“Christmas with the Symphony” sparkles with stunning new Broadway talent, beloved traditions!

WHAT: CHRISTMAS WITH THE SYMPHONY
WHEN: Friday, December 17 8 PM
Saturday, December 18 2 PM & 8 PM
Sunday, December 19 2 PM & 7 PM
WHERE: Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas Street
TICKETS:Start at just $15; 402.345.0606, 402.342.3560, or www.omahasymphony.org

Omaha, Neb – Omaha’s favorite holiday tradition, Christmas with the Symphony, will have the sparkle and shine of a brand new production this season, thanks to a new director, new music and choreography, and a quartet of Broadway musical stars! Add holiday classics and traditions you know and love (like a full orchestral carol sing-along and the hilarious kick line of dancing Santas) and you have a heartwarming treat for the whole family! Five performances (December 17-19) plus the full orchestra make Christmas with the Symphony the area’s biggest and best seasonal production.

Top-notch talent from Broadway was handpicked to anchor the Omaha Symphony’s most popular show of the year. John Cudia most recently starred in the title role of The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. He holds the distinct honor of being the first and only actor to have performed as both The Phantom and Jean Vajean (Les Misérables) on Broadway. Kelly Sullivan’s Broadway credits include Young Frankenstein (Inga), Contact, and Bells are Ringing. Tenor Peter Lockyer was most recently in Lincoln Center Theatre’s revival of South Pacific on Broadway. Erin Stewart, currently in the Broadway revival of A Little Night Music starring Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch, completes the amazing quartet of lead singers, who will bring exceptional vocals and glamour to numbers like “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” “Silver Bells,” and “O Holy Night.”

Co-directors and choreographers Vince Pesce and Stephen Bourneuf are at the helm of the production, placing a primary focus on the season’s ability to bring people together. “This show is about celebrating our connections and the gift of family,” said Pesce. Two huge dance numbers, “Christmas in the City” and “A Christmas Wish,” will tell the stories of two families from two different eras. “Christmas in the City” spotlights the nostalgic stroll of a 1950s family on a bustling city street, experiencing the simple joys of window shopping and spending time with one another, while “A Christmas Wish” follows the emotional modern day story of a young military couple separated during the holiday season.

Christmas with the Symphony is also a celebration of the area’s tremendous local talent. WOWT-TV personality and community favorite Dave Webber brings his signature spirit to the show, providing charming vocals and lots of laughs. Around 25 young violin students of Omaha Symphony musician Anne Nagosky will also be featured.

Of course, no Christmas with the Symphony would be complete without the popular audience carol sing-along and the jolly dancing Santas. To make the experience even more magical, the Holland Performing Arts Center will be transformed into an enchanting winter wonderland—complete with pre-concert music, a beautifully decorated lobby, and live reindeer outside!

The Symphony Pops series is sponsored by the Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Friday’s night’s performance is sponsored by the Robert H. Storz Foundation, while ConAgra Foods is the orchestra’s holiday season sponsor. The Omaha Symphony is proud to be part of the ConAgra Foods Arts for the Holidays Celebration. This collaboration includes a food drive at all the Christmas with the Symphony performances. Patrons are encouraged to bring canned food and other non-perishable items when attending these concerts at the Holland Center. All donations will support the Food Bank for the Heartland.

Single tickets for Christmas with the Symphony start at $15 and are available at 402.345.0606, 402.342.3560, www.omahasymphony.org, or at the Omaha Symphony Box Office at 1605 Howard Street.