Ho Ho Holidays

Nov. 15, 2014

Entertainment Splendor Sparks Seasonal Fun in Grand Rapids and Lansing

If you’re in the mood to take in some holiday shows downstate, you’re in luck– and there’s no need to travel all the way to the Motor City.

Grand Rapids and Lansing both host a bevy of concerts, performances and exhibits perfect for bringing back memories of warm holidays past and creating new ones.

You can begin with the biggest show out there, boasting enough lights for a small city, fog to cover the eastern seaboard and blasts of pyrotechnics felt halfway to the back of the arena. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is bringing "The Christmas Attic" to Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids for two performances Sunday, Dec. 7.

The group’s ambitious show, built around its three best-selling holiday recordings, includes multiple guitarists and keyboardists, a string section and a legion of vocalists playing on multiple stages with swinging arms that cover the audience.

Songwriter, conceptualist and occasional musician Paul O’Neill says the idea is to create "the best prog-rock band out there." While it is undeniably over-the-top, the musical muscle delivers a show to please all ages.

And all ages respond. In addition to the music, stagecraft and crystal-clear sound, one of the show’s strong points is the diversity of audience. It’s common to see entire families together–children, parents and grandparents, ages 9 to 90.

Among those who inspire O’Neill are inventors, statesmen and entertainment entrepreneurs. He says his heroes include icons such as Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, Jonas Salk and Walt Disney.

"No one brought more joy to kids than Walt Disney. Parents couldn’t afford much, so he decided to build a park with one price to get in."

Of polio vaccine inventor Salk, O’Neill says, "After perfecting his vaccine, he refused to patent it. He said people must be able to afford it."

As homage to these ideals, O’Neill has created a totally mesmerizing show that he strives to keep affordable. Tickets remain in the $25 to $60 range and a dollar from each ticket goes to a local food bank.

"For three hours, your brain can only absorb the music and story, lights and special effects," he says. "We want to add a great night to your life, those moments of pure joy. That’s our job as a band, to deliver that at an affordable price."

The TSO is only part of the Furniture City fun. The Grand Rapids Ballet performs a reimagining of "The Nutcracker" at De- Vos Hall Dec. 12-14 and 19-21. The dazzling spectacle is created by Chris Van Allsburg, author of "The Polar Express," "Zathura" and "Jumanji," and designer Eugene Lee, Tony Award winner for the set design of "Candide," "Sweeney Todd" and "Wicked," and Emmy winner for "Saturday Night Live."

And if you want still another perspective, the Grand Rapids Art Museum presents "Re-Envisioning The Nutcracker" Nov. 20 through Jan. 11.

Other shows include:

- "Elf the Musical," Broadway Grand Rapids, Nov. 28-30 at DeVos Hall.

- "Holiday Pops," The Grand Rapids Symphony, Dec. 5-8 at DeVos Hall.

- "Home for the Holidays," Schubert Male Chorus and Grand Rapids Community College Brass Ensemble, Dec. 13 at East Grand Rapids Performing Arts Center.

- "Christmas Magic," West Michigan Symphony with vocalist Monique Creber and pianist Michael Creber, Dec. 12 at The Block.

- "Creber. Christmas. Cabaret," Monique and Michael Creber, Dec. 13 at The Block.

- "The Promise," Turning Point Dance, Dec. 12-20 at the Knickerbocker Theatre.

- "Christmas and Holiday Traditions around the World," Nov. 25-Jan. 4, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

You can kick off the season in grand style with the Art Van Santa Parade through downtown, Nov. 22.

Still craving more holiday cheer? Travel south to Lansing and experience the city’s annual holiday inauguration, "Silver Bells in the City," Nov. 21. The event brings more than 100,000 people to the state capital for the electric light parade, followed by the lighting of Michigan’s official Christmas tree and a fireworks show over the Capitol dome.

Then, there’s the show that arguably put Christmas shows on the map from a musical standpoint.

In 1984, Chip Davis and friends released "Mannheim Steamroller Christmas." Davis’ previous Mannheim Steamroller recordings, dubbed "Fresh Aire I-V," had incorporated baroque and modern, acoustic and electronic elements.

"Christmas" likewise mixed recorders and synthesizers, but also paired them with familiar holiday music. Classic carols like "Deck the Halls," "We Three Kings," "Good King Wenceslas," "Wassail, Wassail" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" suddenly sounded new and fresh, while the concluding "Stille Nacht " remained reverent and uplifting.

Davis followed this with several more holiday recordings, including the most recent, "30/40," celebrating 30 years of Christmas music and 40 years of Mannheim Steamroller.

Their success no doubt left egg on the faces of the numerous record company executives who had missed the chance to distribute the albums. "They all liked us," says Davis, "but they all turned us down because they couldn’t figure out how to market an instrumental group that combined Renaissance instruments with rock beats."

The annual tours are now as successful as the recordings. Like the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Mannheim Steamroller features two bands crisscrossing the country, but getting there wasn’t easy.

"In the beginning, no one would book us," says Davis. So, he borrowed nearly $400,000 to rent theatre for a five-city tour. Today, the troupes visit some 100 cities, including a stop at the Wharton Center on the campus of Michigan State University on Dec. 3.

In addition to Mannheim Steamroller, the Wharton Center hosts a plethora of holiday shows, many by MSU student groups.

The schedule includes:

- "The Nutcracker," by the Children’s Ballet Theatre of Michigan, Nov. 28-30.

- "Home for the Holidays," a family afternoon of traditional Christmas music with carols, storytelling, and sing-alongs, featuring College of Music ensembles and soloists, Dec. 6.

- Wind Symphony and Spartan Youth Wind Symphony, Dec. 7.

- "Holiday Pops," the Lansing Symphony Orchestra and the MSU Youth Chorale and Side-by-Side Student Orchestra, Dec. 14.

And, no matter when you visit the capital between Thanksgiving and Christmas, you can experience the "Wonderland of Lights"; Potter Park Zoo is transformed into a magical winter wonderland with thousands of holiday lights and visual displays. The "Wonderland" is open Thursday through Sunday from 5 to 8pm with kids’ activities, entertainment and festive animal friends. It runs Nov. 28-Dec. 28, except for Christmas day.

For complete details on all events listed here and more, visit: www.ExperienceGrandRapids.com; www.Lansing.org; or www.WhartonCenter.com.