Celebrate The Holiday Season With A Celtic Family Christmas, Abba Mania And More At Wheeler Opera House

Aspen's Wheeler Opera House announces a new line-up of performances and films for the historic venue's December programming. The month-long series will feature concerts, comedy, family shows, film, a New Year's eve concert, and much more! Single tickets are on sale October 6 at the Wheeler Opera House Box Office (970.920.5770/ aspenshowtix.com), and a pre-sale for local Wheeler Wins members began September 30. Wheeler Wins members ticket prices are discounted on average 25% from the listed prices. The Wheeler Opera House is located at 320 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen, CO.

Wheeler Opera House Executive Director Gena Buhler says, "December is a magical month here in Aspen, and we love bringing our most diverse program line-up to the community and vistors over these 31 days. This year's series features incredible live music, magic, film, comedy, family friendly theatre, and more, there's truly something for everyone! " She continues, "In addition to our Wheeler Real Estate Transfer Tax funded programming, we are also excited to host numerous community events in December- stay tuned for those announcements in the coming weeks, including the return of the Aspen Choral Society's The Messiah, Warren Miller's most recent ski film, and much more."

DECEMBER 2019 LINEUP:

On The Rise: Lucky Chops
Saturday, December 7 at 7:30pm; $18

Lucky Chops has been unleashing high-energy brassy funk on the world since forming in NYC in 2006. The intensity of the band's energy is fueled by their desire to share the healing and inspirational power of music with others. That power has resonated with audiences around the globe, giving the band hundreds of millions of views on their online videos and leading to live performances in more than twenty five countries. Lucky Chops maintains a busy schedule touring across several continents. The band members are also committed to music education, regularly performing clinics and educational outreaches to help train and inspire the next generation of musicians.

A Very Electric Christmas
Sunday, December 8 at 5:30pm; $28 child/$40 adult

Toy soldiers, classic carols and a universe of beautiful lights come together in this charming new yuletide story! Lightwire Theater sets your holidays aglow with the tale of a lost bird spending Christmas at the North Pole.

Aspen Mountain Film Festival presents

Heavy Water (Directed by Michael Oblowitz, 2019, 84 mins)
Sunday, December 15 at 6:30pm; $15

HEAVY WATER follows big wave surfer Nathan Fletcher through the evolution of surfing and his relationship with big waves. Tracing his lineage back to his grandfather, one of the pioneers of Oahu's North Shore, Fletcher and other fellow surf and skateboard legends share insights from the pursuit of their passion. A voyage through the eyes of the surfing community that delves deep into the mind-set of the board sports culture and it's roots, culminating in a spectacular, never-before-performed stunt, which ones again raises the bar of what is possible. Special Guests (TBA) will host a Q&A following the film.

Parental Advisory: This documentary film contains language, death, drug use, and suicide.

Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy: A Celtic Family Christmas
Thursday, December 19 at 7:30pm; $55

An unforgettable holiday show featuring two violin virtuosos: Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, and their entire musical family! You'll hear Christmas classics performed in brand new ways - a show for the young and the young at heart!

The Polar Express Co-presented with Aspen Film

Friday, December 20 at 5:30 PM; FREE

Celebrate the season with this modern holiday favorite! On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas
Sunday, December 22 at 6:30pm; $35 child/$55 adult

Ken Ludwig's Twas the Night Before Christmas is a new holiday tradition and wild adventure, where the whole family can help solve a Christmas mystery. When Santa's naughty and nice list goes missing, a few dancing mice, a little girl and a wacky elf need to save the day before Santa boards his sleigh.

ABBA Mania
Wednesday, December 25 at 6:30pm; $60 GA Floor/$75 reserved

Come see the number one touring ABBA production! Relive the glory days when ABBA ruled the airwaves - ABBA MANIA brings ABBA fans old and new together for an unforgettable night! Dig out those platforms and flares, and come hear ABBA favorites like 'Mamma Mia', 'Voulez Vous', 'Dancing Queen', 'Winner Takes It All', 'Super Trouper' and many more!

Acrobats of Cirque-Tacular: Shimmer
Thursday, December 26 at 7:30pm; $28 child/$45 adult

Journey to a shimmering winter wonderland of circus spectacle and derring-do! Marvel at the bendy ballerina in her glistening snow globe. Find yourself aglow as the aerial snow ballet mesmerizes your senses. Astonishing acrobatics, dazzling specialty acts, and glittering costumes abound in a warm and whimsical world the whole family will enjoy!

Best of SNL feat. Alex Moffat and Mikey Day
Friday, December 27 at 7:30pm; $68

What's better than one SNL comic? Two! A Chicago native, Alex Moffat has performed with Second City (like so many iconic SNL greats). He starred in the indie film Uncle John, and has been an SNL cast member since 2016. Mikey Day was a member of the Groundlings comedy troupe in Los Angeles and was a cast member on Nick Cannon's MTV comedy series "Wild 'n Out" for seven seasons. Day has also been on Saturday Night Live since 2016.

Adam Trent: Holiday Magic
Saturday, December 28 at 4:30pm & 7:30pm; $35 child/$50 adult

"Seeing is dis-believing!" - New York Times

Direct from Broadway, Adam Trent, the break out star of the world's best-selling magic show The Illusionists, brings his signature brand of magic and illusion to a Holiday themed spectacle perfect for the entire family.

New Year's at the Wheeler: Yonder Mountain String Band
Co-presented with Belly Up Aspen
Tuesday, December 31 at 9:30pm; $130 GA/$175 reserved

Ring in the New Year with our annual New Year's Eve party! For the past 20 years, Yonder Mountain String Band has redefined bluegrass music, expanding the traditional acoustic genre beyond its previously established boundaries by steadily pushing the envelope into the realms of rock n' roll and improvisation.

For more information about these events, please visit www.wheeleroperahouse.com.