Weekend Planner for Dec. 8-10: Guide to Arts and Entertainment Around Montgomery County

The holiday season includes many arts and entertainment traditions in the area. This weekend we found four for you to consider.

Do you have a dog or cat? Santa is stopping by the Humane Society in Rockville Saturday, December 9 for a ‘Pet Photo With Santa‘ event from noon to 3 p.m. Proceeds go to help the animal rescue care for homeless animals, primarily cats and dogs in our community.

The all-volunteer NIH Community Orchestra and Chorus present their winter concert Saturday, December 9 at Cedar Lane Unitarian Church in Bethesda. There is no charge for the concert, but donations are welcome and will benefit the NIH charities.

Glen Echo Park’s annual Winter’s Eve is appropriate for all ages and takes place Saturday, December 9 from 4 to 7 p.m. Activities include holiday crafts, holiday portrait sessions by Photoworks, music by Washington Conservatory, art show and sale, and much more.

Damascus hosts their annual Christmas on Main Street with the tree lighting ceremony, singing of Christmas songs, visits with Santa, music and more. This has become an annual tradition in Damascus.

And one more, please consider attending the Metropolitan Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker Saturday at 4 p.m.  Montgomery Community Media’s Tony Spearman-Leach appears as the guest Mother Ginger. When you purchase tickets online, enter the code ‘MCMatMBT’ and we will receive 15 percent of the ticket proceeds.

Here are some of our picks for arts and entertainment around the county this weekend.

Friday, Dec. 8

Canadian Brass: Christmas Time is Here Canadian Brass rings in the holiday season with a program of festive classics and brass standards. Canadian Brass is a favorite of audiences. Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. strathmore.org. $35-$65.

Love’s Labour’s Lost and Much Ado About Nothing  Written by William Shakespeare, presented by Lumina Studio Theatre. Directed by David Minton with contributions by John O’Connor. Through Dec. 10 at the Silver Spring Black Box Theatre, 8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. silverspringblackbox.com $10-$15.

Annie Based on the book by Thomas Meehan. Directed by Jason King Jones, this is the classic tale of Annie, an orphan during the Great Depression in New York City. When billionaire-celebrity Oliver Warbucks requires the presence of an orphan to soften his image, Annie unexpectedly finds a way into his heart. Along the way, Warbucks attempts to help Annie find her lost parents. Recommended for ages 5+. Through Dec. 31 at Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney Sandy Spring Road, Olney. olneytheatre.org. $47 and up.

A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas  Paul Morella brings his unique version of this Christmas classic.  Adapted from Dickens’ original novella and reading tour, Morella’s solo version transports you back to Victorian England and into the heart of this classic morality tale. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Through Dec. 31 at Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney Sandy Spring Road, Olney. olneytheatre.org. $40.

A Christmas Carol  In partnership with Kensington Arts Theatre, Arts on the Green presents this Christmas classic. Scrooge is a prosperous curmudgeon who believes that personal wealth is far more valuable than the happiness and comfort of others. But he’s forced to face his selfish ways. Through Dec. 10 Gaithersburg Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg. gaithersburgmd.gov. Tickets $12-$20.

Landau Murphy, Jr’s Holiday Show  The NBC TV “America’s Got Talent” winner transforms into America’s favorite Christmas Crooner, performing all your favorite sounds of the season by Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Andy Williams and more from his “Christmas Made For Two” album, along with all your favorites from the Great American Songbook by saluting Sinatra, Nat “King” Cole, Dean Martin and more. Dec. 8, 8 p.m. at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Club, 7719 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda. bbjlive.com. Tickets $25.

 

Saturday, Dec. 9

Over, Under, Through  This art exhibit features sculptures and site-specific installations by three contemporary sculptors whose work focuses on the manipulation of common materials to create new three-dimensional forms. On display Nov. 11 – Dec. 16 with Artist Talk and Tour Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. at BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown. blackrockcenter.org.

Cedric Williams: Dereliction  Creating environments to support photographic images of sites found in a state of dereliction, Cedric Williams observes the ways in which buildings, surfaces and structures change upon abandonment in this art exhibit. On display through Dec. 16 at BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown. blackrockcenter.org.

Meditation class:   A class for beginners who want an introduction to meditation. 11 a.m.-noon. Meditation Museum, 9525 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. eventbrite.com. Free.

The Nutcracker  Since 1974, the Rockville Civic Ballet company has annually performed this holiday classic. Six performances through Dec. 10 at Fitzgerald Theatre, 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville. rockvillemd.gov.  $12.50-$17.

“Mosaics: One Piece at a Time”  This exhibition highlights the breadth of current work from a select group of mosaic artists from across the region.  Featured artists include Bonnie Fitzgerald, Yulia Hanansen, Ali Mirsky, Jane Pettit, Carol Talkov, Meghan Walsh and Roslyn Zinner. On display through Dec. 9 at Park View Gallery, Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. Glen Echo. glenechopark.org. Free.

Sunday, Dec. 10

Glenview Mansion Holiday Open House  Children may enjoy a day with Santa and Mrs. Claus and participate in fun crafts and activities. The Heavenly Handbells of Trinity Lutheran Church, the HGeart of Maryland Chorus, and Watkins Mill High School Camber Singers provide music during the open house. Dec. 3 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Glenview Mansion, 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville. rockvillemd.gov.  Free.

Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra  The Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra (BCJO), named for the (now closed) D.C. jazz club  is a D.C.-based 17-piece big band. BCJO performs a holiday concert that includes classics from Ellington, Basie, and Strayhorn. Dec. 10 at 3 and 7 p.m. The Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. strathmore.org. $30.

Strathmore Children’s Chorus: Peace, Paz, Shalom  Dec. 10 at 4 p.m. This concert features music and texts from a wide range of perspectives, and shines a light on how song and story are powerful tools for creating peace and compassion. The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. strathmore.org. $18.

AFI Holiday Classics Film Series  Opening the series: 1949 romantic comedy HOLIDAY AFFAIR, starring Janet Leigh and Robert Mitchum, and Vincente Minnelli’s heartwarming musical MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, starring Judy Garland. Various show times. Film series through Dec. 24 at AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring.  www.afi.com.

 

Watch the latest CultureSpot MC video, below, for more events happening this month: