Gaelic Gaiety
Tuesday 10
There will be kilts! The Seán Heely Celtic Christmas show at Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center in Stowe is a sweeping showcase of Scottish and Irish heritage. Champion fiddler Heely and company use bagpipes, harp, traditional dance and ancient carols to transport listeners to the winter solstice celebrations of the Emerald Isle and beyond.
Lasso the Moon
Friday 6
St. Johnsbury’s Athenaeum Players raise the curtain on Frank Capra’s Christmas Eve tearjerker It’s a Wonderful Life, told in the style of a riveting 1940s radio drama. The iconic characters of the silver screen come to life in this stage adaptation by Joe Landry, which brings the perennial tale of redemption, guardian angels and renewed hope right back into viewers’ hearts.
All That Jazz
Friday 6
The Vermont Jazz Center Big Band take the stage in Brattleboro with third-generation vocalist Carmen Bradford to mark two decades of the 18-piece ensemble’s existence. The program features works by legendary bandleader Count Basie — as it should, considering Bradford just accepted a Grammy for her contribution to the Count Basie Orchestra’s Basie Swings the Blues album.
Bright Lights, Little City
Friday 6 & Saturday 7
The annual stage spectacular Broadway Direct returns to Vergennes Opera House for its 19th year. Founded by seasoned Broadway veteran and Vergennes local Bill Carmichael, the perpetually sold-out crowd-pleaser nails the elusive “wow” factor with professional singers from New York City, as well as Vermont student performers Ella Kozak and Lila Brightman.
Sky’s the Limit
Saturday 7
Middlebury College’s Mahaney Arts Center hosts the Vermont premiere of Sky Was Possible, a stunning new song cycle composed by music department chair Su Lian Tan, set to the text of four poems from president Laurie Patton’s published works. The cycle features sparkling soprano Kristen Watson and pianist John McDonald, with Tan deftly executing the flute.
Miracle Makers
Saturday 7 & Sunday 8
The Good Trade Makers Market at Hula in Burlington spotlights the meticulous craft of more than 90 tradespeople from across the country. Independent makers unite for a weekend of innovative design — so tell Jeff Bezos “no” this season and tackle that holiday shopping at a one-of-a-kind small business bazaar instead.
Members Only
Ongoing
The 42nd annual Members’ Art Show at the Current in Stowe highlights the creations of 115 local and regional artists. The unjuried exhibition displays a wide array of mediums — sculpture, painting, fiber art, drawing, stained glass, print — and honors the organization’s mission of enhancing the human experience through accessibility to visual art.
This article appears in Dec 4-10, 2024.
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