Irving Berlin's White Christmas at The Woodlands High School

The "White Christmas" by Class Act Productions will be presented with the traditionally loved music of Irving Berlin at  The Woodlands High School Theatre (The Woodlands High School) on

Thursday, December 17 @ 7:30 pm

Friday, December 18 @ 7:30 pm,

Saturday, December 19 @ 2:30 pm & 7:30 pm,
Sunday, December 20 @ 2:30 pm & 7:30 pm.

We do dream of a white Christmas . Irving Berlin became known for many songs, but White Christmas really sticks to the hearts of many people. Although many of us were contemporary with him, all of us connect to his music! It is heartwarming to see our youth and budding actors connect to such a tradition!    

Tickets are available at www.classactproductions.org/Tickets.html

The Woodlands Repertory Theatre is a pre-professional theater located in The Woodlands, Texas. It is a part of the Class Act Productions family, a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to providing professional-quality musical theatre performance opportunities for all ages. Its mission is to culturally enrich, educate, and entertain through the art of musical theater and theatrical performance and to encourage community participation in all aspects thereof.

Lighting of The Doves 2009 in The Woodlands - Saturday!!

Two Christmas holiday events are scheduled for Saturday, November 21, 2009 - the traditional Lighting of the Doves and IWOW, an acronym for Winter on the Waterway.

These two events are scheduled from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Town Green Park to kick-off the holidays in The Woodlands. Featured will be the arrival of Santa Claus, two snow play areas, fireworks, inflatables holiday crafts, food and entertainment.

Needfire will provide the spotlight entertainment. This musical group consists of Scottish-American lads who play traditional Celtic instruments with an American flavor. Their electric guitars will give a boost of high energy to the festival with their famous "flaming fiddle".

“The entertainment lineup is amazing this year. We will have terrific groups from The Woodlands area and the Greater Houston area,” said Peg Welbes, the entertainment consultant for iWOW and Lighting of the Doves.

Other notable acts include: Houston Choral Showcase, features a unique holiday concert mix of choral presentation, showy costumes and fun choreography; The McTeggart Irish Dancers, a lively group of Celtic dancers; Boni’s Dance and Performing Arts Studio, featuring the Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara and the Toys; and Cuadro La Tempestad Flamenco, a group with the sound of rhythmic clapping, castanets and classical guitar.

With a little something for everyone, the entire family is sure to enjoy the variety offered by the Lighting of the Doves and iWOW festival.

More information availabe at www.HolidayInTheWoodlands.com

2010 Woodlands Idol Contest

Competition for The Woodlands Idol is underway. It is not officially an American Idol event, but it is a forerunner of the 2011 season and is solely a Woodlands contest. The first session of three has already been completed. There remains an opportunity to enter the contest! If you have some singing talent that you believe might have a chance to win, you should enter the contest. It is a fun event. Maybe you can be another Will Makar! The first 2009 session at Crescent Moon Wine Bar had rave reviews by those attending.

This is the 3rd Annual Woodlands Idol competition sponsored by Hodges Collision Center and Outback Western Wear in search of the area’s best singing talent! Show The Woodlands your singing talent and win cash prizes!

There are 3 preliminary competitions. The first one was held on Friday, November 6, 2009 at Crescent Moon Wine Bar. Nine winners and a People’s Choice from that night have secured their place in the semi-finals which will be held on Friday, January 22, 2010 at Papa’s Ice House.

There are still two more chances for contestants to compete at the following preliminary events: 

• Friday, December 4, 2009 at Papa’s Ice House 
• Friday, January 8, 2010 at Dosey Doe

The top 9 winners and a People’s Choice from the semi-finals will advance to the finals at Taste of the Town on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center.

Prizes for the top 3 winners from the finals are as follows:

• 1st Place - $1000 Cash
• 2nd Place - $500 Cash
• 3rd Place - $250 Cash

Contestants must be 18 years of age or older to participate. Registration to enter each preliminary event will begin at 6:30pm and the competition will begin at 7:00pm. Registration entry fee is $10. Competition is limited to the first 30 contestants to sign up at each preliminary event.

For more information, contact Teresa Starr at teresa.starr@woodlandschamber.org or 281-363-8110 or visit www.tasteofthetown.org.

Christmas in the air of The Woodlands - Nov 21st Lighting of The Doves

27th Annual Lighting of the Doves, International Winter On The Waterway, The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center and Donoho’s Jewellers Winter Wonderland are all back!

The Woodlands once again has much to offer for the holidays as the 27th Annual Lighting of the Doves, International Winter On The Waterway (iWOW), The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center and Donoho’s Jewellers Winter Wonderland returns on Saturday, November 21.

27th Annual Lighting of the Doves

Saturday, November 21 officially kicks off the 2009 holiday season. This year’s festival will  feature  interactive booths and games, ice carving competition, snow play area, amazing fireworks, balloon artists, face painters, inflatables and so much more. Enjoy an evening filled with live music and entertainment for the entire family by Needfire, Houston Coral Showcase and other entertainers. Don’t forget to find Santa, as he makes his grand traditional entrance in a dazzling, decorated boat from along The Woodlands Waterway® at 6:30 pm.

Presented by the Community Associations of The Woodlands, the 27th Annual Lighting of the Doves will take place at Town Green Park, 2099 Lake Robbins Drive, from 2 pm – 7 pm.

Admission to the festivities is free.
www.LightingOfTheDoves.com

International Winter On The Waterway (iWOW)

In conjunction with the 27th Annual Lighting of the Doves, International Winter On The Waterway (iWOW) will also take place at Town Green Park on Saturday, November 21 from 2 pm – 7 pm.

With a “street fair” atmosphere, iWOW showcases the holiday traditions from Japan, Panama, the United States and a myriad of other countries at exhibits along the banks of The Woodlands Waterway.

From foods, arts & crafts, to music and entertainment, iWOW is certain to enhance The Woodlands holiday celebrations. Entertainment will include the Cass Irish Dancers, Yosakoi, La Tempestad, among others. Admission is free.

www.iWOWinTheWoodlands.com

Donoho’s Jewellers Winter Wonderland

Donoho’s Jewellers Winter Wonderland features illuminated holiday scenes and storybook displays surrounding The Ice Rink. Visitors can wander through the fantasyland of magical, lighted toy soldiers, elves, doves, musical angels and snowmen from dusk until 11 pm beginning November 21 through January 4, 2010.

www.TheWoodlandsWinterWonderland.com

Free parking is available at the Green, Yellow and Orange lots on Timberloch Place.

The holiday events in The Woodlands are made possible because of the following sponsors: Donoho’s Jewellers, Community Associations of The Woodlands, Jaguar Land Rover Houston North, Coca-Cola, Silver Eagle Distributors, Waste Management, Hubbell and Hudson Market & Bistro, Which Wich Superior Sandwiches, Fidelity Investments, The Strong Law Firm, Planet Ford, CenterPoint Energy, Collision Collections, Wright’s Printing, Spectrum Events, St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital, University of Phoenix, Hodges Collision Center, Woodforest National Bank, Mellisa Ray Insurance Agency, The Woodlands Young Learners Academy, CB&I, The Woodlands Development Company, Cinemark, Texas Home & Theaters, Ridgway Printing, Sunny 99.1, The Courier, The Villager, Houston Community Newspapers, reviewit Magazine, Woodlands Family Magazine, Woodlands Lifestyles & Homes, and The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center.

For complete information on all holiday events, please visit www.HolidayInTheWoodlands.com or call 281-363-2447.

Christmas Ice Skating opens in The Woodlands

2009 brings another holiday skating season for adults as well the youth in our area. A temporary rink is installed each year to facilitate a festive holiday season. With the traditional decorations of Christmas, the Town atmosphere has more entertainment and amenities at the end of the year for our residents as well as anyone who wants to come out to The Woodlands to enjoy Christmas. This year, a relatively new food store across the street form the rink is offering a free $2 admission coupon with any purchase to reduce the skating cost for those who patron their store. There are eleven other businesses also offering the coupon. Which Wich Sandwiches is directly across Lake Robins Drive from the skating rink. There just is no way to miss the rink when you enter Town Center heading north on Six Pines.   

The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center, presented by Jaguar Land Rover Houston North, is the largest seasonal outdoor ice rink in the southwest United States and will be open daily beginning Saturday, November 21, 2009 through Monday, January 18, 2010 at its new location—northeast corner of Lake Robbins and Six Pines Drive.

Be one of the first to skate at The Ice Rink this weekend—Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15—for a Preview Opening at the rink. There will be special celebrations for the opening.

www.TheWoodlandsIceRink.com

Merry Christmas, George Baily - a live play by professional artists

Are you aware of the performing arts offerings right here in The Woodlands? Town Center Theatre is a professional group again offering a unique program from December 17th through December 20th. Their play is designed to bring the audience in close to the actors, so that the real people doing the acting seem like real people! In the fine arts, there is always a passion to be shared. This one is shared by people whose life is and has been in the theater for quite some time.


Performances will take place in the Loblolly Pine Room at the Shenandoah Municipal Center on I-45.

This work should be very entertaining, reenacting radio broadcasts of the 1940's.

“Town Center Theatre, along with the City of Shenandoah, is pleased to be bringing this heartwarming holiday story to the South Montgomery County area,” said Town Center Theatre Artistic Director Chris Tennison.

Based on the holiday classic "It’s A Wonderful Life" starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, Merry Christmas, George Bailey tells the story of a man whose imminent suicide on Christmas Eve gains the attention of his guardian angel, Clarence, who proceeds to show him what life would have been like if he had never been born. Adapted for the stage by TCT Artistic Directors Joseph Milillo and Chris Tennison, Merry Christmas, George Bailey will be presented as a 1940s-era radio program, with talented voice actors playing multiple roles and a foley artist providing sound effects live on stage. David Dow Bentley of The People’s Critic called last year’s show “a cheerful recreation…(that is) remarkably well cast,”  D.L. Groover of the Houston Press praised actor Santry Rush’s portrayal of George Bailey as “quite amazing.” Mr. Rush will be reprising his role as George Bailey in this year’s production.

“The play proved to be very popular with families and theatre patrons who were familiar with the story of It’s A Wonderful Life and enjoyed seeing it told from a unique, fresh theatrical perspective,” Tennison said. “Now that we’re performing the production in a more intimate setting, where the audience will be closer to the action than ever before, I’m positive that our patrons will get a theatre experience unlike anything they’ve seen before in the area!”

Merry Christmas, George Bailey runs Dec. 17-20, with performances Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m. and two performances each on Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m and 7 p.m. Tickets are available at $18 for regular patrons, $12 for seniors age 55 and over; and $10 for students. For groups of 10 or more, all tickets are $10. Seating is limited. Make your reservation by calling (832) 592-9697, Ext. 2.

Merry Christmas George Bailey

December 17 – 20, Thursday- Friday 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Sunday at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $10 - $18

Location: Loblolly Pine Room at the Shenandoah Municipal Center, 29955 I-45, Shenandoah, TX, 77381

For Reservations: 832-592-9697
Recommended for all audiences

Town Center Theatre is a professional, non-profit performing arts organization dedicated to providing quality theatre.