A television staple since the very beginnings of the format, the Christmas episode is a tried and true trope of TV this time of year and no show promises more hatfuls of holiday cheer and buckets of glee more than, well, GLEE does - and, last night, on the seasonally-themed "Extraordinary Merry Christmas" (titled after one of the two new original songs penned for the episode), GLEE was a cool, neon blue star in the oft-midnight black galaxy - one far, far away, evidently; especially given the Chewbacca cameo and STAR WARS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL nods - of network TV today (or ever, for that matter). Capturing the copious charm of the cast and commonalities of the holidays among us all, the Matthew Morrison-directed Christmas special was a jolly Santa, his decked-out sleigh and all the merry reindeer to go along with them. Positively overflowing with song selections from the simply spectacular GLEE: CHRISTMAS VOLUME 2 - available now - last night's GLEE was not only a holiday music lover's and gleek's dream, but it also came with a maraschino cherry on top for the Broadway babies among us - THE SOUND OF Music's "My Favorite Things"; sung in Summer in the famous Rodgers & Hammerstein show and Robert Wise film version, the song has nevertheless become widely associated with the season due in no small part to Barbra Streisand's unforgettable inclusion of it on her peerless 1967 classic, A CHRISTMAS ALBUM. "Extraordinary Merry Christmas" also gave Sue Sylvester some room to exact her ongoing revenge - and redemption - while the rest of the episode contained a multitude of New Directions-centric plot developments, surprises and, of course, seriously Santa-friendly musical numbers - all, fascinatingly enough, with an all-inclusive (and, even, religion-friendly; in Rory's nativity story scene) style. Not that Judy Garland's Christmas classic special wasn't paid as much homage as Santa and the baby Jesus were - as we should always expect from GLEE - because it was. More on that in a moment. So much to discuss!
Santa Claus News
The Christmas spirit has once again taken over the halls of McKinley High, Gleeks. Break out the tinsel and the holly - Jingle bells are about to be rung out! The Glee Club is in the Christmas spirit - Mercedes leads the group in a rousing version of "All I Want For Christmas", while Finn realizes he's the only one who took that song to heart when Rachel presents a Christmas list a mile long. Meanwhile, Sue calls on Artie, Kurt, and Blaine to present the idea of the glee club performing at a homeless shelter, something she's decided to do since she'll be alone this Christmas. Rory, also feeling the lonely end of the holidays - performs Elvis's Christmas class, "Blue Christmas" which prompts the glee club to aim for a much happier holiday than the previous year. Mr. Schuester surprises the glee club when he reveals that a local station has asked them to do a Christmas special on a local station to be directed by Artie - who talks the station manager into some pretty outlandish ideas.
Sounds of the Season will feature holiday classics including 'Merry Christmas Darling,' 'O Holy Night,' 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,' 'What Are You Doing New Year's Eve,' 'Let It Snow' and 'White Christmas,' as well as more contemporary seasonal tunes, accompanied by a swinging trio and performed by some of the most dynamic vocalists in NYC.
The 80th Anniversary Hollywood Christmas Parade will be televised nationally and around the world during the current holiday season.
With such memorable Christmas shows before it like It's a Stevie Wonderful Life, Santa Claus Is Comin' to MOTOWN andFrosty the Snow Manilow, A Christmas Westside Story joins the ranks of the Troubies' very, very best. Why? Because everyone's now classic film favorite A Christmas Story blends perfectly with everyone's favorite music from Westside Story. Both entail the pangs of growing up. What better base for drama? And both depict violence - Westside Story on a bigger scale, but there's assuredly more than a glimmer of it in A Christmas Story.
As we come to the middle of December, I hope your holiday plans include finding your way to a show or two at one of the several live performance and theatre establishments that make their home here on the fabulous Central Coast of California!
The NewFilmmakers NY Series screens at Anthology Film Archives on the Lower East Side at 32 Second Avenue & 2nd Street.
Beginning Thursday, December 1 through Friday, December 30, The RRazz Room will celebrate its first annual 'Season of Giving,' a benefit to raise funds for San Francisco Bay Area nonprofits making a difference in our communities.
Pantochino Productions Inc, Connecticut's brand new, non-profit theatre company will open it's new holiday musical "Teen Santa!" on Thursday.
Celebration Theatre has announced the return of acclaimed solo performer JEFFREY SOLOMON in his Off-Broadway smash hit, SANTA CLAUS IS COMING OUT and to be produced for Celebration Theatre by Artistic Director John Michael Beck.
The Hive Theatre presents WHEN MIDNIGHT STRIKES by Kevin Hammonds and Charles Miller, being performed as part of The Hive's Exposed Series; staged readings of new and underexposed plays or musicals.
On Wednesday December 7 Kritzerland presented its yearly Christmas show A Broadway/Hollywood Christmas at the Gardenia celebrating both popular and lesser known Christmas songs from the world of film and Broadway. It was a delightfully fun evening as usual with some terrific singing, some amusing anecdotes from Bruce Kimmel, Kritzerland's founder, and a few surprises from Santa Claus.
59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) will welcome InProximity Theatre Company with the New York City premiere of THE FALL TO EARTH, written by Joel Drake Johnson and directed by Joe Brancato.
The CBS Television Network will present an encore of THE ELF ON THE SHELF: AN ELF'S STORY, an animated feature based on the best-selling holiday children's book The Elf on the Shelf, to be rebroadcast on CBS as a special presentation on Friday, Dec. 9 (9:30 - 10:00 PM, ET/PT). (Originally broadcast 11/25/11.)
The professional singing group "Masquerade" is on a mission to mesmerize crowds on both sides of the border with a special Holiday Concert - One night only in each country.
Santa Claus is Comin' to Town and so are the WINTER WONDERETTES (December 9-18, 2011). Musical Theatre West presents the holiday sequel to the Roger Bean favorite, The Marvelous Wonderettes.
As usual this time of year, the award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company will be accepting nonperishable items for the Cape May Food Closet.
Neil Patrick Harris, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Alfred Molina are among those set to voice key characters for the new half-hour animated Christmas special, YES, VIRGINIA, presented by Macy's, to be rebroadcast Friday, Dec. 9 (9:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network. (Originally broadcast 12/11/09.)
Broadway Theater of Pitman is set to present A Broadway Family Christmas.
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