Mayor Menino Offers Half-Price Tickets on Holiday Shows
Photo via Mayor’s Holiday Special
The holidays have officially arrived, and whether or not you are ready for the Christmas music, tree lightings, and Starbucks’s festive red cups, it may be wise to skim the list of upcoming Boston holiday performances anyway. Mayor Menino, in conjunction with ArtsBoston and the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, recently announced his 9th Annual Mayor’s Holiday Special. Menino and company are offering half-price ticket specials to a variety of seasonal concerts, as well as deals on restaurants and gifts. The following are a few of the popular shows that are included in the Mayor’s Holiday Special.
José Mateo Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker”
You probably already know the story, and you may have already seen it in Boston or elsewhere. But this year, watch this critically acclaimed performance put on by the José Mateo Ballet Theatre and avoid spending a fortune. If you decide to wait until the days just before Christmas, join in on celebrating The Nutcracker’s 25th Anniversary at The Strand.
$25; December 1-16 at The Sanctuary Theater, 400 Harvard St., Cambridge; and December 22-24 at The Strand, 543 Columbia Rd., Dorchester; ballettheatre.org
Holiday Pops
If you haven’t seen the Boston Pops, you haven’t truly experienced the holidays in the city. Led by the legendary Keith Lockhart, the Pops will continue their annual tradition of playing holiday tunes at Symphony Hall, featuring a visit from Santa Claus and a family sing-along. Good, classic songs and St. Nick—can you really afford to miss it?
$37-$50; December 5-24; Boston Symphony Hall, 301 Mass. Ave; bso.org
Dr. Seuss’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
Change up your holiday tradition of watching the Grinch wreak havoc on Whoville from your sofa and see the musical live at the Wang Theatre. Take along the whole family and enjoy the classic tale without making your savings “three sizes too small.”
$17-$30; November 23-December 9; The Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St.; citicenter.org/grinch
Handel’s Messiah
Head down to Jordan Hall to witness the masterwork of Handel, put on by Boston Baroque. Performed by a phenomenal conductor, soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, and beyond, this traditional holiday music will likely leave you dazzled.
$13-$24; December 7 & 8; New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough St.; bostonbaroque.org
Christmas Celtic Sojourn
This year, the Christmas Celtic Sojourn will celebrate its 10th anniversary with yet another must-see (and discounted!) show with instrumental music, singing, and dancing. Seamus Egun will return as music director, and he’ll be accompanied on stage by harpists, fiddlers, cellists, percussionists, singers belting out four-part harmonies, and classic and contemporary Irish dancers.
$28-$33; December 16, 20-22; Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College, 219 Tremont St.; wgbh.org
For more information on the Mayor’s Holiday Special, including what shows are included and how to get tickets, visit MayorsHolidaySpecial.com. The half-price ticket quantities are limited, and allotments change daily, so the public is encouraged to check the site early and often. Stay up-to-date on added performances and special offers with email and social media alerts on twitter.com/artsboston and facebook.com/artsboston. The site includes a list of restaurants participating in the $10-off voucher program, and details of voucher use.
