ParentsPost

The five family holiday shows you don't want to miss: Lively theater for livelychildren

Main Street Theater cast members in A Little House Christmas
Photo by Kaitlyn Walker
The Houston Symphony presents Hip Hoppin' Nutcracker
Photo by Leah Polkowske
Rhodes Elliott and artists of the Houston Ballet in The Nutcracker
Photo by © Amitava Sarkar
The A.D. Players in Sanders Family Christmas
Photo courtesy of Bara Photography
Jeffrey Bean as Ebenezer Scrooge in the Alley Theatre's A Christmas Carol: AGhost Story of Christmas
Photo by Mike McCormick
The company in the Alley Theatre's A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas
Photo by © T Charles Erickson

What is your favorite childhood memory of the holidays? Playing with cousins while waiting for Santa? Singing carols with friends at school? Sipping hot chocolate with parents while reading holiday books?

In our hearts we carry a range of remembrances from the simplest pleasures to the most lavish spectacles. This holiday season, Houston’s performance halls are offering shows that can delight the whole family and leave indelible impressions of the holiday spirit.

Here are five favorite choices:

A Little House Christmas

When: Through Dec. 22; Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Where: Main Street Theater, Chelsea Market, 4617 Montrose Blvd., 713-524-6706, www.mainstreettheater.com

Storyline: This play is based on the cherished Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Bad weather hampers the Ingalls family’s Christmas Day celebration. Sisters Laura and Mary are disappointed that they are stranded at home and Santa may not make it after all. In this holiday classic, the girls learn the true meaning of the Christmas spirit.

"The Little House books are timeless, and A Little House Christmas is such a warm, genuine portrayal of family and friendship. It illustrates the joys and struggles of life in the early pioneer days on the prairie,” says Vivienne M. St. John, Theater for Youth’s producing director. “I think especially during the whirlwind of the holidays, A Little House Christmas helps us to refocus and appreciate the simpler things and remember what is truly important."

Length: One hour and 15 minutes with intermission

Ticket price: $12- $16; recommended for pre-kindergarten and up

A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas

When: Through Dec. 24, various times.

Where: Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave., 713-220-5700, www.alleytheatre.org  

Storyline: Three spirits visit Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve — the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. This production, Michael Wilson’s adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, offers unusual twists and spectacular sets.

“What’s interesting to me about this tale is that we meet the indifferent and miserly Scrooge," says director James Black, "and he is shown by the Spirits that, ultimately, he has little power or affect on the people in his life and the world around him.

"He wants and needs the rest of humanity to be as miserable as he is. But the people endure and find joy and happiness and love in the simplest things and in the worst of times. Conversely, as we watch Scrooge’s transformation, he is shown that the tiniest act of kindness, compassion and charity can have ripples and reverberations that change lives. Love and generosity win. Every time."

Length: One hour and 47 minutes with intermission

Ticket price: Starts at $25; recommended for general audiences, children 6 and older

Sanders Family Christmas

When: Through Dec. 31, various times.

Where: A.D. Players, 2710 W. Alabama, 713-526-2721, www.adplayers.org  

Storyline: The show spreads holiday cheer through more than 20 Christmas carols and yuletide stories. The Sanders family gathers for Christmas Eve 1941 in Mount Pleasant, N.C. It’s just before American soldiers, including a member of their own family, leave for World War II.

“The show is really all about family. Everyone can relate with at least one member of the Sanders family; the uncle who is a bit of a black sheep, the mother who embarrasses her children, the sister who has to be the center of attention,” says Sarah Cooksey, A.D. Players public relations manager.

“What makes the show even better is the great music and the chance for the families of Houston to enjoy a show together for the holidays. Sanders Family Christmas celebrates the things that mean the most in life: family, faith, and the joy that comes from experiencing them together with the people you love.”

Length: Two hours and 15 minutes including intermission

Ticket price: $32- $41

Houston Ballet’s The Nutcracker

When: Through Dec. 30, Various times

Where: Wortham Theater Center, Brown Theater, 501 Texas Avenue, 713-227-2787, www.houstonballet.org

Storyline: This is the beloved ballet with music composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It tells the story of little Clara who receives a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve. After everyone goes to bed, she travels on a fantastic journey through the Land of Sweets, encountering the Mouse King and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

More than one million people have seen this Ben Stevenson production since its Houston Ballet premiere 25 years ago.

“In keeping with traditions, The Nutcracker signifies the start of the holidays,” says principal dancer Mireille Hassenboehler, “Seeing The Nutcracker is such a magical experience for families, from the growing Christmas tree to the snowy snow scene. What better way to elevate the holiday? The Nutcracker brings such beautiful set designs, amazing costumes, music by Tchaikovsky, and spectacular dancing.”

Length: One hour and 55 minutes with intermission

Ticket price: $25-$110, recommended for children 2 and older.

Hip Hoppin’ Nutcracker

When: Dec. 8; two shows 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Where: Jones Hall, presented by Houston Symphony, 713-224-7575, www.houstonsymphony.org

Storyline: Conductor Robert Franz and the Houston Symphony orchestra join forces with Westside High School’s Inertia Dance Company in this musical holiday celebration with a playful twist. Inertia is an elite performing ensemble that combines different dance elements from ballet to modern jazz to break dancing.

The concert song list includes "Suites from The Nutcracker" and "The Snow Maiden" as well as "Caribbean Sleigh Ride," "Brazilian Sleigh Bells," even the theme from The Pink Panther. Children can chime in during the Christmas Pops Sing-Along. All the wonderful holiday music may just draw Santa away from the North Pole for a break - he’s scheduled to make an appearance on stage!

Families can arrive early before the 10 a.m. concert or stay late after the 11:30 a.m. concert to participate in activities including an instrument petting zoo and arts and crafts.

Length: One hour

Ticket price: $18 for children, $26 for adults

Bernadette Verzosa is founder of ParentsPost.com, a website that covers new and exciting things for families to do in the Houston area.

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on the bright side

'First-of-its kind' Houston park reveals 6 murals by local artists

Houston artist Ade Odunfa stands in front of his mural "Salt Marsh" at the Hill at Sims.

Photo by Scott Julian, courtesy of Houston Parks Board

"Birth From the Sea" by Ade Odunfa

One of Houston's most innovative green spaces, the Hill at Sims, is edging toward completion as artists put the finishing touches on a series of six beautiful murals. They should be ready when the park has its grand opening on Saturday, May 23.

The project is being led by Harris County Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis and the Houston Parks Board. Located in Sunnyside along Sims Bayou, it combines a flooding retention pond with walkways and other infrastructure to create a unique multi-use community space. Adding a series of environmentally-themed murals highlights the project's dedication to empowering nature around Sunnyside.

“When we bring art, resilience, and opportunity together in one place, we create something that can serve and inspire future generations for decades to come," said Ellis in an emailed statement. "The Hill at Sims is a community-oriented, first-of-its-kind green space in the neighborhood I grew up in. These murals honor Sunnyside, celebrate the natural world, and help turn public space into something people feel proud to protect.”

The murals include “Impression of Nature” by Emily Ding, “Step Into the Wild” by Carlos Alberto, “Birth from the Sea," a reproduction of a John Biggers’ mural by Ade Odunfa, "The Heron and the Fish” by Ana Marietta, “Rêverie” by Amy Sol inspired by Claude Debussy’s 1890 solo piano piece, and “Salt Marsh”, another Biggers reproduction by Bimbo Adenugba.

Houston is a major mural and street art city, with an increasing number of spaces using murals to showcase local talent as well as bring a sense of identity to locations like the Hill at Sims. The green space offers both a massive natural setting in a neighborhood that has traditionally been underserved in park acreage with an elevated point to view the whole city, a rare treat in a place as flat as Houston. Thanks to the Bayou Greenways Project, a 150-mile series of trails that connects parks across Houston, people can walk or bike to the Hills at Sims if they choose to.

"Our goal is for every person who visits this park to feel that Hill at Sims truly represents the Sunnyside community. Public art is a powerful and joyful way to evoke feelings of connection and stewardship in public settings,” said Justin Schultz, President and CEO, Houston Parks Board, in an emailed statement. “Houston Parks Board is proud to support Commissioner Ellis to bring Sunnyside residents a transformative, multi-benefit greenspace that captures the spirit of Houston: turning our climate challenges into vibrant community assets.”

The total cost of Hill at Sims is $28.3 million. Funding comes from Precinct One ($18.8 million), The Brown Foundation ($7.5 million), with an additional $2 million from public federal and state funds secured by State Representative Alma Allen and Congressman Al Green. When complete, it will feature a 1.6 mile basin loop trail, water access pier, a parking lot, a 2,000-square-foot open air pavilion with restrooms, flexible lawn space for active programming, and picnic pavilions.

parks visual-art hills at sims anderson