Holiday Hilarity on Stage Downtown

Zachary Scott Theatre, 1101 Toomey
(512) 476-0541, zachscott.com

You have only a couple more weeks to laugh until your cry at incredible portrayals of the zany happenings surrounding the 25th of December. Santaland Diaries and Rockin' Christmas Party at Zach Scott will have you in stiches, guaranteed.

The Austin American Statesman rightfully calls Santaland "An unforgettable Christmas yarn as subversive as it is endearing, as wicked as it is touching!"

And the Rockin' title pretty much tells you what you're in for - an award-winning cast that shakes, rattles and rolls down Santa Claus Lane in a glossy, glitzy sleigh ride through MoTown in YoTown for the Ho-Ho-Holidays!

Both shows run through January 2 at Zach Scott.

Also not to be missed is the twisted and hysterically funny new take on Scrooge. Ho Hum - A Christmas Carol is showing at the Paramount through December 19. Slide on over to austintheatrealliance.org for details.

Dec 16, 23 - Carol Singing at St. David's
St. David's Episcopal Church, 304 E. 7th
(512) 472-1196, stdave.org

Come on, tune up your pipes and get in the holiday spirit with Noontime caroling at St. David's Episcopal Church. You'll be joined by some of the best vocalists from churches around Downtown. It's a festive way to spend your Thursday lunch. Join the fun and stay after for lunch at Café Divine - just $6. Everything else is free, including the parking.

Dec 17 - Candlelight Carols
St. David's Episcopal Church, 304 E. 7th
(512) 472-1196, stdave.org

St. David's Episcopal Church welcomes harpist Shana Norton and Oboeist Kathleen Turner as they accompany their Parish Choirs in an evening of joyful music. These concerts are free and you'll be invited to join in the carol singing. The Labyrinth and Meditation Garden will be open for walking by candlelight from 7:30 - 10:30 p.m.


Dec 17 - Spectacular Holiday Organ Concert
Bates Recital Hall, 23rd & Robert Dedman
(512) 471-1444, utpac.org

Did you know that Bates Recital Hall has one of the largest tracker organs in the country? During a spectacular Holiday Concert, master organists Gerre & Judith Hancock will fill the Hall with maginificent sacred music. Plan to attend this splendid, moving performance. One show only: 8:00 p.m.

Dec 23 - Jim Brickman & Friends Holiday Concert
Bass Concert Hall, 23rd & Robert Dedman
(512) 477-6060, utpac.org

The Chicago Sun Times has called Jim Brickman "the best kept secret in pop music." Celebrate the season with a special holiday concert the whole family is sure to enjoy. Brickman, a piano sensation and composer, will be joined by friends, 98 Degrees heartthrob Jeff Timmons and rising singing star Kristy Starling. Jim Brickman & Friends Holiday Concert is a sure-fire winner, one that promises to be as uplifting as it is entertaining.

For the unique, for the unusual, for the unforgettable - gallery shop Downtown! Look at all these choices:
To 12/18: Tenants Show, Guadalupe Arts Center, 1705 Guadalupe
(512) 473-3775, guadalupearts.com

To 12/23: Winter Jewels, d berman gallery, 1701 Guadalupe
(512) 477-8877, dbermangallery.com

To 12/23: Ann Glazer, Women & Their Work, 1710 Guadalupe
(512) 477-1064, womenandtheirwork.org

To 12/30: Holiday Punch, Studio 107, 411 Brazos, #107
(512) 477-9092, studio107.com

To 1/2: Collecting Latino Art Exhibit & Sale
Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress
(512) 480-9373, mexic-artemuseum.org

To 1/6: Xmas Expo, Gallery Lombardi, 910 W. Third
(512) 481-1088, gallerylombardi.com

To 1/16: Lounge!, Arthouse at Jones Center, 700 Congress Avenue
(512) 453-5312, arthousetexas.org

Dec 16 - Re-investigating Holmes
Harry Ransom Center, 21st & Guadalupe
(512)471-8944, hrc.utexas.edu

If you or someone on your gift list is into literature's most famous sleuth, here's an event that's well, elementary, my dear. Les Klinger, editor of W.W. Norton's New Annotated Sherlock Holmes will be speaking about the recently released two-volume set, which will be available for signing. Re-investigating Holmes takes place at 7:00 p.m at the Prothro Theater and Ransom Galleries at the Harry Ransom Center.

Dec 16-22 - Gingerbread House Workshop
Austin Children's Museum, 201 Colorado
(512) 472-2494, austinkids.org

Now that the kids are out of school, make plans for a fun-filled worshop. Create a family gingerbread house your family will enjoy for years to come. The workshops are being held at 3:30 p.m. Go to austinkids.org to make reservations.

Dec 17 - Star-Struck Holiday Workshops
Bob Bullock Texas State History Musuem, 1800 N. Congress
(512) 936-4649, thestoryoftexas.com

The Star-Struck Holiday Workshops are wrapping up this week with a two-hour session on creating starry wrappings. Let your children have a ball while you get some shopping done Downtown. The workshop is is $6 for Members and $8 for non-members. Space is limited and registration is required, so call (512) 936-4649 to wrap up your holidays with hand-made fun.

Dec 18-Aug 27 - Signs of the Times: Life in the Swingin' Sixties
LBJ Library and Museum, 2313 Red River
(512) 721-0200, lbjlib.utexas.edu

Relive the 60s - quite literally - during an exhibition that captures all the excitment of an era that changed American culture. You'll experience everything from the "British Invasion" and Motown, and the mini skirts worn by go-go dancers, mods and hippies. It's great fun for you and all today's youngsters who weren't lucky enough to have been alive during a time that changed the way we look at our country and the world.

Dec 16 - Brush Square Partnership Meeting
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
O. Henry Museum, 409 E. 5th
Chair: Thais Austin; DAA Contact: Julie Fitch
(512) 469-1766, downtownaustin.com

Dec 16 - Streetscapes & Transportation Committee
8:30 a.m.
Southwest Tower, 211 E. 7th Street, 7th Floor Conference Room
Chair: Steve Simpson; DAA Contact: Thomas Butler
(512) 469-1766, downtownaustin.com

Dec 21 - Arts & Entertainment Marketing Committee
8:30 AM
Southwest Tower, 211 E. 7th Street, 7th Floor Conference Room
Chair: Nancy Burns; DAA Contact: Cilla Temple
(512) 469-1766; downtownaustin.com

Dec 18 - Holiday Workshop The Sculptor in Me!
Umlauf Sculpture Garden, 605 Robert E. Lee Road
(512) 445-5582, umlaufsculpture.org

Dig your hand in clay and see what creative formations you walk away with. The Sculptor in Me! is a workshop for grown-ups. You'll work with a professional sculptor from the Austin Sculpture Center in this hands-on, introductory session - 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Reservations are required for this $15 workshop that's limited to 15 participants.

Dec 19 - Santa's Countdown to Christmas!
Bob Bullock Texas State History Musuem, 1800 N. Congress
(512) 936-4649, thestoryoftexas.com

Santa and one of his reindeer are making a special stop in Austin before his round-the-world journey. This is free family fun at the Museum from noon - 5:00 p.m. Visit with Santa, meet a real, live reindeer and play some reindeer games for prizes.


Dec 19 - Candlelight Christmas at the Governor's Mansion
Texas Governor's Mansion, 11th & Colorado
463-5516

And after your visit with Santa, plan to stay Downtown to celebrate the holidays with a beautiful tour of the Governor's Mansion by candlelight. Tours from 3:00 - 9:00 p.m. are free and open to the public. Please note: purses, backpacks, cameras, etc, are not allowed inside the Mansion.

On Stage
17, 19: White Christmas + It's A Wonderful Life, State Theater, austintheatrealliance.org
18: Wanda Sykes, The Cotton Shirt Tour, Paramount Theatre, austintheatrealliance.org
22: Michael Martin Murphy's Cowboy Christmas, Paramount Theatre, austintheatrealliance.org
To 18: Toys Take Over Christmas Scottish Rite Theatre, secondyouth.com
To 19: Hum Bug - A Christmas Carol, Paramount Theatre, austintheatrealliance.org
To 21: The Nutcracker, Bass Concert Hall, balletaustin.com
To 1/2: Esther's Follies Christmas Show, Esther's Follies, esthersfollies.com
To 1/2: Rockin' Christmas Party, Zach Scott Theatre, zachscott.com
To 1/2: The Santaland Diaries, Zachary Scott Theatre, zachscott.com
To 1/13: The Polar Express, IMAX Theatre, thestoryoftexas.com
To 3/05: Bugs 3-D: A Rainforest Adventure, IMAX®Theatre, thestoryoftexas.com

The Music Scene
16, 23: Caroling at Noon, St. David's Episcopal Church, stdave.org
17: Candlelight Carols, St. David's Episcopal Church, stdave.org
17: Holiday Organ Concert with Gerre & Judith Hancock, Bates Recital Hall, utpac.org
23: Thursday NoonDay Concert Series, Pinnacle Brass Holiday Music, Central Presbyterian Church, centralpresbyterian.org
23: Jim Brickman & Friends Holiday Concert, Bass Concert Hall, utpac.org

Gallery Watch & Museum Musings
16-22: Gingerbread Workshops, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.org
17: Star-Struck Holiday Workshops, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, thestoryoftexas.com
18-8/27: Signs of the Times: Life in the Sixties, LBJ Library & Museum, lbjlib.utexas.edu
To 12/13: Roz - A Video, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 12/18: Tenant's Show, Guadalupe Arts Center, guadalupearts.com
To 12/22: Twister: Moving Through Color, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 12/22: The Blanton Builds Your New Museum, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 12/22: 500 Years of Prints and Drawings, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 12/23: Ann Glazer, Women & Their Work, womenandtheirwork.org
To 12/31: Holiday Punch, Studio 107, studio107.com
To: 1/2: Collecting Latino Art Exhibit & Sale, Mexic-Arte Museum, mexic-artemuseum.org
To 1/6: Xmas Expo, Gallery Lombardi, gallerylombardi.com
To 2/20: Andy Goldsworthy, Natural Installations in Japan, Austin Museum of Art, amoa.org

Special Events, Workshops, Seminars, Meetings
16: DAA Republic Square Partnership Meeting, O. Henry Museum, downtownaustin.com
16: DAA Streetscapes & Transportation Committee Meeting, Southwest Tower, downtownaustin.com
18: The Sculptor in Me!, Umlauf Sculpture Garden, umlaufsculpture.org
19: Santa's Countdown to Christmas, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, thestoryoftexas.com
19: Candlelight Christmas at Texas Governor's Mansion, (512) 463-5516
21: DAA Arts & Entertainment Marketing Committee, Southwest Tower, downtownaustin.com

Dec 17, 19 - Classic Christmas Double Feature
State Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatrealliance.org

Experience all over again the two movies that have become legendary for capturing the magic of Christmas. A double feature of White Christmas (which is playing throughout the month) and It's a Wonderful Life are playing at the State Theater. Go to austintheatrealliance.org for times and tickets.

Dec 18 - Live from Comedy Central LIVE!
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatrealliance.org

You know her from Comedy Central LIVE! Wanda Sykes has been called one of the funniest stand up comics by her peers and ranks among Entertainment Weekly's 25 Funniest People in America. She'll be here to make you chuckle and chortle as part of her nation-wide tour, The Cotton Shirt Tour. If you're into contemporary farce, this is a not-to-be-missed event! One show only at 8:00 p.m.

Dec 22 - Michael Martin Murphy's Cowboy Christmas
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatrealliance.org

It's Christmas cowboy style. And if you don't know exactly what that is, you're in for one delightful treat. Michael Martin Murphy's Cowboy Christmas has become a new holiday tradition in those parts of the world that appreciate the Old West. MMM and his band of folksy musicians recreate memorable melodies that make the heart yoddle with the homespun humor, wit and spirit that have made cowboys the legends they are.

Also still running...

To 12/18: The Toys Take Over Christmas, Scottish Rite Theatre, secondyouth.com
To 12/20: The Nutcracker, Bass Concert Hall, balletaustin.com
To 1/1/05: Esther's Follies Christmas Show, Esther's Follies, esthersfollies.com
To 1/13/05: The Polar Express, IMAX® Theatre, thestoryoftexas.com

For complete details on these shows, please go to the Calendar listing at downtownaustin.com