Cirque du Soleil
James Cameron is taking his sweet time making the sequels, so if you need an Avatar fix, you can always make your way to Rogers Place for the Cirque du Soleil production of Toruk – The First Flight. Inspired by the world created by Cameron, Toruk follows the adventures of two boys on the world of Pandora looking for a way to save the sacred Tree of Souls. Will they find the pure soul necessary to accomplish their mission?
When: Thursday, Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 23 at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 24 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 25 at 4 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 26 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Where: Rogers Place
Admission: $56 to $222, available from Ticketmaster
Info: ticketmaster.ca
Maddix, 5, and Aria, 2, Parker getting their first hugs of the season from Santa Candy Cane Lane, Dec. 9, 2016.
Candy Cane Lane
It’s a decades-old tradition for many of us, to pile the kids in the car or be piled in ourselves to see the inventive Christmas lights at Candy Cane Lane in the Crestwood community. If the weather co-operates, consider ditching the car and walking through the neighbourhood, or hiring a sleigh ride (info on the website) and taking it easy down those snowy streets. There’s no corporate sponsorship involved in this, but the volunteers do ask that you bring along non-perishable items for the Food Bank.
When: Until midnight Jan. 1. 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily
Where: 148 Street, between 100 Avenue and 92 Avenue
Admission: Free; donations to the Edmonton Food Bank are accepted
Info: candycanelane.trav-graphics.com
Burning Bluebeard is on until Christmas Eve,
Burning Bluebeard
They’re coming down to the final performances of Burning Bluebeard at the Roxy this weekend, with the final performance taking place on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. That show takes place during Christmas 1903, when six clowns emerge from the wreckage of a theatre that was destroyed by fire, determined to get their act right. Based loosely on a true story, Burning Blackbeard has been described as a “Vaudevillian comedy with a joyful eulogy.”
When: Until Dec. 24, performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m.; matinee on Dec. 24 at 2 p.m.
Where: The Roxy on Gateway, 8529 Gateway Blvd.
Admission: $18 to $22, at the door or from Tix on the Square
Info: tixonthesquare.ca
Robin Hood at the Capitol Theatre in Fort Edmonton Park.
Robin Hood
Dana Andersen directs, Davina Stewart, Ron Pederson and Trent Wilkie are among the star-studded cast as the Capitol Theatre presents a Christmas pantomime version of Robin Hood. Jocelyn Alf’s version of the classic English story promises a few twists and turns, with reversed roles and plenty of surprises. These are popular productions, so make sure to get your tickets early.
When: Until Dec. 31. Performances on Dec. 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 24 at 2 p.m.; Dec. 28 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 29 at 2 p.m.; Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 31 at 2 p.m.
Where: Capitol Theatre, Fort Edmonton Park
Admission: $15.23 to $23.63, available at the Fort Edmonton website
Info: fortedmontonpark.ca
Strangled
Edmonton’s first family of punk, the MacKinnons, make up half of the membership of Strangled. Moira MacKinnon fronts the band, while brother Graeme takes time off from guitar and vocal duties in his own outfit, No Problem, to play drums for his sister. Opening are Postnamers and Calgary’s Janitor Scum, who just released their debut album in October.
When: Thursday, Dec. 22 at 9 p.m.
Where: 9910, 9910B 109 St.
Admission: $10
Info: facebook.com
Concert series
The Advent Music Concert series is drawing to a close at Robertson-Wesley United Church, with one more chance to catch quality music for a reasonable price. The final show features Sandy Adams on harpsichord and Tammy-Jo Mortensen playing the organ, and it takes place over the lunch hour. No charge at the door, but a freewill offering is expected.
When: Thursday, Dec. 22, 12:10 p.m. to 12:50 p.m.
Where: Robertson-Wesley United Church, 10209 123 St.
Admission: Freewill offering
Info: rwuc.org
John Tessier, singing at A Lightly Classical Christmas at the Winspear.
Classical Christmas
You can’t escape Christmas music at this point, especially if you’re out in public. You can, however, make a point of seeking out good Christmas music to enjoy. Like the Lightly Classical Christmas concert at the Winspear Centre on Thursday night, where guest conductor Robert Bernhardt joins forces with tenor John Tessier and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra for an evening of traditional songs and beloved carols.
When: Thursday, Dec. 22 at 8 p.m.
Where: Winspear Centre
Admission: $29 to $79, available from the box office or Winspear website
Info: winspearcenter.com
A Christmas Story at the Metro Cinema on Dec. 22.
Christmas Story
Something of a dud on first release, Bob Clark’s A Christmas Story has gone on to become essential viewing for families every holiday season. Based around the remembrances of author Jean Shepherd, the film follows little Ralphie Parker in his quest for the perfect Christmas present, a Red Ryder air rifle. His father’s leg lamp, which is much hated by Ralphie’s mom, a constantly malfunctioning furnace, and a disastrous Christmas dinner are also major plot points in this endearing comedy from 1983.
When: Thursday, Dec. 22 at 4:30 p.m.
Where: Metro Cinema, 8712 109 St.
Admission: $10, adults: $6, students, seniors and children
Info: metrocinema.org
Christmas bash
Remember farther up in the column, when we talked about the long musical reach of the MacKinnon clan? Well, Royal Tusk have a MacKinnon with them as well, bassist Sandy MacKinnon, and they’ll be hosting a Christmas bash at the Starlite. Opening are Rhode Island rockers Thrillhouse, who are billing their performance as their last show, and Edmonton’s The Unfortunates.
When: Friday, Dec. 23 at 8 p.m.
Where: Starlite Room, 10030 102 St.
Admission: $20, at the door or from the Starlite Room website
Info: starliteroom.ca
Flume at the Shaw Conference Centre on Dec. 27.
Flume
By the time Tuesday comes around, you’ll be frantic to get out of the house. You’ll also be weighed down by days worth of Christmas baking, which is why you should consider going to see Australian DJ Flume at the Shaw. He’s on the road touring his second effort, Skin, a critically acclaimed combo of indie-pop, electronic dance music and hip-hop, which went gold in Australia just months after its release in May. Opening are future-funk DJ GRiZ and Toronto House DJ Shaun Frank.
When: Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 8 p.m.
Where: Shaw Conference Centre, 9797 Jasper Ave.
Admission: $89.50, from Ticketmaster
Info: ticketmaster.ca
Ten to Do is compiled and written by Tom Murray. If you are co-ordinating an event you want featured here, email the information to arts@edmontonjournal.com. Information for the online What’s On listings should be uploaded to
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/whats-on/index.html
