Connect2Culture releases calendar for December 2021
This content is available at connect2culture.org/calendar
PERFORMANCES:
December 1–5: Six Who Were There, 7:30pm (Sunday 2:30pm) at Joplin Little Theatre (3009 W 1st St). Take part in the spirit of the season with Joplin Little Theatre’s production of Six Who Were There! A meaningful, warm play, Six Who Were There is a beautifully simplistic production in which six different people recount their own version of what happened on that starry night in Bethlehem. Monologues are accompanied by choral singing. Ticket details to come. More information: Ann Lile, info@joplinlittletheatre.org, 417.623.3638.
December 2–5: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, 6:30pm (Sundays 1:00pm) at Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre (2466 W Old 66 Blvd, Carthage, MO). Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre proudly presents The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, a holiday play that explores the origins of Father Christmas. Have you ever wondered where Santa Claus came from? Based on the fascinating book by L. Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz, this imaginative play chronicles the life of Saint Nicholas and explains how he created his first toy, why he climbs down chimneys, and how he learned to laugh. See this holiday production for yourself at Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre! Reservations required; call 417.358.9665 or email stdinnertheatre@gmail.com. Tickets: Adults $29, Seniors (55+) $26, Students $24, Youth $23, Children (6-12) $12, Children (0-5) free. More information: Tom Brown, stdinnertheatre@gmail.com, 417.358.9665.
December 2: Now What / What Now (Ages 18+), 7:30pm at Missouri Southern State University (3950 E Newman Rd). Join MOSO Theatre for the fourth performance of their 2021-2022 season, a student-devised show titled Now What / What Now! This free performance explores the effects of the pandemic on mental health. Free and open to the public. More information: Erick Wolfe, wolfe-e@mssu.edu, 417.625.3044.
December 2–5: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical, 7:00pm (Saturday & Sunday 2:00) at Ozark Christian College Chapel (1111 N Main St). Ozark Christian College presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical, a buoyant musical adaptation of Barbara Robinson’s touching, classic novel! The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. So, when they crash Sunday school and demand parts in the church’s annual Christmas pageant, the whole town panics. There’s no biting or cigar-smoking in Bethlehem! Soon, everyone is calling for reluctant director Grace Bradley to cancel the entire thing. It’s up to the Bradleys and Reverend Hopkins to help their community see the Christmas story and the Herdman children through new eyes. Tickets available online at occ.edu/christmas. Tickets: Adults $12, Children (ages 12 and under) $8. More information: Carolyn Hardison, hardison.carolyn@occ.edu, 417.626.1221.
December 3: Dance Monkey Dance at Blackthorn, 10:00pm at Blackthorn Pizza & Pub (510 S Joplin Ave). Doug Dicharry, formerly of the Ben Miller Band, brings his unique music stylings to Blackthorn Pizza & Pub with his incredible one-man band! Tickets: $5. More information: Doug Dicharry, goodappleentertainment@gmail.com.
December 4: Winter Wonderland Just Desserts, 1:00pm & 6:00pm at Joplin High School Performing Arts Center (2104 Indiana Ave). Delicious desserts and fantastic musical performances – all for a good cause! Support Joplin High School’s show choirs during this popular, annual fundraiser. Cost: $120 per VIP table, $10 per seat. More information: Monica Reynolds, JHSshowchoirs@gmail.com, 417.625.5230.
December 4: 12th Anniversary: A Seasonal Choral Flourish, 1:00pm & 7:30pm at St. Peter’s the Apostle Catholic Church (812 Pearl Ave). This highly-anticipated, annual performance by the Missouri Southern State University Choral Department, under the direction of Dr. David Sharlow, celebrates the beginning of the holiday season! The concert features the Missouri Southern Chamber Singers and Concert Chorale, who pair classical standards with pop-oriented numbers for a stunning performance. Free and open to the public. More information: David Sharlow, sharlow-d@mssu.edu, 417.625.9562.
December 9–12: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, 6:30pm (Sundays 1:00pm) at Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre (2466 W Old 66 Blvd, Carthage, MO). Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre proudly presents The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, a holiday play that explores the origins of Father Christmas. Have you ever wondered where Santa Claus came from? Based on the fascinating book by L. Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz, this imaginative play chronicles the life of Saint Nicholas and explains how he created his first toy, why he climbs down chimneys, and how he learned to laugh. See this holiday production for yourself at Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre! Reservations required; call 417.358.9665 or email stdinnertheatre@gmail.com. Tickets: Adults $29, Seniors (55+) $26, Students $24, Youth $23, Children (6-12) $12, Children (0-5) free. More information: Tom Brown, stdinnertheatre@gmail.com, 417.358.9665.
December 9–12: FrUiTCaKeS, 7:00pm (Sundays 2:30pm) at Stained Glass Theatre Joplin (2101 Annie Baxter Ave). Stained Glass Theatre Joplin proudly presents FrUiTCaKeS! Mix together a batch of fruitcakes, three dozen Christmas trees, 10,000 outdoor Christmas lights, a chicken pox epidemic, two southern spinsters, an estranged old man, a lost cat named Tutti Frutti, and a Christmas hog named Buster, and you’ve got a recipe for an evening of holiday cheer. Jamie, a city kid who has run away from home and traveled as far as his money will take him, ends up in a town full of people who are “nuttier than fruitcakes.” However, Jamie soon comes to admire, appreciate, and adore this nutty little town and its inhabitants. Purchase your tickets online at sgtjoplin.square.site/events. Tickets: Adults $10, Children ages 4-14 $5, Children ages 3 and under admitted for free. More information: Amanda Klein, sgtjoplin@gmail.com.
December 10 & 11: Alice in Wonderland, 7:00pm at Joplin High School Performing Arts Center (2104 Indiana Ave). The Joplin High School Theatre Department proudly presents the third show of their 2021-2022 season, Alice in Wonderland! Follow Alice down the rabbit hole in this classic, whimsical tale. Additional details to come. More information: Ashley Trotnic, ashleytrotnic@joplinschools.org, 417.625.5230.
December 11: Connect2Culture Presents: Dallas String Quartet’s “Electric Christmas,” 7:00pm at Ozark Christian College Chapel (1111 N Main St). A fusion of classical and contemporary music on both traditional and electric strings, the Dallas String Quartet (DSQ) is an international music sensation. In addition to performing internationally, DSQ has played for Presidents Obama and Bush, the College Football Playoff, NBA, and NFL organizations. DSQ has sold out concert venues like the House of Blues and symphony halls alike and have played alongside Josh Groban, Chicago, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. DSQ’s holiday show is vibrant, full of energy, exquisitely arranged, and performed with an abundance of holiday gusto! Tickets: $30-$40. Tickets may be purchased at connect2culture.org, 417.501.5550, or at the door (day-of sales increase $5). This performance is part of Connect2Culture’s Curtains Up Series 2021/2022. This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. More information: Emily Frankoski, emily@connect2culture.org, 417.501.5550.
December 12: Christmas Music at the Mall, 1:30pm at Northpark Mall, Main Entrance (101 N Rangeline Rd). What’s holiday shopping without a little music? Enjoy a free holiday concert at Northpark Mall and hear Christmas classics as well as some Hanukkah music, all performed by Heartland Concert Band! Free and open to the public. More information: Aaron Power, banddirectordps@yahoo.com, 417.438.0166.
December 12: Winter Concert, 3:00pm at Carthage R-9 School Auditorium (714 S Main St, Carthage, MO). An evening of enchanting, live music! A wind band comprised of talented, adult musicians, the Four State Symphonic Winds will perform a variety of seasonal songs following Carthage R-9’s 8th Grade Band opening. Free and open to the public. More information: Craig Fuchs, information-cfuchs@pittstate.edu.
December 16–18: Who’s Holiday! (Ages 18+), 7:30pm at Studio 124 (124 S Main St). Dream Theatre Co. invites you to celebrate the holiday season with their production of Who’s Holiday! by Matthew Lombardo! Pull up a seat and enjoy this wildly funny and heartfelt, adults-only comedy that tells the story of Cindy Lou Who, who recalls the Christmas Eve she first met the Grinch and tells the twisted turn of events her life has now taken. Intended for mature audiences. Reservations required; reserve your ticket at showtix4u.com/event-details/57919. Tickets: $15. More information: Becki Arnall, becki_arnall@yahoo.com, 417.622.6470.
December 16–19: FrUiTCaKeS, 7:00pm (Sundays 2:30pm) at Stained Glass Theatre Joplin (2101 Annie Baxter Ave). Stained Glass Theatre Joplin proudly presents FrUiTCaKeS! Mix together a batch of fruitcakes, three dozen Christmas trees, 10,000 outdoor Christmas lights, a chicken pox epidemic, two southern spinsters, an estranged old man, a lost cat named Tutti Frutti, and a Christmas hog named Buster, and you’ve got a recipe for an evening of holiday cheer. Jamie, a city kid who has run away from home and traveled as far as his money will take him, ends up in a town full of people who are “nuttier than fruitcakes.” However, Jamie soon comes to admire, appreciate, and adore this nutty little town and its inhabitants. Purchase your tickets online at sgtjoplin.square.site/events. Tickets: Adults $10, Children ages 4-14 $5, Children ages 3 and under admitted for free. More information: Amanda Klein, sgtjoplin@gmail.com.
December 19: Christmas Performance, 3:30 pm at Christ’s Community United Methodist Church (2700 E 44th St). A fun, joyful holiday concert featuring Christmas classics as well as a little Hanukkah music, all performed by the talented members of Heartland Concert Band! More information: Aaron Power, banddirectordps@yahoo.com, 417.438.0166.
EVENTS:
Saturdays, November 20–December 18: Fourth Annual Holiday Market, 10:00am–2:00pm at Joplin Empire Market (931 E 4th St). ‘Tis the season for Joplin Empire Market’s annual Holiday Market! On November 20th and every Saturday leading up to Christmas, find additional artisan vendors in Hall 3, purchase your favorite gourmet foods and handcrafted items, enjoy holiday tunes, and get your items gift wrapped – everything you need to make your holiday season merry and bright. More information: Ivy Hagedorn, ivy@joplinempiremarket.com, 417.986.3914.
November 25–December 31: Ronald McDonald House’s Virtual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration, online. Celebrate the holiday season with Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States’ 20th Annual Gift of Light, Gift of Love Virtual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration, presented by McDonald’s and Liberty Utilities! Their towering Christmas tree and beautiful, lighted lawn ornaments will be revealed starting on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, and will remain lit through December 31. Go to donate.onecause.com/rmhjoplin to watch the virtual tree lighting celebration, including holiday musical performances by local artists and students, from the comfort and warmth of your home. New video segments of the celebration will be released on the website starting on Thanksgiving Day and then every Friday until Christmas. You will learn about the charity and ways you can support families of ill children being treated at Freeman Health System and Mercy Hospital Joplin. And don’t forget to share the joy by making their home (3402 S Jackson Ave), one of your stops for your holiday lights driving tour. Free and open to the public. More information: Annette Thurston, assocdir@rmhjoplin.org, 417.624.2273.
November 26–January 1: Hometown Holidays in Carthage, MO. Join Vision Carthage in celebrating the holidays! Enjoy a variety of attractions and activities over the course of 37 days, including many arts and cultural offerings. For a full list of activities or for ticket information, visit visioncarthage.org. More information: Abi Almandinger, visioncarthage@gmail.com, 417.793.6589.
November 30–December 31: Holiday Tree Trail at Mercy Park at Mercy Park (28th St and S Picher Ave). ‘Tis the season for Joplin Parks and Recreation’s annual Holiday Tree Trail – a collection of Christmas trees decorated by area businesses and organizations displayed at Mercy Park. Gather your family and friends, admire this local winter wonderland, and vote for your favorite tree before December 22! For a full list of dates and additional details, visit https://bit.ly/3mMEwqC. Free and open to the public. More information: Jessica Johnson, jjohnso1@joplinmo.org, 417.625.4750.
December 2: Comedy Open Mic, 8:00pm at Brew Pub & Parlor (813 S Main St). Pratt Presents invites you to listen to some great local comedy or try your latest stand-up routine at Brew Pub & Parlor! Free and open to the public. More information: Travis Pratt, traviscpratt@gmail.com.