Tis the season!
Blake
Friday, November 27 
GO? The seminal holiday classic, The Nutcracker, opens this Friday featuring the work of the legendary late George Balanchine, an on-stage snowstorm, and a Christmas tree weighing it at one ton! (Through January 3, David H. Koch Theatre at Lincoln Center, 20 Lincoln Square at 66th Street, info/tickets)
WATCH? Has Thanksgiving left you feeling like a stuffed turkey? Can’t get off your couch and make it to the theatre? Fear not…Broadway is hitting the tube post T-giving! First, the cast of The Lion King will perform live from Las Vegas on Live with Regis and Kelly. Also feeling the Vegas spirit is the legendary Liza Minnelli whose concert special Liza’s at the Palace will air on American Public Television. (Regis & Kelly airs live at 9amET on ABC. Liza’s at the Palace airs at 8pmET. Click here for channel/time near you)
Saturday, November 28
WATCH? Also hitting the airwaves this holiday weekend is The Radio City Christmas Spectacular with a special performance for PBS this Saturday. (8pmET, Channel 13, info on a station near you)
Sunday, November 29
GO? Spring Awakening alum and current “Gleeks” Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff join Cyndi Lauper for a special “True Colors Cabaret” concert, proceeds of which go to the True Colors Fund and Broadway Impact, two wonderful organizations leading the fight for equality in this country! (8pm and 10:30pm, Feinstein’s at Loews Regency, tickets/info or call 212.339.4095)
Monday, November 30 
GO? Chicago has seen its fair share of guest stars with the likes of George Hamilton, Taye Diggs, Melanie Griffith, Wayne Brady, Brooke Shields, Usher and even Jerry Springer taking on the Kander and Ebb classic. Now, it’s Ashlee Simpson’s turn. The songstress, playing Roxie Hart, will be the latest lady to be locked up in the Cook County jail on Broadway. (Through February 7, The Ambassador Theatre, 219 W. 49th Street at Broadway, for special Playbill Club discount tickets click here)
GO? Wicked alum (and fellow Stresiand lover) Shoshana Bean will make her concert debut at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Shoshana will lend her Broadway belt to some classic Streisand tunes as well as some original music from her album Superhero. (7:30pm, Rose Theatre at Jazz at Lincoln Center, 33 W. 60th Street at Broadway, tickets)
Tuesday, December 1
SUPPORT? As we told you in September, The Color Purple was raising money during each stop of its national tour for the New Orleans-based group the St. Bernard Project. This Tuesday, the show roles into New Orleans with a big chunk of change—$300,000 to be exact—which will help 20 families displaced by Hurricane Katrina move back into their homes! For tickets and to make donations, click here)
Wednesday, December 2
GO? Celebrated violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman joins the New York Philharmonic for “A Concert To End Polio”, a one-night-only performance benefiting Rotary International. (7:30pm, Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, for tickets call 212.875.5656 or click here)
WATCH? NBC hosts its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Rockefellar Center this Wednesday night. The all-star lineup features performances by Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin, Michael Buble and Barry Manilow. (Airs at 8pmET/PT on NBC)
Thursday, December 3
GO? New Broadway besties Cheyenne Jackson and Michael Feinstein will make a special appearance and performance at Barnes & Noble in celebration of their album “The Power of Two”. (5pm, Lincoln Triangle, 1972 Broadway, near 66th Street, info)
