The holiday season is the perfect time to take in Island entertainment, From the St. George Theatre’s annual Christmas Show to the Shakespearean Theatre’s A Christmas Carol…there’s something for everyone

by JENNIFER VIKSE

Staten Island Ballet
The Staten Island Ballet will perform the holiday classic The Nutcracker on December 17th at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and on December 18th at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the Center for the Arts at the College of Staten Island. For tickets, visit the ballet’s website (siballettheater.org).

Harbor Lights Theater Company
A special show, Broadway Spotlight, will be presented for one night only on December 3rd at 8 p.m. at the College of Staten Island’s Williamson Theater. It features Tony winner Beth Leavel, Tony nominee Gavin Lee, Drama Desk nominee Elizabeth Stanley, Alton Fitzgerald Whitehead, and Quinn Van Antwerp, who will re-create some of their most memorable musical moments as they celebrate Broadway. Also scheduled: a backstage, behind-the-scenes Q&A with the performers. Tickets are available at 718.273.7516 for $60, $65, and $95.

Richmond County Orchestra
The Richmond County Orchestra adds holiday cheer with its annual celebration in song and dance on Sunday, December 18th at 3 p.m. at St. John’s University, (300 Howard Avenue). The conductor will be Maestro Alan Aurelia. For information and tickets, visit the orchestra’s Facebook page (facebook.com/riversideoperacompany) or call 718.876.7945.

Little Victory Theatre
This gem, at 4089 Victory Boulevard, is dedicated to bringing original and classic/contemporary theater to Staten Island. This season’s performances included Wait Until Dark, a drama about a recently blinded woman whose apartment is invaded by a trio of thugs. The shows will be presented November 17th, 18th, and 19th at 8 p.m. and November 20th at 2 p.m. Then, to kick off the holiday season, the theater will present A Rainbow Holiday, a comedy about a Thanksgiving gone terribly wrong. Performance dates are November 25th and 26th and December 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at 8 p.m., with matinees on November 27 and December 4th at 2 p.m. Admission is $20; students and seniors are $17. Because of limited seating, reservations are strongly encouraged. Call 347.355.8989.

ST. GEORGE THEATRE
From December 9th to 11th, the St. George Theatre Restoration organization will stage its 13th annual Christmas Show, a fundraiser for the theater. The cast consists of more than 100 volunteer performers, including Vinnie Medugno, Marcus Simeone, and aerialist Amanda Topaz. The two-hour production will include such favorites as “We Need a Little Christmas,” “Let it Snow,” “Silver Bells,” “O Holy Night,” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”

Shows are Friday, December 9th at 7 p.m., Saturday December 10th at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday December 11th at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $45, $25, and $15 ($20 and $10 on Sunday night, at all levels). Go to Ticketmaster.com or call the box office at 718.442.2900, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre Company
This always popular company has produced shows in many Island venues, including the St. George Theatre, Veterans Memorial Hall, The Music Hall at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, The Hall at St. Andrew’s Church, and The Conference House. This holiday season, don’t miss its much-anticipated annual performance of A Christmas Carol at the Conference House. For tickets or information, visit the company’s website (sistny.org).

Musical Chairs Chamber Ensemble
Since 2004, Musical Chairs has been Staten Island’s only classical chamber music ensemble. On November 20th, it will perform the Marilyn Keshecki Memorial Concert, in memory of the ensemble’s beloved founding board member and community preservationist, at Christ Church in New Brighton at 1 p.m. For tickets, or to check out what’s coming up for the 2017 season, go to the ensemble’s website (mcensemble.org).

Sea View Playwright’s Theatre
This venue, located on the grounds of the Sea View Rehabilitation Center on Brielle Avenue, will premier its production of Mothers and Sons, by Terrence McNally, on December 2nd. (The theater stages five to six traditional plays each year.) For tickets or more info, follow the theater on Facebook (facebook.com/SeaViewPlaywrightsTheatre) or on Twitter (@seaviewtheatre).

Hemlock Theatre
Local artist Jenny Kelly created the Hemlock Theatre Company in 2014 to explore the human condition through musicals, established plays, original works, dark comedy, and the macabre. Visit the theater’s website for the 2017 schedule of shows (hemlock theatreco.com).

In the Wings
Since 2011, In The Wings has been producing quality performances designed to engage the community in all aspects of theater, from production to enjoyment. This past year, the company presented Beauty and the Beast; the current production (playing through November 20th) is Little Shop of Horrors. For tickets or a complete schedule, go to the theater’s website (inthewingsproductionsny.com).