December Calendar

The Nutcracker
Ballet companies around the state perform renditions of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. Make sure to catch one of these productions when it comes to your part of the state. The Maine State Ballet, Merrill Auditorium, Nov. 24 & 25, Nov. 30, Dec. 1 & 2. $20-$60. 20 Myrtle St., Portland. 207-772-9671. tickets.porttix.com [1]. Atlantic Ballet Company, Camden Opera House, Nov. 30 – Dec. 2. $14-$20. 29 Elm St. 207-236-7963. camdenoperahouse.com [2]. Portland Ballet in The Victorian Nutcracker, Merrill Auditorium, Dec. 8 & 9, Portland. 207-772-9671. tickets.porttix.com. Robinson Ballet, Ellsworth High School, Dec. 9. $16-$18. 299 State St. 207-990-3140. robinsonballet.org [3]. Bossov Ballet of Pittsfield, Waterville Opera House, from Dec. 14 – 16. $16-$18. 1 Common St. 207-873-7000. operahouse.com [4]. The Bangor Symphony Orchestra, Robinson Ballet, and the Bangor Area Children’s Choir, Collins Center for the Arts, Dec. 15 at 2 & 7 p.m. & Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. $21-$37. Orono. 207-581-1755. bangorsymphony.com
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DEC. 30-31
Progressive rock band moe. has twenty years of touring and twenty albums to their name. The quintet brings all that together to ring in the New Year at Portland’s State Theatre. Dec. 30 & 31 at 7 p.m. $35-$40. State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland. 207-956-6000. statetheatreportland.com [6]

Comedy, Seriously
The Colby College exhibition Rediscoveries 4: Comedy, Seriously surveys artwork that engages humor and seriousness at once, exploring the nature of difficult ideas in art conveyed through a good chuckle. Dec. 6 – March 30. Free. Colby College Museum Of Art, 5600 Mayflower Hill Dr., Waterville. 207-859-5600. colby.edu/museum [7]

“American darlings with a roadhouse edge” — NPR
The Sweetback Sisters, a honky-tonk band from NYC, celebrate a Country Christmas Sing-Along Spectacular with a wide-ranging program of holiday music. Dec 6 at 7:30 p.m. $12. Strand Theatre, 345 Main St., Rockland.  207-594-0070. rocklandstrand.com [8]


Holiday Cheer

The Santaland Diaries Nov. 23 – Dec. 16
Spend an irreverent evening with Crumpet, the disgruntled Macy’s elf, in this adaptation of humorist David Sedaris’ famous personal essay. $17-$20. The Portland Stage Company, 25A Forest Ave., Portland. 207-774-0465. portlandstage.com [9]

A Christmas Carol Nov. 30 – Dec. 23
Dickens’ classic ghost story reminds us all of the true spirit of Christmas. $5-$18. The Public Theater,
31 Maple St., Lewiston. 207-782-3200. thepublictheater.org [10]

Christmas at The Cathedral Dec. 1 & Dec. 2
Don’t miss this popular Portland holiday tradition with special guests soprano Suzanne Nance, composer Kevin Siegfried, as well as the Portland Brass Quintet. $10-$20. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress St., Portland. 207-842-0800. choralart.org [11]

Magic of Christmas Dec. 14 – Dec. 23
Merrill Auditorium is turned into a winter wonderland with the help of conductor Robert Moody, the Windham Chamber Singers, the Magic of Christmas Chorus, and more. $31-$61. 20 Myrtle St., Portland. 207-842-0800. tickets.porttix.com [12]

Holiday Pops! Dec. 15 at 4 p.m.
For its fourth annual concert, conductor Janna Hymes and Maine Pro Musica bring the holiday season alive with classical favorites, guest soloists, chorus, dancers, bell ringers, and a visit from Santa. $8-$35. Strom Auditorium, Camden Hills Regional High School, Rt. 90, Rockport. 207-236-2299. unitedmidcoastcharities.org [13]