McGRATHPR.com – As twinkling lights brighten New England’s longest nights, a festive season of arts, entertainment, education and cultural experiences unfolds across Greater Boston, the South Shore, Cape Cod and beyond. From holiday concerts and seasonal theatre to sing-alongs, exhibitions and winter performances, discover programs that warm the heart from Veterans Day through January. Enjoy all that’s ahead:
South Shore Conservatory
sscmusic.org
South Shore Conservatory Presents: ‘New York Voices Farewell Tour’
Sunday, November 15, 3 pm
Scituate Center for the Performing Arts, 606 Chief Justice Cushing Hwy, Scituate
Tickets: $33 to $60 at ci.ovationtix.com/37102/production/1286247?performanceId=11853577
This special South Shore Conservatory Premier Concert Series performance delivers the last chance to experience New York Voices live, as the internationally-celebrated vocal jazz ensemble brings its farewell tour to Scituate Center for the Performing Arts. Known for dazzling close harmony, swing, and sophisticated jazz-pop arrangements, New York Voices has set the standard for vocal ensemble artistry for decades. This special concert is both a celebration and a farewell — a rare opportunity to hear their signature sound, impeccable musicianship, and warm stage presence one final time on the South Shore.
SSC School of Dance Presents ‘The Nutcracker’
Saturday, December 5, and Sunday, December 6, 1 pm
Duxbury Performing Arts Center, 73 Alden Street, Duxbury
Tickets: $10 to $25, children under age 5 attend for free, at sscmusic.org/nutcracker
Experience the magic of “The Nutcracker” as SSC School of Dance presents this beloved holiday classic for the first time ever! This student-centered production is choreographed specifically for SSC dancers, giving students the opportunity to bring the story to life while showcasing their artistry, dedication, and growth. From Clara’s magical journey to the Land of Sweets, this special production celebrates the joy of dance and the talented students who make it possible.
‘SSC String Department Recital’
Saturday, December 12, 1 pm
Cox Hall at South Shore Conservatory, One Conservatory Drive, Hingham
Admission is free and open to the public
Celebrate the talent and dedication of SSC’s string students at the String Department Recital! Featuring performances by student violinists, violists, and cellists, this special recital showcases the musical growth, hard work, and artistry of SSC students. Join in for an inspiring afternoon of music celebrating the accomplishments of these young musicians.
‘South Shore Holiday Pops’
Sunday, December 13, 3 pm
Scituate Center for the Performing Arts, 606 Chief Justice Cushing Hwy, Scituate
Tickets: $33 to $60 at sscmusic.org/south-shore-holiday-pops-2026
Celebrate the season with “South Shore Holiday Pops,” a festive afternoon of orchestral favorites, beloved holiday melodies, and joyful music for the whole family. Maestro Jin Kim leads the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra in a concert designed to capture the spirit of the holidays from the first note to the final sing-along. Gather with friends and family for a sparkling seasonal tradition filled with celebration, nostalgia, and the unmistakable sound of the holidays. Be on the lookout for a special guest from the North Pole!
About South Shore Conservatory
South Shore Conservatory (SSC) is a community school for the arts on Boston’s South Shore, welcoming individuals of all ages and abilities. With campuses in Hingham and Duxbury, SSC’s programs provide creative opportunities for lifelong learning through outstanding faculty and nationally recognized offerings in music instruction, ensembles, dance, early childhood education, creative arts therapy, performance, and community and school partnerships. Learn more at sscmusic.org.
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre
Fall Rep Festival: ‘White Phoenix’ and ‘Jessica of Venice’
Two new plays running in repertory, November 5 through 22
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, 949 Commonwealth Ave., Boston
Single tickets: $40 adults; $25 BU faculty/staff, veterans and seniors (62+); $15 students with valid ID; free student rush (available day-of-performance at the Box Office with valid student ID), available exclusively at bostonplaywrights.org
Fall Rep Pass: $50 for both plays on the same day, available Saturday, November 14; Sunday, November 15; Saturday, November 21; and Sunday, November 22
Each production also offers Pay-What-You-Want preview performances, including $0
For group rates, contact Matt Hecker at mattheck@bu.edu
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre (BPT), Boston University’s award-winning professional theatre dedicated to new work, presents its “Fall Rep Festival,” featuring two new plays running in repertory: Yide Cai’s “White Phoenix,” directed by Dmitry Troyanovsky, and Rachel Beth Greene’s “Jessica of Venice,” directed by Josh Glenn-Kayden. The pairing brings together two distinct worlds: a Chinese family torn apart across an ocean, and an Orthodox Jewish community set in the present day. Performed on the same stage, the two plays ask a shared question: what is the cost of crossing the distance between two worlds?
‘White Phoenix’
By Yide Cai, directed by Dmitry Troyanovsky
Performances: Thursday, November 5, 7 pm; Friday, November 6, 8 pm; Saturday, November 7, 8 pm; Saturday, November 14, 2 pm; Sunday, November 15, 7 pm; Thursday, November 19, 7 pm; Saturday, November 21, 8 pm; Sunday, November 22, 2 pm
Pay-What-You-Want Previews: Thursday, November 5, 7 pm, and Friday, November 6, 8 pm
Post-show Conversation: Thursday, November 19, following the 7 pm performance
Told by just two actors, “White Phoenix” is a sweeping family drama that unfolds across decades and continents. The play follows a Chinese orphan who vows to find the sister he lost, tracing his path to adulthood in China alongside a dangerous entanglement with the daughter of a powerful political family. Meanwhile, his sister comes of age an ocean away, adopted into a prominent American senatorial family and drawn into a secret romance of her own. As their two stories finally converge, the siblings’ long-awaited reunion becomes a mirror for the fraught, complicated relationship between their two countries.
‘Jessica of Venice’
By Rachel Beth Greene, directed by Josh Glenn-Kayden
Performances: Thursday, November 12, 7 pm; Friday, November 13, 8 pm; Saturday, November 14, 8 pm; Sunday, November 15, 2 pm; Wednesday, November 18, 7 pm; Friday, November 20, 8 pm; Saturday, November 21, 2 pm; Sunday, November 22, 7 pm
Pay-What-You-Want Previews: Thursday, November 12, 7 pm, and Friday, November 13, 8 pm
Post-show Conversation: Saturday, November 21, following the 2 pm performance
Set in the present day but steeped in Early Modern echoes, “Jessica of Venice” follows a group of Orthodox Jewish schoolgirls who discover a banned copy of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” and become fascinated by its rebellious runaway daughter. For one restless teen caught between her tight-knit community and a budding crush outside it, the discovery starts to blur the line between the story on the page and the life she’s beginning to imagine for herself.
Jack Welch Residencies: Free Public Readings of ‘Everything After’ and ‘Miller Hill’
Sunday, December 6, 1 pm and 5 pm
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, 949 Commonwealth Ave., Boston
Admission is free; reservations are required at bostonplaywrights.org/jack-welch-residencies
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre (BPT) presents free public readings of two new plays developed through its annual Jack Welch Residencies. The readings close a week of development with each playwright, running December 1 through 6.
At 1 pm, the Jack Welch Developmental Residency presents “Everything After” by Masha Obolensky, directed by Shawn LaCount. It’s a fabulist tale about showing up for the people you love. Two siblings, ages 15 and 12, are coping with their mother’s departure when their long-absent father returns. Each must go on a separate journey to break the cycles of abandonment in their family. Reserve at ci.ovationtix.com/168/production/1293782
At 5 pm, the Jack Welch Developmental Fellowship presents “Miller Hill” by Sinan Ünel, directed by Scott Edmiston. Late one night, Greg visits the Provincetown pier looking for a ghost in a fishing boat. He wants to say goodbye to an old friend before he and Paul leave town. Spanning the AIDS epidemic and its losses, the play follows the lifelong friendship of four men in a Provincetown where past and present, the living and the dead, and memory and imagination meet. Reserve at ci.ovationtix.com/168/production/1293781
The Jack Welch Fund for Playwrights gives Boston Playwrights’ Theatre endowed support each year to develop new work by playwrights. The fund was seeded by the estate of Jack Welch, who died in 2017, in keeping with his wishes. He was a longtime champion of Boston’s theatre community through Baker’s Plays, StageSource, the Massachusetts Young Playwrights’ Project and the Boston Theater Marathon.
About Boston Playwrights’ Theatre
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, founded in 1981 by Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott, is an award-winning professional theatre dedicated to new work for the stage. Located on the campus of Boston University and led by Artistic Director Megan Sandberg-Zakian, BPT is home to the Boston University MFA in Playwriting Program and produces a full season of new plays each year, along with the annual Boston Theater Marathon and a festival for teenage writers.
For tickets, the complete performance schedule, and more information about the Fall Rep Festival, visit bostonplaywrights.org, or follow Boston Playwrights’ Theatre on Facebook and Instagram. Boston Playwrights’ Theatre is the only authorized seller of tickets for its productions; tickets are available exclusively at bostonplaywrights.org.
Metropolitan Wind Symphony (MetWinds)
metwinds.org
‘Holiday Pops: Ring in the Holidays’
Mark Olson, guest conductor
Saturday, December 5, 7 pm, cocktail hour at 6 pm
St. John of Damascus Church, 300 West Street, Dedham
Tickets: $20 adults, free for children under 15, available at stjohn.org/pops, and at the door to capacity
Free parking is available on site
MetWinds’ popular Holiday Pops concert returns for an evening filled with festive music, holiday spirit, and plenty of opportunities to celebrate with friends and family. Guest conductor Mark Olson leads the MetWinds in a joyful program of holiday favorites and seasonal surprises sure to put you in the holiday mood. Make the evening a special holiday outing, beginning with a festive cocktail hour at St. John’s before the concert. Afterward, linger for delicious desserts and coffee while enjoying the warmth and beauty of this lovely venue. It’s the perfect way to kick off the holiday season! Whether this is a cherished annual tradition or your first Holiday Pops with MetWinds, join us for an evening of music, celebration, and good cheer. Proceeds from the concert benefit our rehearsal home, the Church of St. John of Damascus.
About MetWinds
MetWinds, formally known as the Metropolitan Wind Symphony, was founded in 1971 by Jerry Gardner, and was honored with the Sudler Silver Scroll Award for Community Concert Bands from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. The all-volunteer ensemble draws more than 60 auditioned woodwind, brass and percussion musicians from over 30 communities across Massachusetts and neighboring states, and has called the town of Lexington home for 20 years. MetWinds is a longtime contributor to the region’s wind band literature through its Commissioning Fund and has helped shape the local music education landscape through programs including the Boston Festival of Bands and the Continuum series.
MetWinds’ concerts are funded in whole or in part by local cultural councils, chapters of Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts. MetWinds also participates in the Card to Culture Program, which offers reduced admission to EBT, WIC and Health Connector cardholders.
For tickets and more information, visit metwinds.org, email info@metwinds.org, or call 978-419-1697, and follow MetWinds on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
The Company Theatre Center for the Arts
Disney’s ‘Frozen’
November 27 through December 20; Fridays, 7:30 pm; Saturdays and Sundays, 3 pm
Additional performances: Thursday, December 17, 7:30 pm, and Saturday, December 19, 7:30 pm
The Company Theatre Center for the Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell
Tickets: $62 to $69, plus a temporary restoration fee, available at ci.ovationtix.com/35067/production/1255535
Love is a force of nature in this enchanting tale, based on the Oscar-winning animated feature film. This Broadway version of Disney’s “Frozen” features an adult cast bringing magic, music, and spectacle to the stage, enhanced by stunning scenery and celestial lighting effects. Don’t miss the area premiere of this holiday offering for all ages; an unforgettable journey of sisterhood and the enduring power of love.
‘Holidays with the Divas’
Tuesday, December 15, and Wednesday, December 16, 7:30 pm
The Company Theatre Center for the Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell
Tickets: $32 to $34, plus a temporary restoration fee, available at ci.ovationtix.com/35067/production/1257039
The Divas return to The Company Theatre stage to spread holiday cheer, performing holiday classics with a twist!
A temporary restoration fee is added to ticket prices this season, supporting the much-needed replacement of The Company Theatre’s stage floor, drapes, and new carpeting between the seats.
About The Company Theatre
Founded in 1979 by Zoe Bradford and Jordie Saucerman, The Company Theatre (TCT) is an award-winning regional theatre, a true treasure of Boston’s South Shore. The destination center for the arts produces 4 musicals, 1 play, 5 youth productions, and a concert and special event series annually, attracting more than 35,000 patrons. The Academy of Company Theatre (ACT) offers year-round technical training in voice, acting, dance, film and more to both youth and adults, and the heart of ACT – its renowned summer workshop.
The Company Theatre’s widely acclaimed integrity is rooted in presenting highly trained and dedicated actors, live music performances, lavish costuming, elaborate set work, as well as its outstanding educational programs. Its staff and artistic team are on a continuous quest for excellence by producing passionate, energetic, and professional quality performances. TCT attributes its success to its long-time dedicated staff and artisans who are proud to bring their craft to loyal patrons.
The Company Theatre’s box office is open on Mondays from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursdays from 11 am to 6 pm, and two hours before each performance. For more information, visit companytheatre.com, email boxoffice@companytheatre.com, call 781-871-2787, or follow The Company Theatre on social media.
Tutti Music Collective
‘Music of Latin America’
Saturday, November 14, 3 to 6 pm, doors open at 2:30 pm
Boynton Yards, 101 South Street, Somerville
Tickets: $12.50 to $50, available at Eventbrite.com
Open to all ages; free parking is available in the lot at 0 Windsor Street, across from 808 Windsor Street, Somerville
Tutti Music Collective (TMC) presents its fall concert “Music of Latin America,” exploring Latin music genres spanning the Caribbean Islands to the Andean Mountains. The concert features Tutti Music Collective’s chorus in collaboration with four local bands, including a Merengue band, a tango quartet, the TMC Latin Band, and members of the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, performing Latin jazz and other Latin music genres.
From bossa to bachata, from ranchera to rumba, Tejano to tango, Latin music spans a wide variety of genres and cultural experiences, with roots in West and Central Africa, Spain, Portugal and the Indigenous communities of Central and South America and the Caribbean islands. It is a long and storied history, sometimes painful, sometimes beautiful and always worth exploring. Audiences are invited to share in the joy and heartbreak of this music, and to join in or witness a dance party to close the afternoon – a festive, all-ages celebration for the whole family.
Boynton Yards offers a wheelchair-accessible entrance, seating and restrooms. Enter at the main doors below the “101 South Street” entrance and follow the signs to the first-floor conference and performance space.
About Tutti Music Collective
Tutti Music Collective is committed to showcasing the music of local minority, LGBTQIA+, and living composers. It believes that concert music should reflect the diversity of the world in which we live. The Collective strives to create spaces where all musicians’ voices are heard and celebrated. Through its performances, it aspires to engage audiences while championing inclusivity and equity in the arts. Learn more at thetuttimusiccollective.com. For more information about the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, visit revolutionarysnakeensemble.org.
Americana Theatre Company
americanatheatre.org
‘An Americana Christmas Carol’
Friday, December 11 through Monday, December 21, 7 pm (no performance Monday, December 14)
Plymouth Center for the Arts, 11 North Street, Plymouth
Tickets: $40 adults, $35 students and seniors, at americanatheatre.org/tickets
Run time: 90 minutes, content is appropriate for all ages
In ATC’s “An Americana Christmas Carol,” the show must go on! It’s opening night of “A Christmas Carol,” produced by formerly married couple Charles and Isabella Richardson, and everything has gone awry. Isabella is desperately trying to hold the production together, as Charles wreaks havoc on the cast, while portraying the role of angry, cruel, and bitter Ebenezer Scrooge – both onstage and off. Can the three ghosts of Christmas change his heart and save the production, his marriage, and Christmas as we know it? Take a seat and become enamored with this 10-actor captivating cast performing a wildly funny, poignant, and entrancing theatrical phenomenon.
Plymouth Center for the Arts is handicap accessible, and public parking is available street side and in nearby public lots.
To purchase tickets, or for more information about Americana Theatre Company, visit americanatheatre.org, or call 508-591-0282. For the latest updates, follow Americana Theatre Company on Facebook and Instagram.
About Americana Theatre Company
Americana Theatre Company (ATC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, professional theatre company serving the Greater Plymouth region. Founder and Executive Director Derek Martin, Managing Director David Friday, Artistic Director Jesse Sullivan, and Director of Education Erin Friday are the leadership team charged with continuing the founding vision of opening a professional theatre in America’s Hometown, a dream fulfilled in 2011. ATC’s audiences find that story is paramount. Stories entertain, teach, and thrill us … they can inspire us toward the betterment of mankind and help reveal the hidden mysteries of life. ATC is committed to hiring directors, actors, and designers of the highest caliber, with an aim to enliven the cultural atmosphere of the Plymouth community by offering excellent, entertaining theatre and theatre education to residents and visitors alike. For more information, visit americanatheatre.org, or call 508-591-0282.
Pilgrim Festival Chorus
pilgrimfestivalchorus.org
‘Seven Joys of Christmas: Music to Celebrate the Season’
Saturday, December 5, 7:30 pm, and Sunday, December 6, 1 pm and 4 pm
The Church of the Pilgrimage, 8 Town Square, Plymouth
Tickets: $25 general, $20 seniors and students over 18, free for children 18 and under and Card to Culture attendees, available at pilgrimfestivalchorus.org, limited availability at the door
Pilgrim Festival Chorus (PFC), a 60-member premier community choral ensemble comprised of experienced vocalists from over 15 South Shore communities, presents its winter concert, “Seven Joys of Christmas: Music to Celebrate the Season.” The program includes several different types of carols by well-known composers such as Mendelssohn and Vaughan Williams, as well as delightful contemporary music by Elaine Hagenberg, Shawn Kirchner, and Eric Whitacre. The centerpiece of the concert is Kirke Mechem’s 1964 suite of carols from different countries, “Seven Joys of Christmas,” which focuses on the various “joys” that come with this festive season.
‘Celebrate! Messiah and Carol Sing’
Sunday, December 20, 4 pm
The Church of the Pilgrimage, 8 Town Square, Plymouth
Tickets: $10, free for ages 18 and under and Card to Culture attendees, available at pilgrimfestivalchorus.org, limited tickets available at the door
To round out the holiday experience, Pilgrim Festival Chorus presents “Celebrate! Messiah and Carol Sing,” a collaborative undertaking among PFC singers, community members, and volunteer soloists, singing Part I (and the “Hallelujah” chorus) of one of the world’s best known choral works. Scores are available to borrow, and the event includes a sing-along of seasonal favorites. Come to sing or to listen!
About Pilgrim Festival Chorus
Pilgrim Festival Chorus (PFC) is a 60-member premier community choral ensemble, comprised of experienced vocalists from over 15 South Shore communities. PFC is under the artistic direction of William B. Richter and Elizabeth Chapman Reilly. The chorus is dedicated to presenting diverse choral works that educate, enrich, and engage both its members and its audiences. A typical season begins with a festive holiday concert in early December. In mid-December, PFC hosts its annual “Celebrate! Messiah and Carol Sing” where the audience is invited to become the chorus in one of the most famous choral pieces ever written. The spring concert often features a larger work with orchestra and soloists. In June, Pilgrim Festival Singers, an ensemble of PFC, performs concerts with repertoire drawn from Broadway and American traditions. Smaller volunteer groups serve the community by engaging in appearances at various local events.
PFC is pleased to participate in Mass Cultural Council’s Card to Culture program. Pilgrim Festival Chorus is supported, in part, by grants from Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, and its local cultural councils in Plymouth and Scituate.
For more information visit pilgrimfestivalchorus.org. Follow Pilgrim Festival Chorus on Facebook and Instagram.
American Ancestors
americanancestors.org
Exhibit: ‘Patriots of Color’
On view: Through December 31, during business hours
The Family Heritage Experience at American Ancestors, 97 Newbury Street, Boston
Admission: $10 for adults (including the Family Heritage Experience). Free admission for children under 12. American Ancestors members receive free admission.
Learn more at fhe.americanancestors.org
As the nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, “Patriots of Color” shines a light on the overlooked stories of Black, Native, and multiracial individuals who shaped the fight for independence.
Through original documents, interactive displays, and contemporary artistic interpretation, the exhibition highlights 26 Patriots from across the 13 colonies and connects their stories to living descendants today. Discover how genealogy and archival research help bring these powerful histories back into view.
The Family Heritage Experience and the gift shop on the first floor of American Ancestors at 97 Newbury Street, Boston, is open weekly Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 am to 6 pm, with exceptions for some holidays. The facility is located near Copley Square and the Arlington and Copley Green line T stations. For more information, including accessibility and amenities, visit fhe.americanancestors.org.
An Introduction to Calligraphy Workshop: Holiday Cards
November 14, 1 to 3 pm
American Ancestors, 97 Newbury Street, Boston
Fee: $25, including materials, available at my.americanancestors.org/3821/4015
Get ready for the upcoming holiday season by creating a beautifully hand-lettered card for a friend or loved one! This two-hour workshop is perfect for beginners and anyone wanting to explore the timeless art of calligraphy. Esther N, founder of Maker’s Favourite Designs, will teach you a brief history of calligraphy, basic strokes and techniques, letter formation, and how to bring letters together into beautiful words using a brush pen.
encouragement, and all the tools you need. By the end, you’ll have a beautiful holiday card or note to give to someone special.
The ticket price includes all necessary tools needed for the workshop, including soft and hard tip Fudenosuke Brush Pens and cardstock.
Esther of Maker’s Favourite Designs has honed her skills in calligraphy, engraving, and hand lettering over nearly a decade, bringing meticulous precision and passion to her work. Whether lettering name cards, engraving glassware and bottles at on-site events, addressing envelopes, or designing artistic pieces that explore the breadth of calligraphic styles, Esther pours her heart into her creations to ensure the highest quality and care goes into each piece.
She is trained in traditional pointed-pen and broad-edge calligraphy scripts, but is also proficient in modern brush lettering. She has collaborated with individuals, small businesses, and multinational corporations on projects big and small. She continues to expand her skill set by engaging with the calligraphy community, undertaking individual and group study of new techniques, and has even begun teaching beginners’ lettering lessons of her own to invite others along on her artistic journey. In everything she does, Esther’s love of the written word shines through.
Inking History: Charles Schulz’s Peanuts and the American Revolution
November 20, 4 to 5:15 pm
Online webinar. Live broadcast will be recorded; registrants will receive a link to the video post-event
Admission: Free, register at hubs.americanancestors.org/inking-history-charles-schulzs-peanuts-and-the-american-revolution
The World-Famous World War I Flying Ace, Joe Cool, and the world’s most recognized beagle, Snoopy, added another persona in the late 1990s: The Revolutionary War Patriot. Join Benjamin L. Clark, curator of the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, California, when he sheds light on and tells stories about cartoonist Charles Schulz’s love of history and his process for creating the iconic comic strip, “Peanuts.”
Benjamin L. Clark has served as the curator of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center since 2018. He has worked in museums since 2003 and currently leads the team that preserves and interprets Schulz’s legacy at the museum and around the globe. Benjamin is the co-author of the Eisner Award-winning book “Charles M. Schulz: The Art and Life of the Peanuts Creator in 100 Objects.” His work has been featured in The Washington Post, CBS Sunday Morning, and NPR’s Morning Edition.
Curt DiCamillo is American Ancestors’ Curator of Fine Art. As part of the Education team, he curates American Ancestors’ large art collection, lectures around the world, and hosts the celebrated American Ancestors Art & Architecture webinar series.
Revolutionary-Era Dancing Workshop
December 5, 4 to 6 pm
American Ancestors, 97 Newbury Street, Boston
Fee: $25, available at my.americanancestors.org/3821/4017
Party like it’s 1776! Join us for an afternoon of merriment as Barbara Pugliese, Artistic Director of Commonwealth Vintage Dancers, teaches dances reconstructed from eighteenth-century sources. In no time, you’ll be dancing across American Ancestors’ historic rotunda to lively, historic tunes! Revolutionary-era refreshments will be served should you wish to take a short reprieve from the revelry! No partner and no prior dance experience are needed, though participants should be able to walk briskly and follow directions.
About American Ancestors
American Ancestors® is a national nonprofit center for family history, heritage & culture based in Boston, Massachusetts, that has been setting the gold standard for genealogical research since its founding in 1845. Today, American Ancestors serves 400K+ members and subscribers through AmericanAncestors.org, one of the world’s largest online collections of family history resources. In 2025, American Ancestors launched the Family Heritage Experience, an interactive, state-of-the-art exhibition that introduces visitors to the joy of family history research, located at 97 Newbury Street at our headquarters in Boston. American Ancestors is also home to the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center, which preserves New England’s Jewish history, and 10 Million Names, a project dedicated to finding the names of the enslaved men, women, and children in pre- and post-colonial America before emancipation. For more information, visit americanancestors.org.
About The Family Heritage Experience
The Family Heritage Experience—an interactive, state-of-the-art exhibition that introduces visitors to the joy of family history research—was launched in 2025 by American Ancestors®, a national center for family history, heritage, and culture. The Family Heritage Experience is located on the first floor of American Ancestors’ headquarters at 97 Newbury Street, in Boston, Massachusetts. For more information, visit fhe.americanancestors.org.
About 10 Million Names
10 Million Names is dedicated to recovering the names of the estimated ten million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America (specifically, the territory that would become the United States) between the 1500s and 1865. 10 Million Names is engaging a collaborative network of expert genealogists, cultural organizations, and community-based family historians. Together we will amplify the voices of people who have been telling their family stories for centuries, connect researchers and data partners with people seeking answers to family history questions, and expand access to data, resources, and information about enslaved African Americans. For more information, visit 10millionnames.org.
Neil McGarry
Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” A Solo Performance
Directed by Ross MacDonald, starring Actor Neil McGarry
2026 13th Season Tour:
Friday, November 27 through Sunday, November 29, Auburn Public Theatre, Auburn, NY
Sunday, December 6, The Rogue Theatre, Tucson, AZ
Monday, December 7, CPAC, Green Valley, AZ
Wednesday, December 9, Newton Presbyterian Church, Newton, MA
Thursday, December 10, and Saturday, December 12, Saco River Theatre, Buxton, ME
Friday, December 11, Thacher Hall, Yarmouth Port, MA
Sunday, December 13, Spire Center for Performing Arts, Plymouth, MA
Friday, December 18, and Saturday, December 19, Vokes Players Theatre, Wayland, MA
Sunday, December 20, Sandwich Arts Alliance’s Glasstown Stage, Sandwich, MA
Wednesday, December 23, Hyannis Arts Hall, 81 Willow Avenue, Hyannis, MA
Run time: 2 hours, including a 10-minute intermission
Actor Neil McGarry tours his award-winning solo performance of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” for the thirteenth year, across the U.S. in December 2026. Directed by Ross MacDonald, McGarry’s performance was named “Best of Boston” by critic Jules Becker and won “Best Solo Performance” from the Independent Reviewers of New England in 2014.
Armed only with a bare stage and Dickens’ glorious words, McGarry delivers the perennial holiday classic in a tour de force that has left audiences riveted from Boston to Prague. Joyous, witty, and captivating, “A Christmas Carol” is a fully staged, full-throated leap into Dickens’ most famous story, delivered with a simplicity that disarms and touches the heart.
For the last twelve years, December has found McGarry, lugging his trunk, on the road with “A Christmas Carol.” He began in 2013, touring Cape Cod and Massachusetts’s South Shore. By 2018 and 2019, “A Christmas Carol” was being seen on stages across the European continent, as well as Ireland and the U.K., with performances in Innsbruck, Dublin, London, Bath, Basel, Brunico, Dusseldorf, Geneva, Co. Leitrim, and Prague. From 2021 to 2025, McGarry was on the road here at home for five sold-out seasons. This year’s tour begins in upstate New York at the Auburn Public Theatre, then heads west to Arizona with performances at the Rogue Theatre in Tucson and CPAC in Green Valley, before returning home to New England for performances at Newton Presbyterian Church; Saco River Theatre in Buxton, Maine; Spire Center for Performing Arts in Plymouth; Vokes Players Theatre in Wayland; and on Cape Cod at Thacher Hall in Yarmouth Port, Sandwich Arts Alliance at the Glasstown Stage in Sandwich, and Hyannis Arts Hall.
About Neil McGarry
A professional actor for over thirty years, Neil McGarry received his training at the National Shakespeare Conservatory and is the founder and former Artistic Director of The Bay Colony Shakespeare Company. Recent work includes “The Weight” (with Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is currently playing in cinemas; N. Richard Nash’s “The Rainmaker” (Hyannis Arts Hall, Plymouth Center for the Arts, and Glasstown Stage); Noël Coward’s “Private Lives” (Saco River Theatre); “Eine Billion Dollars” and “Miss Fallaci” (as actor Joseph Cotten) for Paramount Plus, streaming on Apple TV; “Masas/Sisters” (“Best Film” and “Best Director” at the Warsaw International Film Festival, and multiple other awards in film festivals across Europe); and “Hill of Vision.” “Sisters” and “Hill of Vision” are currently streaming on Amazon Prime. McGarry has made multiple appearances with the Cape Symphony, Plymouth Philharmonic, and the Fremont Symphony in California. For more information, visit neilmcgarry.com.
Concord Women’s Chorus
concordwomenschorus.org
‘Sing We Noel: Songs of Peace and Joy’
Saturday, December 5, 4 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street, Concord
Tickets:$30 per person, at simpletix.com/e/sing-we-noel-songs-of-peace-and-joy-tickets-293491 and at the door, limited to capacity
From a vast catalogue of traditional carols and anthems, Concord Women’s Chorus (CWC) offers luxurious arrangements of some of the genre’s best and most-beloved tunes. Mendelssohn’s exquisite writing for women’s voices (“Laudate Pueri” and “Veni Pueri”) leads the concert, giving way to sweeping arrangements of “Away in a Manger,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Sing We Now of Christmas” and more. Witty and harmonically rich arrangements are heard in Michele Weir’s jazz versions of “Winter Wonderland,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and others. Dan Forrest’s gorgeous “Shalom” completes the concert – a heartfelt audience favorite.
Guest artist Kenneth Mok, violinist, is one of Boston’s best, having appeared as a soloist with orchestras including Collegium Musicum Hong Kong, Boston Chamber Orchestra, UMass Boston Chamber Orchestra, and Hong Kong Baptist University Orchestra. Closing with a rousing carol sing-along, the program is sure to please and add joy and warmth to a chilly winter afternoon.
CWC is pleased to announce our participation in the Mass Cultural Council’s Card to Culture program in collaboration with the Department of Transitional Assistance and hundreds of organizations by making cultural programming accessible to those for whom cost is a barrier. We offer two $10 tickets per EBT cardholder.
For more information, performance details or to join Concord Women’s Chorus, email manager@concordwomenschorus.org visit concordwomenschorus.org, or follow Concord Women’s Chorus on Facebook and Instagram.
About Concord Women’s Chorus
Concord Women’s Chorus (CWC), based in Concord, Massachusetts, is a 45-singer ensemble fostering the power in women’s voices through song. Singers hail from Concord and the greater Boston area. Artistic Director Jane Ring Frank conducts the chorus performing a wide variety of choral music, ranging from early music to contemporary repertoire, with an emphasis on works written for women’s voices.
The chorus began in 1960 as the Concord Madrigals, a small group of women who expressed, through song, the strength of female community. Over the years the group has increased in size and capacity and greatly expanded its repertoire. In 2005, the Concord Madrigals became Concord Women’s Chorus, a name that reflects not only the evolution of the chorus but the abiding power of women’s voices.
In addition to concerts, CWC often engages in other performances and projects. The ensemble has engaged in several concert tours in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. For more information or to join CWC, email manager@concordwomenschorus.org, visit concordwomenschorus.org, or follow Concord Women’s Chorus on Facebook and Instagram.
Southeastern Philharmonic Orchestra
southeasternphil.org
‘Symphonic Christmas Spectacular’
Friday, December 4, 7:30 pm
East Weymouth Congregational Church, 1320 Commercial Street, East Weymouth
Tickets: $20 general admission, $30 per family, available in advance at zeffy.com or facebook.com/sanctuaryhall
Southeastern Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Nathaniel Meyer, presents its “Symphonic Christmas Spectacular,” ringing in the holiday season with a festive evening of orchestral music at East Weymouth Congregational Church.
‘Holiday Concert’
Sunday, December 6, 2:30 pm
Whitman Town Hall, 54 South Avenue, Whitman
Admission is free; donations to the Whitman Food Pantry are gladly accepted
Southeastern Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Nathaniel Meyer, presents its annual “Holiday Concert” at Whitman Town Hall, a free afternoon of seasonal favorites for the whole community. Concertgoers are invited to bring donations for the Whitman Food Pantry. The “Holiday Concert” is sponsored by the Whitman Cultural Council, a local agency supported by Mass Cultural Council.
About Southeastern Philharmonic Orchestra
Considered the oldest continual civic orchestra in the country, Southeastern Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) was founded in 1914 as the Whitman Orchestral Club. The orchestra’s mission is to provide fun and experience for musicians and audiences of all ages and levels of accomplishment. Learn more at southeasternphil.org.
Choral Art Society of the South Shore
‘A Holiday Celebration: From Messiah to Merry!’
Sunday, December 6, 4 pm
Scituate Center for the Performing Arts (at Scituate High School), 606 Chief Justice Cushing Hwy, Scituate
Tickets: $25 general admission, $10 Card to Culture holders, free for ages 18 and under, available at choralartsociety.org
The Choral Art Society of the South Shore, led by Artistic Director and Conductor Danica A. Buckley, invites audiences to an afternoon of wonderful music, holiday spirit, and community singing. With professional soloists, a chamber ensemble and pianist Edward Poston, the chorus shares the glorious Christmas portion of Handel’s “Messiah,” including the beloved “Hallelujah” chorus – and this time, audience members won’t just listen, they’ll have a chance to join in and sing it, too!
The holiday celebration also includes Judith Clurman and David Chase’s beautiful Hanukkah piece, “Eight Days of Lights,” familiar seasonal favorites, and a joyful audience carol sing, from “O Come, All Ye Faithful” to “Jingle Bells” and “Deck the Hall.” Bringing audiences together across traditions, generations, and musical tastes, there’s something for everyone – whether a love of the grandeur of “Messiah,” the warmth of a familiar carol, or the fun of singing with a crowd.
About Choral Art Society of the South Shore
is an educational, non-profit organization dedicated to bringing outstanding choral music to the picturesque communities of Massachusetts’ South Shore. Our members and audience are from every community in the area, including the many cities and towns of Norfolk and Plymouth Counties. Averaging 60 members, CAS has been a stalwart in the New England choral community since 1958. For more than 65 years, CAS has performed an extensive repertoire of choral music from the Renaissance to the 21st century with professional orchestra and soloists. Known for the exceptional quality of its concerts, CAS has set the standard on the South Shore.
CAS singers and audiences experience the great classical works of such composers as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Brahms, Fauré, Haydn, Puccini, and Schubert as well as more contemporary composers such as Britten, Rutter, and Vaughan Williams. No two concerts are alike, and they represent musical offerings that span hundreds of years, a multitude of nationalities, and musical styles from oratorios to American spirituals. The quality of CAS concerts springs from a single common bond shared by all members — a love of singing and sharing outstanding music with our community. From the known to the new; from the emotional power of large choral works to the tenderness of smaller a cappella pieces; from dramatic and innovative contemporary works to lighthearted seasonal music — CAS does it all.
We welcome singers of all ages twice a year ahead of our Winter and Spring concert seasons (once in September and once in January). Our members have a wide range of musical experience — though previous training and choral singing is helpful; it is not a requirement to sing. Each season begins with two open rehearsals that allow new people to join us in song. Members are always welcome to sing in one or both seasons. Learn more at choralartsociety.org.
image by McGrathPR
Cape Cod Chorale
capecodchorale.org
‘Northern Lights – Celebrate the Season!’
Saturday, December 12, and Sunday, December 13, 4 pm
Osterville United Methodist Church, 57 Pond Street, Osterville
Tickets: $25 general admission, $10 Card to Culture holders, free for ages 18 and under, available at capecodchorale.org or at the door
Cape Cod Chorale, led by Artistic Director and Conductor Danica A. Buckley, presents an afternoon of music from northern climes, from Alaska to Norway, filled with holiday spirit and community singing, including a sing-along on the “Hallelujah!” chorus from Handel’s “Messiah,” as well as familiar carols. Two selections from “Frozen” will delight children of all ages! The chorale also celebrates the close of Hanukkah with Judith Clurman and David Chase’s beautiful piece, “Eight Days of Lights.”
Accompanied by pianist Edward Poston and a chamber ensemble, the chorale sings of icy cold, snowy forests, dark skies, bright stars, and the warmth of love and joy. These concerts are likely to sell out, so early ticket purchase is recommended.
About Cape Cod Chorale
The Cape Cod Chorale is a community chorus comprised of about 65 SATB voices, with membership drawn from middle and upper Cape Cod communities, from Chatham to Falmouth, truly representing the Cape Cod Community. The goal of the Chorale is to promote the beauty of choral music and to provide people who love to sing the opportunity to raise their voices in harmony. Membership is open to all without an audition. Each year the Chorale provides a scholarship to one or more graduating high school seniors who will be going on to pursue a degree in music.
Since 1982 the Cape Cod Chorale has pleased audiences with a wide range of classical and contemporary choral works. Each year the Chorale presents several concert series of two performances each in varying Cape venues. We rehearse seriously, we sing challenging pieces – and we have terrific fun doing so! Please join us and celebrate music that raises the spirit and pleases the soul. Learn more at capecodchorale.org.
Hyannis Arts Hall
hyannisartshall.com
Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol,’ A Solo Performance by Neil McGarry
Wednesday, December 23, 7:00 pm
Hyannis Arts Hall, 81 Willow Avenue, Hyannis
Tickets available at hyannisartshall.com
Run time: 2 hours, including a 10-minute intermission
Hyannis Arts Hall welcomes actor Neil McGarry and his award-winning solo performance of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” the final stop of his thirteenth annual December tour. Directed by Ross MacDonald, McGarry’s performance was named “Best of Boston” by critic Jules Becker and won “Best Solo Performance” from the Independent Reviewers of New England in 2014.
Armed only with a bare stage and Dickens’ glorious words, McGarry delivers the perennial holiday classic in a tour de force that has left audiences riveted from Boston to Prague. Joyous, witty, and captivating, “A Christmas Carol” is a fully staged, full-throated leap into Dickens’ most famous story, delivered with a simplicity that disarms and touches the heart. Boston Arts Review’s Beverly Creasey wrote that McGarry’s characters are “so sincere and innocently drawn, that you give yourself over to the story like a child.” McGarry, who appeared at Hyannis Arts Hall in N. Richard Nash’s “The Rainmaker,” returns for this one-night-only holiday performance.
McGarry began touring “A Christmas Carol” in 2013 across Cape Cod and Massachusetts’s South Shore. By 2018 and 2019, the production was seen on stages across Europe, Ireland and the U.K., with performances in Innsbruck, Dublin, London, Bath, Basel, Brunico, Dusseldorf, Geneva, Co. Leitrim, and Prague, followed by five sold-out seasons at home from 2021 to 2025. His December 2026 tour also includes stops in Arizona, New York, Maine and Massachusetts, including the Spire Center for the Arts in Plymouth, Vokes Theatre in Wayland, Thacher Hall, Sandwich Arts Alliance, and the Cotuit Center for the Arts.
A professional actor for over thirty years, McGarry trained at the National Shakespeare Conservatory and is the founder and former Artistic Director of The Bay Colony Shakespeare Company. Recent work includes N. Richard Nash’s “The Rainmaker” (Glasstown Stage), Noël Coward’s “Private Lives” (Saco River Theatre), and screen projects including “The Weight,” with Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe, “Eine Billion Dollars” and “Miss Fallaci” for Paramount Plus, and the award-winning film “Masas/Sisters.” He has made multiple appearances with the Cape Symphony, Plymouth Philharmonic, and the Fremont Symphony in California. For more information, visit neilmcgarry.com.
About Hyannis Arts Hall
Hyannis Arts Hall is a year-round home for arts, culture and community in the heart of downtown Hyannis. As the flagship cultural home of Hyannis Arts & Film, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, the Hall brings artists, audiences and community together through theater, music, film, literature, markets, educational programs and community events at 81 Willow Avenue, a longtime community gathering place. Its programs include the Hyannis Film Festival, Hyannis Arts & Flea and a growing range of performing, cinematic, literary and community arts experiences.
Through its programming and support of local and visiting artists, Hyannis Arts Hall works to make the arts accessible, strengthen creative connections and contribute to a vibrant cultural life in Hyannis and across Cape Cod. Learn more at hyannisartshall.com, and follow Hyannis Arts Hall and Hyannis Film Festival on Facebook and Instagram.
Jason Bird Productions
Jason Bird’s ‘Parlor of Impossibilities’
Sunday, November 15, 4 and 7 pm – Delamar West Hartford, 1 Memorial Road, West Hartford, CT
Sunday, November 22, 4 and 7 pm – Delamar Westport, 1595 Post Road East, Westport, CT
Sunday, December 13, 4 and 7 pm – Delamar Westport, 1595 Post Road East, Westport, CT
Friday, December 18, 4 and 7 pm – Delamar Mystic, 105 Greenmanville Avenue, Mystic, CT
Sunday, December 20, 4 and 7 pm – Delamar West Hartford, 1 Memorial Road, West Hartford, CT
Tickets: $125 to $250, VIP options available, at ci.ovationtix.com/37012 or 725-278-1852
Run time: 90 minutes, limited to 60 guests, recommended for ages 12 and older
Magician and mentalist Jason Bird, longtime Las Vegas headliner, brings “Parlor of Impossibilities,” his intimate evening of magic and mentalism, to his home state of Connecticut. Performances at Delamar West Hartford and Delamar Westport continue through the holiday season, and the captivating show makes its Mystic debut in December at Delamar Mystic. Each 90-minute performance offers an intimate room of just 60 guests “a night so exclusive, even reality isn’t invited.”
Inspired by the 19th-century tradition of parlor and salon magic, “Parlor of Impossibilities” moves deliberately in the opposite direction from Las Vegas spectacle. No stage separates performer from audience. Sleight of hand, psychological illusion, mind reading and impossible predictions unfold only feet, and sometimes inches, from where guests are seated, and at times the audience becomes part of the illusion itself. Paired with Delamar’s hospitality and dining, each performance is designed as a complete evening out, suited to date nights, special occasions, holiday gatherings, corporate groups and visitors. Guests are invited to dress for the occasion in cocktail or evening attire, if they wish.
Ticket options can include a meet-and-greet with Jason Bird, a photo with the artist, a Q&A, and additional close-up magic. The $250 front-row VIP package includes the meet-and-greet and a souvenir “Parlor of Impossibilities” deck of cards. The show contains no profanity or adult content. Performances begin on time with no late seating; guests should arrive 20 to 30 minutes early and enjoy a beverage at the Delamar bar. Learn more at parlorofimpossibilities.com.
About Jason Bird Productions
Magician, mentalist and author Jason Bird is a longtime Las Vegas headliner with more than 25 years of professional experience and 9,000+ performances worldwide. His television appearances include experiences on NBC, Fox and The CW’s “Masters of Illusion,” and his work has been featured in Forbes, LA Weekly, the Los Angeles Times, the Las Vegas Sun, Vanish Magazine and Genii Magazine. He has performed for Fortune 100 companies, celebrities, professional athletes and royal families, and his corporate clients include Google, American Express, Microsoft, BMW and AT&T.
Known for his humorous, intelligent and elegant style, Bird blends sleight of hand, psychology, mentalism and storytelling to create experiences in which audiences surpass witnessing the impossible, they participate in it. Jason is the author of “Strolling for Dollars” and resides in Connecticut. Learn more at jasonbirdproductions.com, follow Jason Bird on Facebook and Instagram and “Parlor of Impossibilities” on Facebook.
Meadows Montessori School
‘Open House’ featuring Bracken Hill Farms’ Petting Zoo
Saturday, November 7, 9:30 to 11 am
Meadows Montessori School at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 183 West Main Street, Westborough
Admission is free, families are welcome, and refreshments will be served; registration TBA, at meadowsmontessoriwestboro.com
Meadows Montessori School (MMS), Westborough’s new Montessori-method educational preschool opening in January 2027, welcomes families to an “Open House” featuring a Bracken Hill Farms’ petting zoo, with small goats, alpacas and bunnies on site. Families are invited to explore Montessori materials, meet the school’s founders, and see firsthand how joyful learning can be. MMS is now enrolling students ages 2.9 through 6, with full day, half day, morning care and extended day options for working families.
Meadows Montessori Opening Day
Monday, January 4
Meadows Montessori School at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 183 West Main Street, Westborough
Registration information: meadowsmontessoriwestboro.com
Meadows Montessori School officially opens its doors in Westborough to its newly enrolled students ages 2.9 through 6, with full day, half day, morning care and extended day options for working families. Learn more at meadowsmontessoriwestboro.com.
About Meadows Montessori School
Meadows Montessori School (MMS) is a small, community Montessori preschool at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Westborough. It educates children ages 2.9 through 6 in a mixed-age model where older children take on leadership roles among their peers. Cofounders and lead teachers Heather Vinci and Janet Gelgich met in 2010 as Montessori lead primary teachers at The Riverbend School in South Natick, and both hold American Montessori Society credentials and EEC Lead Teacher and Director II certifications. Heather is the founder and director of South Shore Montessori School in Cohasset. She spent more than 14 years at Riverbend as a lead primary teacher, forest educator and summer camp director, where she created its Forest Friday program. She holds a master’s in Leadership and Policy in Early Education from Wheelock College at Boston University. Janet most recently served as Riverbend’s Director of Children’s House after holding roles there that included level leader, kindergarten teacher and summer camp director. She holds a bachelor’s in Human Development and a master’s in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Virginia Tech. Students engage in gross motor development through yoga and mindfulness, weekly enrichment in nature and music, and ample outdoor time to connect and explore the world around them. MMS offers a full day program from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm on weekdays, a half day program from 8:30 to 11:30 am, morning care beginning at 7:30 am, and extended day until 5 pm. To learn more, visit meadowsmontessoriwestboro.com, call 508-296-0365, or follow Meadows Montessori School on Facebook and Instagram.
Michelle McGrath PR | Media Relations has provided visibility for the arts and culture, nonprofit, and small business sectors, spanning the traditional, digital, and social media landscape, since 2009. mcgrathpr.com
