Aurora Theatre Rings in Holiday Cheer with Spirited December Programming

Theater patrons will be raising the curtain on Christmas all month at Aurora Theatre, with holiday festivities and endless spirited fun! Guests of all ages are invited to kick off winter holiday festivities with Teatro Aurora's Colombian style holiday tradition, Noche de Velas, while adult theatergoers can relax and let the ab-aching laughter commence with the hilarious, whimsical acts of special guests during a weekend of Aurora Comedy Nights.

Aspiring thespians can turn dreams into realities every Saturday this month with the festive offerings of Aurora Children's Playhouse featuring Cirque Noel, The North Pole Fa-la-la-la Follies, 'Twas the Night before Christmas and Santa's Missing Mail! Young theatergoers will also delight in festivities at Aurora Theatre Academy's holly-jolly workshops, offering comical performances, games, pizza and more!

The holiday spirit continues throughout December with Christmas Canteen 2017, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and The 12 Dates of Christmas for jolly fun fit for everyone. Those looking to give back to the less fortunate can enjoy The Festival of Trees in the Aurora Theatre lobby during any of the shows. From seasonal traditions to merry revelries, this month has holiday happenings for everyone who wants to unwrap joyous fun!

Special December Programming

Teatro Aurora
Offering diverse community engagements and education, Aurora Theatre is the only theater in the region with Spanish language productions. Shows are produced and performed in Spanish with English subtitles, in an effort to marry the arts with local Latin American culture. For more information and ticket purchase, please visit bitly.com/TeatroAurora.

Noche de Velas
Thursday, December 7 at sunset
FREE!
What better way to welcome the holiday season than by sharing traditions and customs from other countries? Aurora Theatre invites culture-loving theatergoers to enjoy this Colombian style holiday tradition, complete with food, music and candles! Guests are encouraged to bring a candle and food to share with family and friends and give back with presents during The Festival of Trees, all while celebrating the Hispanic community. For more information, please visit bit.ly/NochedeVelas.

Aurora Comedy Nights
The endless entertainment of Aurora Comedy Nights is back! Audiences can once again embrace the side-splitting laughter of the hysterical performances at Aurora Theatre this December. Host Katie Causey and the best comedians around town will help to ring in the New Year in a hilarious fashion! For more information, please visit bit.ly/AuroraComedyNights.

New Year's Eve Weekend Comedy Spectacular with host Katie Causey
Lace Larrabee, featuring the Young Guns of Comedy: Joel Byars, David Perdue and Jim Dancy
Friday and Saturday, December 29 and 30
7:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.
Tickets $18
Atlanta-based actor, host and nationally touring stand-up comedian Lace Larrabee will induce uncontrollable laughter all weekend long. Special guests of the Young Guns of Comedy will accompany Larrabee with cutting edge comedy to light up the audience. With fresh new entertainment, comedy that has been featured on VICELAND'S FLOPHOUSE and regular appearances on FOX network, guests can expect an unforgettable weekend filled with countless jokes and tears of laughter. This show is the perfect lineup for kicking off the New Year! For ticket purchase or more information, please visit bit.ly/NYEWeekendComedySpectacular.

Aurora Children's Playhouse
Saturdays in December at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Tickets $7
Aurora Theatre gathers the most talented children's performers in the region to provide youngsters with their first of many theatrical experiences. Parents and their children can witness world-class artistry at downtown Lawrenceville's favorite theater. Featuring puppeteers, magicians, storytellers, jugglers and musicians as a part of this series, Aurora's one-of-a-kind facility offers parents and children an experience like no other. At roughly 45 minutes long, these lively performances are designed perfectly for the young attention span and fun for the whole family. Playhouse tickets are $7; Playhouse Tix punch cards are $50 and good for 10 admissions to any Children's Playhouse show. For more information, visit bit.ly/AuroraChildrensPlayhouse.

Cirque Noel by Akrosphere Aerial & Circus Arts
Saturday, December 2
Awe-struck audiences will witness a winter wonderland of circus with Cirque Noel, featuring frost fairies flying on a trapeze and Jack Frost juggling, all while glittering snowflakes fill the air. The circus extravaganza continues with jaw-dropping acts from a menagerie of chilly characters. Watch the wintry team perform on lyras, cyr wheels, unicycles, an aerial rope and more! For thrill-seeking kids that love festive entertainment, Cirque Noel will be an irresistible winter wonderland!

The North Pole Fa-la-la-la Follies by The Puppet Guy!
Saturday, December 9
Those ready to celebrate the season are invited to join the zany residents of the North Pole as they engage in hilarious holiday high-jinx throughout their annual talent show! The scheming, talented cast of characters will keep audiences cracking up with spirited, boisterous fun - from a wisecracking fruitcake to a musical goose and tumbling teddy bears to a duo of dancing deer and the "not-so-abominable" snowman, along with many more reminders of the reason for the season: holly-jolly fun! Santa will be available after the show for photos in Aurora's studio theater, and guests can make a contribution to Toys for Tots.

'Twas the Night before Christmas by Piccadilly Puppets
Saturday, December 16
While children may think they already know the story of the night before Christmas, an eyewitness mouse is ready to tell the real tale! Clement C. Moore's classic holiday poem of more than 100 years will be told from a different, more amusing perspective: one of a mouse that witnessed it all. This hand-puppet performance will keep children entertained and on their toes the whole way through. With silly twists and turns, this version of 'Twas the Night before Christmas is sure to be everyone's new favorite!

Santa's Missing Mail by All Hands Productions
Saturday, December 23
Calling all children! The North Pole natives need help in saving Christmas! Two dastardly culprits, Ominous Crook and his sidekick, Skellmutt, are stealing Santa Claus' mail and putting a halt on all Christmas productions. Meet the panicked elves, a wise-cracking reindeer, a dim-witted superhero and Kris Kringle himself to help get the yuletide season back on track! When David's friend Fitzgerald finds himself in need, the audience can help Fitzgerald in writing a letter, in hopes of it reaching St. Nick. What better way to get on Santa's nice list than by helping to save Christmas all together? This moving-mouth hand-puppet tale is certain to be loved and put a smile on every kid's face!

Aurora Theatre Academy
The Aurora Theatre Academy is the ultimate experience for learning the ropes and tapping into creativity! Gwinnett County's renowned premier destination for practicing and studying the arts is open to students of all ages and instructed by some of the best working professionals in the region.

Jingle Bell Rock Workshop
For Elementary through Middle School Students
Thursday, December 21 and 28
10:30 a.m. -4 p.m.
Tuition: $35 (includes pizza lunch)
Young thespians can play while school is away at Aurora Theatre Academy with this fun, festive workshop! Participants can take full advantage of the holiday season by dressing in festive gear and getting in character for some Eggnog Improv, while witnessing the hilarious encounter when Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman meet at the grocery store. Filled with theater games, kooky Christmas characters and pizza, this event has everything a kid could ask for and more during winter break. With more than enough fun for everyone, guests can choose from the two dates or sign up for both! To register or for more information, please visit bit.ly/JingleBellRockWorkshop.

Continuing in December...

Christmas Canteen 2017
Co-directed by Jen MacQueen and Anthony Rodriguez
November 16-December 23
The stunning musical revue celebrates its 22nd anniversary as Gwinnett's longest-running theatrical holiday tradition, wowing audience members year after year with joyous musical numbers and hysterical comedy - all the ingredients for a very merry Christmas! Additional matinee shows will be offered on Tuesday, December 5, 12 and 19 at 10 a.m. Regular tickets range from $30-$65 and may be purchased online at tickets.auroratheatre.com.

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol
Directed by Tony Brown
November 24-December 23
Follow the transformation of a troubled and resentful Scrooge as he encounters the three ghosts of Christmas, recalls forgotten memories and is forced to make life-altering decisions. The stone-cold Ebenezer Scrooge is acquainted with lessons and stories specific to each ghost, which may or may not lead him to embrace the joy of Christmas. This one-man version of the traditional tale will impress theatergoers in an incredibly personal and uplifting light this holiday season! Tickets range from $20-$30 and can be purchased online at tickets.auroratheatre.com.

12 Dates of Christmas
By Ginna Hoben
Directed by Megan Rose-Houchins
November 25-December 23
From American Shakespeare Center's Ginna Hoben and under the direction of Megan Rose-Houchins, the holiday comedy The 12 Dates of Christmas tells the tale of a betrayed yet persistent woman, eager to shine in the winter wonderland of dating. Mary's life unravels after seeing her fiancé, live on national television, plant one wet kiss on another woman. Very determined, she spends the next year trudging her way back into dating with set ups, hook ups and let downs to test her confidence. Tickets range from $20-$30 and may be purchased online at tickets.auroratheatre.com.

The Festival of Trees
November 13-December 23
Open during regular box office hours and during performances
FREE!
Help ensure that everyone has a heart-warming holiday season by supporting the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots drive and local food banks. The Festival of Trees will deck the halls of Aurora Theatre's lobby with nearly 30 trees decorated by local businesses. Aurora Theatre invites patrons to vote on a winner by placing a new unwrapped toy or a non-perishable food item under their favorite tree. The tree with the most donations by December 23 will be named The Best of the Fest!

For more information or to purchase tickets for events, call the Box Office at 678.226.6222 or visit www.auroratheatre.com.