Kerry's weekly arts picks include kickoffs for 'Nutcracker,' 'Christmas Carol'

Kerry Clawson, Akron Beacon Journal
·1 min read

'Nutcracker' tradition

Ballet Theatre of Ohio is back with its 29th season of "The Nutcracker," which attracts the largest audience for any single event at the Akron Civic Theatre. The holiday favorite will run for six performances, opening at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, continuing 2 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 4-5. Cost is $40-$50. See akroncivic.com.

Ballet Theatre of Ohio will perform "The Nutcracker" Nov. 27-28 and Dec. 4-5 at the Akron Civic Theatre.
Ballet Theatre of Ohio will perform "The Nutcracker" Nov. 27-28 and Dec. 4-5 at the Akron Civic Theatre.

Adventure and romance

The musical "Anastasia" is an epic tale that brings audiences from the Russian empire to 1920s Paris as Anya seeks to discover the mystery of her past. It runs for two shows 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at E.J. Thomas Hall in Akron. Cost is $30-$87.50. Call 330-253-2488 or see www.playhousesquare.org.

Kyla Stone plays Anya in the North American tour of "Anastasia," coming to E.J. Thomas Hall Tuesday and Wednesday.
Kyla Stone plays Anya in the North American tour of "Anastasia," coming to E.J. Thomas Hall Tuesday and Wednesday.

Holiday classic

After 22 months dark, Great Lakes Theater is back with its 33rd production of Gerald Freedman's adaptation of "A Christmas Carol," which brings 60 Dickens characters to life at the Mimi Ohio Theater at Playhouse Square, Friday through Dec. 23. Cost for the holiday tradition is $30-$80. See www.greatlakestheater.org or call 216-241-6000.

Lynn Robert Berg is back starring as Scrooge in Great Lakes Theater's "A Christmas Carol."
Lynn Robert Berg is back starring as Scrooge in Great Lakes Theater's "A Christmas Carol."

Holly-jolly town

"Light It Up" is a world premiere, family-friendly musical opening Saturday and running through Dec. 22 at Cleveland Play House's Allen Theatre. Set at the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Tinseltown, USA, the show features original pop, rock, gospel and jazz holiday tunes and new arrangements of Christmas favorites by Tony Award-winning composer Jason Michael Webb. Cost is $25-$75. See clevelandplayhouse.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kerry's arts picks include holiday 'Nutcracker,' 'Christmas Carol'