When celebrating Christmas in culturally rich Ireland the traditional way, one might experience Midnight Mass, place lighted candles in the windows as a welcome to guests, decorate with natural greenery or perhaps take an invigorating Christmas Day plunge in the icy sea.
But there’s also plenty of music and dance, which are the traditions that will take center stage and recreate the Irish Christmas scene on Thursday, Dec. 7, when Henderson Area Arts Alliance hosts its 2023 holiday show, “Christmas in Killarney: An Irish Christmas Celebration,” at Preston Arts Center. It’s the fourth event in HAAA’s current performing arts season.
This celebration of Christmas in the Irish way was created in 2009 by World Champion of Irish Dancer Scott Doherty and worldwide touring Irish musician Chris Smith. It combines the liveliness of Irish dance with the harmonies of classic Christmas songs.
Now on a national tour, the musical is set in Killarney, Ireland, in the late 1920s. The title is taken from a Christmas song made popular by Bing Crosby.
HAAA Executive Director Natalie Singer said she and her programming team were drawn to the show because of the energetic Irish dancing and the classic music. It was highly recommended by other presenters, she added.
She also said she’s very happy to be presenting a holiday show this year. The show that was scheduled for December 2022 had to be bumped to February 2023 because of last-minute issues with the tour, and the show in December 2021 was completely canceled.
“Season after season, holiday shows have been a staple at the Henderson Area Arts Alliance. For the past few years, our Christmas show hasn’t worked out and our patrons have really missed it,” Singer said. “The arts are such a wonderful way to bring everyone together and celebrate the holidays and we enjoy kicking off that season in a big way for the community.”
Tickets for “Christmas in Killarney” (Main $45, balcony $40, students/groups $30) are still available at haaa.org. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Concessions for this show will be provided by Friends of the Henderson County Public Library.
