With the holiday season quickly approaching, iconic theaters in our region are already preparing to showcase family-friendly entertainment. It’s always a smart idea to purchase tickets early, as many productions sell out quickly – especially the good seats!
Here, you’ll find a lineup of some of the most highly anticipated performances taking the stage for the rest of the year.
Embassy Theatre
Fort Wayne’s Embassy Theatre never fails to provide exciting entertainment during the holiday season. The former movie palace and vaudeville house is now known for showcasing Broadway productions, concerts, cinema, educational programming and more.
November and December are particularly busy months ahead. On Nov. 9. at 7:30 p.m., “A Taste of Ireland―The Irish Music & Dance Sensation” transports the audience through the story of Ireland’s tumultuous history. Featuring revamped classics of “Danny Boy,” “Tell Me Ma,” “Wild Rover,” and many more well-known songs, the show is 100 percent live singing and dancing.
On Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m., “A Motown Christmas” hits the stage featuring a world-class vocal group, assembled from past and present members of Motown’s most legendary groups – Ali Woodson’s Temptations, The Miracles and The Contours. This powerful, family-oriented show combines Motown’s greatest hits with favorite holiday classics.
The Fort Wayne Civic Theatre presents Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas!” on Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Based on the beloved, timeless film, this heartwarming adaptation is an uplifting, wholesome musical that is known for delighting audiences of all ages.
The “Festival of Trees” returns Nov. 27 from 6-9 p.m.; Nov. 28 from 3-7 p.m.; Nov. 29-Dec. 2 from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Dec. 3-4 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Founded in 1984, the Festival of Trees is the Embassy Theatre Foundation’s largest annual fundraising event where lobbies of the Embassy Theatre and former Indiana Hotel transform into a wonderland of decorated trees at various sizes, shapes and a broad array of themes. Admission includes visits with Santa and festive entertainment including the Grande Page pipe organ, youth choirs, dance performances and more.
Another holiday tradition returns as Project Ballet presents “Nutcracker at the Embassy,” a production for children, by children and about children – featuring a cast of more than 150 local children. Performances are Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Dec. 8 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Many more eclectic events are already slated for this year and next year. Visit fwembassytheatre.org for more information and tickets.
The Blue Gate Theatre
Venturing out of Fort Wayne and into the ever-charming Shipshewana, Ind., visitors can find the Blue Gate Theatre – a state-of-the-art performance space that hosts hundreds of events throughout the year.
“We have more than 100 performances between Oct 25 and the end of the year,” says Andrew Rohrer, Blue Gate Hospitality’s vice president of marketing. “There’s everything from the musical ‘When Calls the Heart,’ based on the books by Janette Oakes, to concerts by Mannheim Steamroller, David Phelps, Celtic Angels and Steven Curtis Chapman, and, of course, a wonderful Christmas musical revue show ‘Songs of the Season’ to get you into the festive mood.”
“When Calls the Heart” has performances almost daily until Jan. 4. Mannheim Steamroller takes the stage Dec. 20 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., while David Phelps performs Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. Celtic Angels performs Nov. 30 at 4 p.m., while Steven Curtis Chapman performs Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. “Songs of the Season” charms audiences from Nov. 7 to Dec. 21.
“Shipshewana prides itself on being a place where people can spend quality time with their loved ones,” Rohrer says. “Blue Gate’s entertainment is centered around shows that the whole family can enjoy while being some of the best entertainment you can find.”
Rohrer recommends that visitors take their time while visiting Shipshewana during the holiday season. Plan to enjoy the lights, photo ops, and many surprises scattered throughout the Blue Gate and the town as a whole.
“Shipshewana is a different pace of life than what most people are used to,” Rohrer says. “We don’t rush – a lot of us drive buggies – we focus on faith and family, and the hospitality we offer is from the heart. When guests visit us in our little corner of the world, we hope they leave with a smile, a memory, and maybe a slice of pie to remember us by.”
More information on Blue Gate Theatre performances is at thebluegate.com.
The Round Barn Theatre
Continuing our trek through Amish Country, The Barns at Nappanee, in Nappanee, Ind., is home to The Round Barn Theatre (RBT) – a professional regional theatre company that features six theatrical productions a year. RBT is known for its world-class entertainment that presents timeless truths, classic stories and uplifting themes.
“We do our best to provide family-friendly, uplifting entertainment that provides a great night out for people of all ages,” says Jarrod Humbarger, executive director. “Theater can make you think, laugh, cry and just forget about the outside world for a couple of hours. We want our guests to not only enjoy the show, but the incredible architecture of the Round Barn.”
Currently, “Clue the Musical” is running through Nov. 2. The show transforms the internationally popular game into a fun-filled musical, where the audience is able to help solve the mystery – who killed Mr. Boddy, in what room, and with what weapon. Three audience members choose from cards representing the potential murderers, weapons and rooms, and there are 216 possible solutions. Even after the culprit confesses, a surprise twist delights the audience.
On Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m., “Boys in the Band: Alabama Tribute” takes the stage to celebrate the three cousins from Fort Payne, Ala., who joined their talents to create down-home country music. This Alabama tribute show features note-for-note renditions of Alabama’s live performances over their 50-year reign as the “greatest country music group of all time.”
From Nov. 21-Dec. 31, the Broadway hit “Anastasia: The Musical” dazzles audiences at the Round Barn Theatre. From Tony Award-winners Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, this show transports audience members from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past.
More information on these performances and more is at hebarnsatnappanee.com.
“Not only is it a fun night out, but it can be something that families talk about for months and years to come,” Humbarger says. “Being part of a vibrant community is very important to us.”