Entertainment on Eastern Long Island This Holiday Season
This month across eastern Long Island, entertainment venues have numerous holiday-related and non-holiday-related concerts, performances and a more special events on the calendar. We’ve rounded up the top events from Stony Book to East Hampton.
BAY STREET THEATER
1 Bay Street, Sag Harbor
The Vendettas Rock and Roll Holiday Spectacular
The Vendettas return Saturday, December 12, at 8 p.m. Join one of Long Island’s favorite Rockabilly bands with a show that features great rocking holiday hits as well as plenty of roots rock and roll, which The Vendettas are known for. The evening will also include The Holiday Horns, guest guitarist Chuck Ware, and vocalist Erin Doherty, which makes it a great holiday event for the whole family. Tickets are $25.
Mixed Nuts
Studio 3 presents Mixed Nuts “a classic holiday Nutcracker with a twist.” The musical is a mash-up of two beloved holiday tales, The Nutcracker, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Two stories, double the fun. Saturday, December 19, at 7 p.m., December 20 at 1p.m. and 7p.m.
Christmas Punch and Judy
The puppet tradition of Punch and Judy will be joining Bay Street’s holiday lineup with a new Christmas show on Saturday, December 19, at 11 a.m. Laugh along with the hand-carved puppet pair as they make a mess of the holidays. Performed by Liz Joyce & A Couple of Puppets. Ages 3 and up.
For information and tickets, call 631-725-9500 or visit baystreet.org.
GUILD HALL
158 Main Street, East Hampton
A Spectacular Christmas Carol by Our Fabulous Variety Show
The classic Charles Dickens’ tale will be told through the twists and turns of a variety show. The production will benefit the OFVS Performing Arts Scholarship Fund as well as the organization HUGS, Inc., a youth empowerment organization on the East End. Performances are Friday, December 4, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, December 5, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 6, at 2 p.m.For tickets, call 631-594-2906 or visit ourfabulousvarietyshow.org.
Citarella Holiday Gingerbread House Family Workshop
Come decorate your own gingerbread house with the help of the professionals from Citarella on Saturday, December 12 from noon–2 p.m. Take home an adorable and delicious holiday treat.
The Met: Screenings Live in HD
See an encore of Mozart’s The Magic Flute on Saturday, December 19, starring Nathan Gunn, Ying Huang, Matthew Polenzani, Erika Miklosa and René Pape. Moving into the new year, on Saturday, January 16, Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de Perles will return to the Met stage for the first time in 100 years.
For tickets and more information about screenings and upcoming shows at Guild Hall, call 631-324-0806 or go to guildhall.org.
PARRISH ART MUSEUM
279 Montauk Highway, Water Mill
PechaKucha Night Hamptons Vol. 14
Come to the Parrish on Friday, December 11, for a night of rapid-fire presentations from local artists, writers, actors, scientists, business owners and others. PechaKucha involves several presenters showing 20 slides at 20 seconds per slide. With the theme of living creatively on the East End, PechaKucha Night Hamptons Vol. 14 will be a great, insightful evening. This event always sells out, so get your tickets now!
For more information on the Parrish Art Museum, call 631-283-2118 or go to parrishart.org.
WESTHAMPTON BEACH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
76 Main Street, Westhampton Beach
Hot Tuna Acoustic
Rock & Roll Hall of Famers and founding members of Jefferson Airplane Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen will perform an acoustic set of blues, folk and bluegrass on Saturday, December 5, at 8 p.m. Join this iconic American Rock and Blues duo as they rock out with smooth sounds and good vibes.
The Nutcracker
This production from the Peconic Ballet Foundation on Tuesday, December 15, is condensed for hour-long school day performances. Set to the iconic music of Tchaikovsky, it tells the traditional tale with all of it’s most-loved moments.
For tickets and more information on all performances at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, call 631-288-1500 or go to whbpac.org.
SUFFOLK THEATER
118 East Main Street, Riverhead
WLNG’s Rockabilly Christmas
Come to this unique, exciting Christmas event featuring music inspired by old-time rock ’n’ roll shows on Friday, December 4. Featuring Jason D. Williams playing in the style of Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Casey and the Lone Sharks, guest appearance by Bobby Volkman and Prentiss McNeill singing Doo Wop versions of Christmas carols. Sponsored by the famous East End oldies station WLNG.
Sinatra’s 100th Birthday Celebration—Big Band Wine and Swing
On Friday, December 11, celebrate Sinatra’s 100th birthday at Suffolk Theater. Featuring the 18-piece New Millennium Big Band, dance the night away and swing in this lively tribute to the life and music of Frank Sinatra.
Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals Holiday Show
Legendary singer-songwriter Felix Cavaliere will take the stage at Suffolk Theater on Saturday, December 19, at 8 p.m. for a special holiday concert. See the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and former lead singer of The Rascals perform some of his greatest hits. Cabaret seating is available. Restaurant and bar open at 6:30 p.m.
It’s a Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play
Be a part of the audience for a live presentation and broadcast of Joe Landry’s radio play It’s a Wonderful Life, presented by WPPB and the Suffolk Theater on Sunday, December 20, at 6 p.m. The performance will air live on 88.3 FM, and will be recorded for future broadcasts.
Restaurant and bar open prior to showtime. For tickets and more information on events at the Suffolk Theater, call 631-727-4343 or go to suffolktheater.com.
GATEWAY PLAYHOUSE
215 South Country Road, Bellport
71 Main Street, Patchogue
Mooseltoe
Gateway Playhouse continues its long tradition of excellent family entertainment for the holidays with Mooseltoe on December 5 in Bellport. Based on the children’s book by Margie Palatini, this whimsical stage production tells the story of Mooseltoe, a moose who wants to fly with Santa’s reindeer. Mooseltoe features the voices of celebrities from Broadway, television and movies.
Two on Tap: Happy Holidays
With Fred and Ginger-style chemistry and precise choreography, Mickey and Judy bring new life to silver screen song-and-dance in this classic holiday show. On December 4 and 6 at Gateway Playhouse in Bellport, don’t miss this energetic, nostalgic, adorable addition to your holiday cheer.
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Based on the recent Broadway revival, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella is a fresh take on the classic fairytale. The enchanting story brings with it the beloved Rodgers & Hammerstein soundtrack, including “In My Own Little Corner” and “Ten Minutes Ago.” Performances run from December 17-27 at Patchogue Theater.
Long Island Gay Men’s Choir: Long Live the Queens
On December 11, join the Long Island Gay Men’s Choir at Gateway Playhouse in Bellport for their 2015 holiday concert. The choir’s reputation for high-energy, star-quality performances guarantees this is an event you will not want to miss.
For tickets and more information on all performances at Gateway Playhouse, call 631-286-1133 or go to pacsc.org.
STALLER CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Stony Brook University, Stony Brook
Emerson String Quartet
In a program they are calling “Passing the Torch,” the quartet will salute the progression of music in Vienna from Haydn, the old master, to Beethoven, the “new genius.” On December 4 at 8 p.m., don’t miss a chance to see what is regarded as the most exciting chamber ensemble of our time.
Seiskaya Ballet’s Nutcracker
Seiskaya Ballet will bring Nutcracker to the Staller stage from December 18–21. Seiskaya Ballet’s production features lavish, elaborate sets and fantastic performances by talented dancers. For more on this production and other Nutcracker productions, head to page 27.
For tickets and more information about screenings and upcoming shows at Staller Center for the Arts, call 631-632-ARTS or and visit stallercenter.com.