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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, December 19, 2008

Festivities to get you in the spirit of the season

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

The Festival of Lights Boat Parade at Hawaii Kai Towne Center is Saturday night.

Brad Goda

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Timour Bourtasenkov is featured in Ballet Hawaii's "Nutcracker."

Cathy Thourson

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Hawaii Ballet Theatre's "Nutcracker" continues this weekend.

E.Y. Yanagi

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

"It's a Wonderful Life" hits the big screen Sunday.

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

The Honolulu Boy Choir offers two concerts.

Wayne St. Morris

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In the spirit of the season yet? No? Maybe it's time to pause from the parties and shopping, and turn your attention to these weekend holiday festivities, including ballet, concerts, a movie classic on the big screen and an open house at Washington Place.

THREE 'NUTCRACKERS'

'Tis the season for "The Nutcracker," the traditional holiday spectacle of sugar plums and mouse kings, of nutcracker soldiers and Drosselmeyer, of candylands and snow forests. Two companies continue this weekend; another, with the Honolulu Symphony, launches tonight at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.

  • Ballet Hawaii's version is the biggie — the most polished and professional of all the Island "Nutcrackers." The performers include Tony Award-nominated John Selya as the Soldier Doll and Arabian partner; Joan Boada, principal dancer from the San Francisco Ballet, as the Cavalier Prince; and Megan Fairchild, principal dancer from the New York City Ballet, as the Sugar Plum Fairy. Gregg Lizenbery is the mysterious Drosselmeyer. Dancers from Ballet Hawaii and other community dance programs also are in the cast. Pamela Taylor Tongg directs.

    8 p.m. today, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. Tickets are $35-$75. 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com. There's also an opening-night gala, at 6 p.m. today: The $150 admission includes VIP parking and seating, pre-show dinner and post-show reception. 521-8600.

  • The Hawaii State Ballet, under the direction of John Landovsky, has a homegrown-flavored "Nutcracker," with lots of keiki and a balletomane demeanor, in the most intimate (read: smaller and manageable) setting. The dancers include Erica Wong (Sugar Plum Fairy).

    7 p.m. today, 2:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Mamiya Theatre, Saint Louis School. Tickets: $19-$29 general, $16-$25 students, seniors and military. 550-8457, www.honoluluboxoffice.com.

  • Hawaii Ballet Theatre's cast, helmed by Charlys Ing, includes Hiroko Kurokawa Ota (Sugar Plum Fairy), Eric Carvill (Cavalier), Vernon Campbell (Drosselmeyer), Andrea Blankstein (Clara), Mark Otlostki (Prince) and Ashley Yee (Fritz). At the matinee, there's a "Sugarplum Tea With Santa" with a meet-the-cast-in-costume opportunity.

    1 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday; 4 p.m. Sunday at Leeward Community College Theatre. Tickets: $25 general, $22 children, military, seniors; $16 student tickets for Saturday evening. 456-8100, www.hawaiiballettheatre.com.

    SONGS OF THE SEASON

    The Honolulu Boy Choir gets into the spirit of the season with two big holiday programs.

    The first is "The Merriest Hawaiian Christmas" at Central Union Church (pre-concert entertainment by A Touch of Brass), with guest Taiko Youth Group of the Pacific.

    Doors open at 7 p.m. Saturday, concert at 7:30 p.m. at Central Union Church, 1660 S. Beretania St. It's free; donations are welcome. 596-7464.

    Then there's a songfest in Waikiki, hosted by Brickwood Galuteria and Kimo Kahoano as part of the ongoing series "Na Mele No Na Pua" ("Music for the Generations").

    4-5:30 p.m. Sunday at the Embassy Suites-Waikiki Beach Walk's fourth-floor Grand Lanai. It's free.

    The Hawaii Vocal Arts Ensemble offers a pair of Candlelight Christmas Concerts showcasing traditional and contemporary music of the season. The ensemble, 32 voices strong, specializes in choral music from the Renaissance to the here and now. Timothy Carney is music director.

    7:30 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday at the Mystical Rose Oratory (the chapel) of Chaminade University. Tickets are $20 general; $15 seniors and military, $5 students; $35 preferred seating. 550-8457, www.honoluluboxoffice.com.

    FLOATING FESTIVITIES

    Decorated boats are a big attraction at the 12th annual Festival of Lights Boat Parade at Hawaii Kai Towne Center, but the event is pretty big on land, too. It begins at 4:30 p.m. with a performance by Ka Hale I o Kahala Halau Hula, followed by a concert by Grammy-nominated Amy Hanaiali'i.

    More than 30 decorated boats will take part in the parade.

    4:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday at Hawaii Kai Towne Center. It's free. 396-0766.

    The annual Hawaii Yacht Club Christmas Boat Parade, postponed from last weekend because of the soggy weather, is themed "Toys on Parade" and will sail through Honolulu Harbor, decorated vessels all atwinkle.

    6 p.m. Saturday at Aloha Tower Marketplace. It's free. 566-2337.

    The public is invited to the Holiday Festival of Lights Pearl Harbor Boat Tours — 30-minute rides with Christmas music and views of the Pearl Harbor ships and submarines that are decked out for the season. Seats are limited, so get there early; tickets will be passed out beginning at 6 p.m. each day.

    Note: Camera bags, purses and handbags are not allowed. Cameras and videos are allowed onboard, but photos of security activities such as the patrol boats are prohibited. Bring a light jacket or sweater.

    Tours depart at 6:30, 6:45, 7:15, 7:30 and 8 p.m. today; 6:30, 6:45, 7:15, 7:30, 8 and 8:15 Saturday and Sunday, departing from the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center. It's free; on a first come, first served basis. 422-2771, ext 110.

    ON THE HARP

    The Lutheran Church of Honolulu's Abendmusiken Concert II, Young Artist Series, features harpist Melody Rose Lindsay and the Trebles of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu Choir.

    On the program: Britten's "Ceremony of Carols," John Rutter's "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day," traditional holiday favorites and more. Carl Crosier conducts.

    There's a free preview performance at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Hawai'i State Library (the main branch near 'Iolani Palace), too.

    4-5:30 p.m. Sunday at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, 1730 Punahou St. Tickets are $20 general, $15 seniors, $12 students. 941-2566.

    'WONDERFUL LIFE'

    Lift your spirits, courtesy of James Stewart, Donna Reed and crew: The classic holiday film "It's a Wonderful Life" will be screened Sunday at the Ko'olau Stadium 10 theater complex.

    Bring a donation of three canned goods for the Hawaii Foodbank, and you get to enter free. And the moviegoer who donates the most will get an extra-large popcorn for free.

    "Wonderful Life," from 1946, is the story of down-on-his-luck George Bailey (Stewart), who tries to commit suicide. But with the help of a guardian angel, he comes to see that his life has more meaning than he ever imagined.

    2 p.m. Sunday at the Ko'olau Stadium 10 complex.

    AT WASHINGTON PLACE

    Lt. Gov. James R. "Duke" Aiona and Vivian Aiona host a Christmas Open House at Washington Place, continuing a tradition that began 150 years ago.

    It was in 1858 that Mary Dominis, widow of Capt. John Dominis, invited 100 children and their parents to her home, a mansion that was built in 1847.

    Attendees can help decorate the "Mary Dominis" tree in the upstairs chamber; and there's holiday music by harpists Ruth Freedman and Lynn Hammonds.

    5:30-8 p.m. today at Washington Place. It's free; adults must bring a photo ID (bags are subject to inspection). 586-0249.

    A LA POLYNESIA

    The Polynesian Cultural Center's Christmas in Polynesia — yule activities, entertainment and a canoe ride through a series of nativity scenes — continues through Monday. Another attraction: "A Gift for Sadie: Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child" — a mother tells the story of the nativity to her daughter.

    6-8:30 p.m. today-Saturday and Monday at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Admission is $8 general (16 and older), $5 for youngsters 5-15. Special buffets are available at $10 and $20. 293-3333, www.polynesia.com.