Fennelly: Music, theater kick off abundant holiday season

What's left of Tom Turkey is no doubt safely installed in the icebox, so it's time to turn serious attention to the abundant holiday entertainment that's headed our way.

Yes, I know the Nutcracker of Middle Georgia will be on the stage of the Grand Opera House on Dec. 9, but long before Tchaikovsky's ballet rolls around, area theaters will be presenting a variety of seasonal entertainment -- both music and theater.

All of the colleges will offer Christmas choral events, most of which are free. Among my favorites is Mercer University's "Lessons and Carols," presented this year at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Dec. 4-5.

Another popular event occurs each year when the Morning Music Club (comprising some of the most talented music people in our region) presents its annual "Choristers of Christmas" on Dec. 10. The venerable Loyd Landrum will conduct with Susan McDuffie accompanying.

Yet another band of talented local voices, the Choral Society of Middle Georgia, will team up with the Mercer Choir for a performance of the "Messiah." Like "Lessons and Carols," this popular event will be presented in the ethereal surroundings of St. Joseph Catholic Church on Dec. 11-12, although there is an admission fee for these performances.

There are also some interesting events on the calendar that are unconnected with the holidays. Mercer's Fabian Concert Series presents the Mendelssohn Sextet on Tuesday, and Wesleyan College Theater opens Christopher Durang's "Miss Witherspoon" on Thursday.

There's a goodly amount of holiday theater, too, and it all begins Dec. 4 with two musicals: "A Christmas Story" (the one with the "leg lamp") opens downtown at Theatre Macon, while at Macon Little Theatre is another classic, "Little Women the Musical."

In Houston County, Warner Robins Little Theatre and the Fine Art Society of Middle Georgia are teaming up Dec. 12 to present "Saving Christmas," aimed at "all little princesses, superheroes and their parents." Benefiting children of First Responders, this one-night-only performance will be at the Warner Robins Civic Center.

Holiday shopping time has arrived as well. This weekend brings the annual Holiday Art Sale at 3875 Overlook Ave., while the Middle Georgia Art Association's Holiday Artist Market will run through Dec. 19. New this year at the Museum of Arts and Sciences is the Sugar Plum Shop.

Contact Larry Fennelly at LarryFennelly@avantguild.com.

This story was originally published November 26, 2015 at 11:46 AM with the headline "Fennelly: Music, theater kick off abundant holiday season ."