Doug LaBrecque, BC Brass Band highlight holiday entertainment offerings

Nothing gets many of us into the holiday spirit more than a little music and entertainment.

The Battle Creek area has plenty of that in the coming month, either to get you in the mood for the holidays or maybe as a gift idea in the form of tickets for an upcoming show.

For many, the Brass Band of Battle Creek's Holiday Concert is the unofficial start to the holiday season and will take center stage on Saturday at W.K. Kellogg Auditorium.

"For a lot of the families and longtime patrons, it’s the thing that kicks off their holiday season. It's their way of immersing themselves in the Christmas spirit," said Shannon Aikins, executive director of the Brass Band of Battle Creek.

One of Battle Creek's own, Broadway star Doug LaBrecque, will be joining the Brass Band this year. The Lakeview High School graduate has thrilled audiences for almost two decades in New York with leading roles in "Phantom of the Opera" as well as "Showboat" and on a national tour of "Les Misérables".

"We can't tell you how excited we are for this concert," Aikins said. "To have a guest artist like Doug LaBrecque, a hometown native, is great. He has never performed with the Battle Creek Brass Band. He usually performs with the Battle Creek Symphony."

The Brass Band of Battle Creek, over the past 25 years, has established itself as one of the premier ensembles in the country, with a membership of some of the top brass and percussion performers in the world coming into Battle Creek as visiting artists from bands and orchestras ranging from Canada to England as well as the New York Orchestra-Metropolitan Opera and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Along with LaBrecque, this year's Holiday Concert will also include special guest and internationally-acclaimed trombonist Joseph Alessi, the principal trombonist from the New York Philharmonic.

Apart from the 7:30 p.m. main show on Saturday, the Brass Band is inviting area schools to a rehearsal during the week and there will also be the BBBC Young Peoples Concert at 10 a.m. Friday at the auditorium.

"Having Doug LaBrecque is tremendous for us," said Jerry Rose, BBBC education director. "He has been on stages all over the world. I'm looking forward to seeing him combine his substantial talent with the superstars we will have on stage from the brass and percussion world. It will be a real treat.

"The rehearsal experience is great. I think, for the young music students that come for that, it can be more informative than a concert because they can see how the band comes together and how it works. And, for me, the Young Peoples Concert is a the real biggie. It's a trimmed-down version of our holiday concert for elementary students that we tailor to be more interesting for the younger kids. We have 10 different schools and 1,800 kids coming."

Tickets are available online at www.bbbc.net.

Ada LeAnn performing at Franke Center

Giving the gift of music is always a good idea, so why not buy a ticket for someone to see a show after the holidays are over. Battle Creek's Ada LeAnn will perform at the Franke Center in Marshall on Feb. 25, with tickets on sale now.

LeAnn, a senior at Lakeview High School, recently was in the national spotlight as a contestant on the Great American Song Contest on NBC, representing Michigan. LeAnn made the semifinals on the show with her song, "Natalie". She has since won Single of the Year for at the 8th annual Josie Music Awards, where she performed on the Grand Ole Opry House stage in Nashville.

Performing at the Franke Center would be her first theater show completely dedicated to her performance. Beyond that, she has appeared locally at several fairs and events throughout the past year.

“Performing at the Franke Center is going to be an amazing opportunity for me," LeAnn said. "It’s one of my first shows that I’m able to put on that is solely for me and people are coming only for me. Not for a festival or fair and not just for background entertainment. This is my show and I am so excited to pour time into creating a show that showcases my artistry and original music."

LeAnn will also sing locally at Handmap Brewery Dec. 21 and at Kalamazoo's New Year's Eve Fest on Dec. 31.

Tickets for the Franke Center show can be purchased at www.thefranke.org

Christmas at the Barn Theatre

One of the more anticipated entertainment events in the area in recent years has been the annual Christmas Cabaret at the Augusta Barn Theatre. Performed at the Rehearsal Shed on the grounds of the Barn Theatre, there will be shows throughout the month, from Dec. 9-22 with weeknights at 7 p.m. and two chances on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The entertainers who are showcased at the summer stock theater every year will celebrate the season with favorite carols and holiday songs.

Tickets are available at www.barntheatreschool.org.

Historic Christmas

Instead of singing, how about holiday entertainment in the spoken word?

The Battle Creek Regional History Museum is hosting "Tales of Christmas Past", featuring readings of vintage newspaper stories of the 1800s. Among the performers will be Dave Eddy, Bobbie Mathis, Donna Rickman, Michael Delaware and Brian and Jill McCombs. There will be two shows at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Dec. 17.

For tickets or more information, go to www.bcrhm.org

Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter:@billbroderick

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Doug LaBrecque, BC Brass Band highlight holiday entertainment schedule