ALBANY — NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet returns to The Palace Theater on Dec. 6.

This year marks the 31st annual North American tour of the family tradition. The 2023 production showcases a record number of international talent, starring principal dancers from the great opera houses of Ukraine and 40 world-class artists from Japan, Italy, Turkey, and more.  

“The international scale of the production is truly unique. With Artistic Direction from the birthplace of classical ballet in Kyiv, Ukraine to rising ballet capitals around the world we have built a world class team,” says Dan Talmi, Executive Producer of Talmi Entertainment and the son of co-founders Mary Giannone and Akiva Talmi. “We’re the only nationally touring Nutcracker production, so we strive to top ourselves each year.” 

The 2023 production stars Ukrainian ballerinas- gold medalist Karyna Shatkovskaya – and Honored Artist of Ukraine Elena Pechenyuk as Clara. The Nutcracker Prince is danced by premiere danseurs – gold medalist Batur Buklu from Turkey, and the esteemed Rustem Imangaliev from Kazakhstan. 

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.nutcracker.com. Special pricing is available for groups. Call 800-320-1733 or email groups@nutcracker.com. 

HUDSON FALLS —“The North Country Jazz Project – Big Band Christmas” performs a matinee concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 at the Strand Theatre.

The program features songs from the Great American Songbook and 60’s jazz fusion. 

The North Country Jazz Project is a group of nearly 20 musicians from the Glens Falls and southern Adirondacks who have worked professionally in the music business throughout their careers. Going to be a great Sunday afternoon of music at the Strand!

$20 general admission. $15 seniors, veterans, and students. Tickets are available at the Strand Box Office; cash or check only.  

For more information, go to www.mystrandtheatre.org. The Strand Theatre is located at 210 Main St., Hudson Falls.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Universal Preservation Hall is ringing in the season with several holiday-themed shows coming to Saratoga Springs. 

Fiddle virtuosos Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy and the MacMaster-Leahy kids take to the stage for “A Celtic Family Christmas,” sharing their favorite holiday music and traditions with audiences at UPH 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1. 

Nacre Dance Group will be performing Charles Weidman’s “Christmas Oratorio” for two performances, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10. For both performances, there will be a holiday tea optional add-on with treats provided by Chocolate is Self-Care and a demonstration an hour before the performance. After the performance, the audience is invited to decorate our dance tree with a holiday message and meet the costumed cast members for a photo opportunity. Weidman’s masterful choreography combined with Bach’s passionate music makes this a moving and unforgettable experience for dancers and audiences. 

“It’s a Jazzy Christmas” is returning to the Great Hall 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15. Wrapped in the theme of a radio drama, the ensemble takes the audience on a holiday ride through decades of great classic music and fun radio serial interludes featuring the music of Vince Guaraldi from the Peanuts holiday specials and many other seasonal favorites. 

Singer-songwriter Judy Collins is esteemed for her imaginative interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk standards and her own poetically poignant original compositions. She’s garnered several top-ten hits and gold- and platinum-selling albums. Next, she’ll be taking on the Great Hall 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 with “Holidays & Hits.” 

Tickets are available through the Box Office at Proctors in-person, via phone at 518-346-6204 Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. or online at universalpreservationhall.org. 

Dear David, 

I continue to shout out from my rooftop how much I will always miss and love you. 

Six years is a long time and I realize my grief will be forever. 

I have so much to talk with you about. I know you can hear me in my thoughts, writings, and in my dreams. 

I miss our conversations. Funny. Sexy. Serious. Off the wall. Melancholy. Reflective. Longing.  

No one will ever replace you. 

A good friend of yours gave me this red velvet bag to hold onto in your memory. It’s sacred and so important to me. Grateful to have it. 

I’m having a hard time without you. Ongoing… 

I know you are around me to sense this. There is comfort in knowing we will be together in heaven one day. 

Love, Shelley

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The story of the Christmas Oratorio – set to Bach’s music of the same name – and a Holiday Tea, will be presented by Nacre Dance Group at Universal Preservation Hall on Dec. 10.  To purchase tickets, go to universalpreservationhall.org. For information, email: info@nacredance.com. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Hozier’s most extensive headlining run in North America – The Unreal Unearth Tour – will continue into 2024 adding 37 new shows, including a show at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on May 19, 2024.

The Live Nation-produced tour now tops Hozier’s momentous sold-out 2023 run, which included 30 shows across 27 cities in the US & Canada where he performed for nearly 250,000 fans. The fall performances included his first shows at Madison Square Garden and the Hollywood Bowl, showcasing Hozier’s rapid touring growth across the country in markets like Colorado where he performed two sold-out nights at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheater this past October.

For tickets: go online to livenation.com.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Nancy Muldoon will present “The Saratoga Experience” from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12. 

The photography exhibit will take place at the Roosevelt II Building in the Saratoga Spa State Park. It is free and open to the public. The program was made possible through Saratoga Arts’ Community Arts Regrant Program. 

SCHUYLERVILLE — Saratoga Clay Arts Center’s Schacht Gallery presents CLAYFEST, a national invitational exhibition celebrating the holiday season with a compilation of functional pots and decorative works by 21 established clay artists from across the country. 

The exhibition opens with a public opening from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 and runs through Dec. 30. 

The diverse exhibition of functional and decorative pottery includes cups, mugs, bowls, teapots, pitchers, vases and more. 

Participating artists include Sarah Anderson, Johnny Arvizu, Sara Ballek, Milo Berezin, Ashley Bevington, Yael Braha, Sam Briegel, Adam Chau, Celia Feldburg, Bianka Groves, Brian R. Jones, Savanna LaBauve, Didem Mert, Marret Metzger, Samantha Oliver, Doug Peltzman, Ian M. Petrie, Zoey Pinnell, Mary Rhein, Keith Simpson, Taylor Whyte and Meghan Yarnell.

Founded in 2011 by clay artist and educator Jill Kovachick, Saratoga Clay Arts Center is a ceramic art center located in Schuylerville, offering wheel throwing and handbuilding clay classes for youth and adults, studio space and residencies for artists, and exhibitions featuring emerging, mid-career and established clay artists. 

The Schacht Gallery is open 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Saturday and by appointment, and is located at 167 Hayes Road, Schuylerville. Visit www.saratogaclayarts.org, call 518-581-2529 or email info@saratogaclayarts.org for more information. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Boston-based quartet Darlingside will be staging a show at Spa Little Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 3. The intimate, 500-seat theater is located across from the Hall of Springs. 

The group are on tour in support of their recent album “Everything Is Alive.”  

Comprised of Don Mitchell, Auyon Mukharji, Harris Paseltiner and David Senft, the four likeminded multi-instrumentalists first met at Williams College in 2009. 

The show is billed as a Caffe Lena at SPAC performance. Caffè Lena has been part of Darlingside’s growth ever since 2013, when they first played the Saratoga venue as part of a mid-week Emerging Artist Breakout series.

For tickets and more information, go to: SPAC.org.