It's always a good thing when families can enjoy outings together.


Christmas play or concert. That's because amateur actors, singers and budding



musicians in their neighborhood will usually take part in several Christmas



performances for local residents. These amateur but entertaining events can be



found at local schools, churches or at a community theater or performance



center.



It's very popular for those groups to stage performances of the Nativity



story, or other Christmas related works such as 'A Christmas Carol.' churches



and school groups may even have a complete concert series that includes a full-



length production of a play along with choirs, soloists and the band singing



Christmas carols and other Christmas songs.



What makes local Christmas performances special is that members of the



community and maybe even of your own household can be among the entertainers.



It is therefore special to see familiar faces doing something interesting and



different. For those who are budget-conscious, the performances are usually



priced to be very affordable, therefore offering an economic incentive to go out



and have an enjoyable afternoon or evening.



Those people who are lovers of the arts and who are more interested in



seeing a professional performance will likely also have a professional



theatrical company within reasonable proximity of their residence. Professional



groups may also perform Christmas classics such as 'A Christmas Carol' or they



may do another dramatic production from the works of other playwrights.



Music lovers also have a variety of performances to enjoy at Christmas



time. While one can always catch various groups singing carols in downtown areas



or at malls, there are other places to hear rich, melodious performances of



Christmas music. These include concerts by acclaimed or recognized



conservatories, orchestras, symphonies and renowned choir groups.



The beauty of hearing Christmas music by these groups is in the accompaniment of



instruments and the harmonious blending of voices, which all happens in a venue



that has acoustic features to optimize the auditory pleasure of the



performances. The different components that together make the whole performance



offers a richer quality to Christmas songs and carols that may be described as



'sounding heavenly.'



Another popular artistic performance that is popular during the Christmas season



is classical dance in the form of ballet, and particularly the performance of



the 'Nutcracker' ballet. With music written by Tchaikovsky, the story is about



a young girl who has a dream on Christmas Eve of a Nutcracker Prince and a



fierce battle with a Mouse King that has seven heads. After a fierce battle



between the Nutcracker, who leads an army of toy soldiers, and the Mouse King



who leads an army of mice, the Nutcracker is captured. But the little girl



throws her slipper at the Mouse King, hits him in the head and kills him. In the



end, the Nutcracker turns into a Prince and takes the little girl to the magical



and enchanting Land of Snow with dancing snowflakes and the Land of Sweets with



the Sugar Plum Fairy.



Attending Christmas plays, concerts or musical performances serves the basic



purpose of providing enjoyment, but it can also help young people, and even



adults, to develop an appreciation for the arts. Seeing different variations and



the creativity in performances of Christmas plays, as well as hearing different



renditions of Christmas songs, can be the first exposure that leads to a



lifelong love of the arts and maybe a dream to pursue a career in the arts.