverse cultural communities that call San Antonio home, and that are often not represented in public life. Scheduled for Dec. 19, the fest promises non-stop stage entertainment plus a Christmas “Karaoke -karoling” that’s fun for the entire family. In additions to dance and music performances, this folkloric fest with a Christmas theme will offer holiday arts and crafts that can be purchased for gift giving. “Everything our vendors have to offer represents their unique culture and expresses how they celebrate the holidays,” said festival director Rene’e Park. Of Hawaiian heritage, Park is well-known in San Antonio for her work on the Asian Festival and her organization Hula Halau Ohana Elikapeka dance school. (Dec. 19, 12-6 p.m.; Rolling Oaks Mall, 6909 N. Loop 1604 E.; 210-657-5513; free admission & free parking.)

A different take on holiday traditions is the style of theater practiced by the incredibly versatile actor/director J. Damian Gillen who performs entire plays all by himself, playing all the characters. Such is the case with “Bah Humbug! A one-man Christmas Carol” that he will perform Saturday at the Little Italy restaurant. He’s a quick-change artist who transforms himself from Scrooge to Tiny Tim, without losing credibility. He’s been touring his show all across Texas. (Dec. 18, one night only; doors open at 6 p.m.; the Big Apple Room, Little Italy, 824 Afterglow, 78216; $35; 210-646-4284; info@thecompanytheatre.org)

Somewhat more traditional theater will be presented by the not-very-traditional Overtime Theater which has cooked up a Christmas murder mystery- “A Very Merry Murder: Christmas in Peril.” The murder occurs in Santa’s workshop and everyone, including the Elves and the Reindeer, is a suspect. Suspense increases as the detectives try to solve the crime. The one-act play is the brainchild of Michael Burger Song and it includes lots of improvisation, and the audience gets to influence the plot. Sounds like fun! (Dec. 17, one night only; tickets are $12 at the box office.)

There’s more! The Overtime’s cabaret show this month is “Happy Holidaze” described as “an amalgamation of music, magic, dance, comedy, improv, poetry, and whatever else we can think of.” Santa will also make an appearance and perform (also Friday but at 10:30 p.m.; tickets $5 at the door.)

And on Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. the Denials Comedy Improv troupe takes over. (admission  $8 or $5 with the main stage show. (Overtime Theater, 5409 Bandera Rd., #205, 78238; 210-557-7562, www.theovertimetheatre.org)

For the younger set, the musical, “Ella Enchanted” is still playing at the Magik Theatre. They even have a Pay-What-You-Wish performance on Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. (Tickets at www.MagikTheatre.org)

As we all know, ‘tis the season for “The Nutcracker” and there are two more coming up.

The San Antonio Youth Ballet, will perform its version accompanied by an actual live orchestra, one of the few groups that will enjoy that privilege this season. That will be the South Texas Symphonic Orchestra, led by music educator/conductor Ronnie Sanders. The show will follow the usual story about Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, and the Sugar Plum Fairy who presides over the Kingdom of the Sweets. Several young ballerinas will be seen in key roles over the run of the show. The ballet was choreographed by former Ballet San Antonio dancer Husan Hopuy, and Danielle Campbell Steans, the director of the Youth Ballet and the San Antonio Ballet School, which she describes as a small, African-American and woman-owned business. The cast members range in age from 3 to 53, which includes students and some parents. (Dec. 17 at 7 p.m.; Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. and Dec. 19 at 2 p.m.; Scottish Rite Theater, 308 Avenue E, 78205; pre-show tea party on Sunday starts at 11:30 a.m.; tickets are $10-$60; http://www.sanantonioballetschool.com/performances)

The other “Nutcracker” this weekend will be presented by Alamo City Arts, featuring the Alamo City Dance Company and the Alamo City Symphony Viva at the McAllister Auditorium. This will be the organization’s 29^th production under the artistic direction of Katie Rodriguez Hall and Susan Trevino. Music direction is by Joseph Kneer. (Dec. 18-19, at 2 and 7 p.m. each day.; tickets $30-$45 at www.ticketpeak.co/acpaa/events; for info call 210-369-8311 or email info@acpaainc.org)

The Guadalupe Cultural Art Center’s  Dance Academy and members of the adult Guadalupe Dance Company will join forces to present “La Pastorela Folklorica” the traditional shepherds’ play but this time told with folkloric and flamenco flair. (Dec. 17-18 at 7 p.m.; Guadalupe Theater, 1301 Guadalupe St., 78207; Friday show sold out; tickets are limited to 200 people; $10; www.guadalupeculturalarts.org,
210-2713151)

And here’s something different: The Witte Museum is opening a new exhibit: “King Ranch: A Legacy in Art, Noe Perez” this Saturday. The museum is inviting San Antonians to “discover the stunning art of the world’s most famous ranch.” Perez is a contemporary Texas painter from Corpus Christi who has devoted his career to painting life and landscapes of South Texas. The exhibit seems to be a natural fit with the Witte given that the museum already has a South Texas Heritage Center. The exhibit will stay on view through March 3, 2022. We will tell you more about it after seeing it. (The Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, 78209; www.wittemuseum.org)

URBAN-15 is hosting the international youth film festival, known as the Josiah Media Festival, from Dec. 13 through Jan. 29, 2022. The fest is taking place online on a continuous block schedule of Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday. Since this is an international fest, the 24-hour loop allows anyone to find a convenient time to watch. You can watch at https://urban15.org/live-stream/