End-of-year work deadlines, travel, company parties, kids’ school events, gift exchanges, family dinners—with the annual increase in obligations, the most wonderful time of year can feel more like a chore than a reason for cheer.
One way to get through it is to soak in some carols, turn on some twinkly lights and escape into a world where sugar plum fairies exist; generosity reigns; and we’re reminded of all that’s happy about the holiday season. Fortunately, the Reno area is bursting this month with holiday theater, dance and musical performances guaranteed to lift your spirits and banish your inner Grinch back into his hidey hole.
A.V.A. Ballet Theatre
Nevada’s largest ballet company will reprise its popular production of The Nutcracker, which welcomes more than 6,000 people every year. Accompanied by the Reno Philharmonic, the company will take the stage at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts Friday through Sunday, Dec. 20-22, for five performances. As always, local dancers will be joined by visiting professionals from some of the finest companies around the country, in leading roles.
Avaballet.com
Brewery Arts Center
Tired of the same old chestnuts? The BAC is the place for wholly unique holiday productions. It officially kicks off the capital city’s holiday season on Friday, Dec. 6 with the Silver & Snowflake Festival at the Capitol Building, featuring the annual tree-lighting ceremony, caroling, sleigh rides and more.
Then, on Tuesday, Dec. 10, local historians David and Gayle Woodruff present their holiday Chautauqua, You’ll Never Escape the Fruitcake!, in which they take a humorous look at the histories of some of our favorite and not-so favorite (e.g. fruitcake) holiday traditions.
The folks at BAC are taking a stand: Die Hard is a Christmas movie! At least that’s what they’re asserting on Friday, Dec. 13, with a screening of the classic action movie starring Bruce Willis that’s set on Christmas Eve. With your ticket, you also can enjoy a pre-show happy hour with cocktails and snacks.
The center is also kicking off a brand-new tradition with its first annual Tamale Festival on Sunday, Dec. 15. In addition to sampling an array of tamales from local vendors, enjoy live music, dancing and more, plus cast your vote for the tamale-makers who deserve cash prizes!
Finally, on Saturday, Dec. 21, BAC presents a free event like nothing else you’ll experience this season: Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night. Four complementary pieces composed by Kline are interwoven through an app attendees download to their phones. After a countdown, everyone pushes play at once, then travels together on foot around the Capitol Building, bringing the joyous wall of holiday sound along with them.
Breweryarts.org
Brüka Theatre
The Brüka crew brings its long-running Nutcracker spoof, Buttcracker, to the pageant world with Little Miss Buttcracker, Dec. 6-21. Spend a couple of hours with Olive and the Hoover family from Little Miss Sunshine (rather than Clara and the Stahlbaums). This is not for ballet purists! Forget Mother Ginger and the Arabian dancers; this hilarious sendup features Honey Boo Boo, JoJo Siwa and a whole pageant’s worth of crazy contestants, à la Dance Moms, showcasing their talents and vying for the audience’s votes.
Bruka.org
Good Luck Macbeth Theatre Company
Revisit your favorite gray gals with the return of GLM’s The Golden Girls Holiday Extravaganza, Dec. 5-21. This beloved local tradition brings us the Fab Four—Dorothy, Sophia, Rose and Blanche—played by actors in drag who plop us right back into four favorite episodes (two holiday-themed) of the ’80s sitcom. In between, catch vintage commercial breaks and intermission antics, courtesy of the GLM cast. With the purchase of champagne seating, enjoy the ladies’ fave treat: mini cheesecakes!
Goodluckmacbeth.org
Grand Sierra Resort
It’s like Santa’s workshop, but with lasers! Catch Santa’s Epic Holiday Show at the GSR, Dec. 19-31. This family-friendly, cirque-style production features high-energy performances merged with cutting-edge technology like holograms, projection mapping and interactive lasers for some unexpected holiday magic.
Grandsierraresort.com
Reno Dance Company
On Sunday, Dec. 15, RDC presents two performances of The Nutcracker, now in its 22nd year, at the GSR. The show features more than 100 performers, including 20 gymnasts and a mix of 30-35 adults and children, as well as elaborate set pieces and some extra-athletic choreography. Pro tip: Skip the fees and buy your tickets in person at the GSR.
Grandsierraresort.com/entertainment/concerts-and-shows/the-nutcracker
Reno Jazz Orchestra
Yuletide grooves are on tap at the University of Nevada, Reno’s Nightingale Concert Hall with A Very Soulful Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 21. World-renowned guest R&B/soul/rock artist Tasche, who has performed with the likes of Prince and Michael Jackson, joins the 17-piece RJO for a night of big-band holiday tunes with a soul and funk spin.
Renojazzorchestra.org
Reno Philharmonic
For some of us, the only way to officially kick off the holiday season is with the Reno Phil’s annual Spirit of the Season. This family production, coming Friday through Sunday, Dec. 6-8, features classic and contemporary music for Christmas, Hannukah and more, not to mention dance and other impressive performances from guest artists and companies, a sing-along and even a visit from Santa.
Renophil.com
Reno Wind Symphony
About 70 local musicians come together to present two free holiday concerts this month. First is A Musical Winter Wonderland, on Sunday, Dec. 15, at UNR’s Nightingale Concert Hall, and Sunday, Dec. 22 at the Paradise Ballroom at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa. It features a blend of classic holiday favorites and unexpected arrangements that are sure to get you in the holiday spirit.
On Friday, Dec. 20, the RWS Holiday Trombone Choir will present an hour of warm, richly toned seasonal classics at the Airport Gardens hotel.
Renowindsymphony.com
Shamrock Productions
SIAMSA—A Celtic Christmas returns Thursday, Dec. 5, to the GSR. This beloved, long-running production written, directed and choreographed by Amanda Coulson, features world-champion Irish dancers, who play characters on a journey to find the true meaning of Christmas. In addition to traditional dance numbers, enjoy harpist Marina Roznitovsky, the Celtic Choir, bagpipers, vocalists and actors.
Grandsierraresort.com/entertainment/concerts-and-shows/siamsa
Sierra Nevada Ballet
The Nutcracker is the world’s most-performed ballet and a long-held holiday tradition. While it’s touted as family friendly, some members—particularly the youngest ones—may find it hard to sit through in its entirety. That’s why, 22 years ago, SNB’s artistic director, Rosine Bena, created The Peanutcracker: The Story in a Nutshell, an abridged version written specifically for families with young children (through fourth-grade). This year’s production features professional dancers and apprentices from the company, as well as 80 dance students from the local area. In addition to school performances, the show will appear for the public on Sunday, Dec. 1, at the Pioneer Center, and Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Carson City Community Center.
sierranevadaballet.org
TheatreWorks of Northern Nevada
Dickens’ classic holiday tale gets a modern makeover in A New London Christmas Carol, coming to the TWNN stage Dec. 6-15. In this musical with a Broadway-caliber score, female protagonist Belle Anderson lives a miserly existence in New London, Conn., after a lifetime of heartbreak and loss—that is, until a few visitors help thaw her hard, cold heart.
Twnn.org
The ROW
Baby, it’s cold inside—it’s Christmas on Ice, the holiday show in residence at the Eldorado Showroom through Dec. 29. In this thrilling, heartwarming show for the whole family, synchronized and freestyle figure skaters perform on a real ice rink to holiday tunes, accompanied by singers and dancers, all working magic on ice.
Caesars.com/the-row-reno