INSIGHT
‘Tis the Season
(For Real This Time)
The arts are back for the holidays By Cameron Carr
Columbus Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops ‘TWAS THE YEAR before this when all Columbus arts organizations had to reimagine their holiday offerings. For 2021, holiday arts are back in force. In 2020, most annual events were canceled, moved to digital streams or held in significantly limited or altered variations. Many of Columbus’ holiday traditions plan to return to the stage this year – and this time, audiences are invited. A bellwether of the dampened 2020 holiday season was BalletMet’s performances of The Nutcracker, which weren’t live for the first time since 1974. Instead, BalletMet provided free online access to video excerpts from the show, behindthe-scenes content and more. The iconic
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screened virtually last year, remixes the story for a New York City setting and features an opening set by hip-hop pioneer MC Kurtis Blow. In another high-profile holiday shake-up last year, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra broadcast its annual Holiday Pops program on local TV stations. This year, the multi-organization collaboration will welcome live audiences back with the Columbus Symphony Chorus, Columbus Children’s Choir, BalletMet Academy dancers and The Ohio State University Department of Dance joining. Holiday Pops will show Dec. 3-5 at the Ohio Theatre. Holiday Hoopla, the annual Shadowbox Live holiday show, went virtual last year but will invite audiences back this holiday season starting Nov. 26 and running Fridays and Saturdays through the end of December. Shadowbox’s longest-running show, Holiday Hoopla has presented a high-energy blend of music, comedy and sketches for more than 25 years. New this year, Shadowbox will present an original,
Tchaikovsky-scored production will return to the Ohio Theatre Dec. 10-26. “While we are so grateful for our community supporting us digitally last year when The Nutcracker was canceled for the first time in over 40 years, there is nothing like live performance,” says Sue Porter, BalletMet executive director. “Everyone is looking forward to ushering the holidays back with this incredible central Ohio tradition.” Those looking for a more modern take on the classic Christmas tale may enjoy The Hip Hop Nutcracker Dec. 4 at the Palace Jazz Arts Group Home for the Holidays Theatre. The performance, which
