December is a busy month, so don’t wait to make plans. Here are 23 excellent events happening next month that you should buy your tickets for now–from The Book of Mormon to Sir Mix-a-Lot and Mary Lambert to the Winter Beer Fest. See even more events on our Things To Do calendar.
PERFORMANCE
THROUGH DEC 13
Come From Away
“Normally, I’m a stone when it comes to musicals, but by minute six or seven, I was smiling at all the small town charm and rooting for the spirit these people projected.” -Rich Smith
THROUGH DEC 28
The Nutcracker
“After retiring its much-loved Nutcracker last year, Pacific Northwest Ballet unveils a fresh one with new-to-the-company choreography by George Balanchine and a mystery design by illustrator (and theater designer) Ian Falconer.” -Brendan Kiley
DEC 3-6
Predator Songstress
Longtime local multi-media performers Degenerate Art Ensemble—led by composer Joshua Kohl and butoh-inflected dancer Haruko “Crow” Nishimura—take the stage at On the Boards for their tenth full-length production.
DEC 4-19
SnowGlobed
The fifth iteration of SnowGlobed features five new holiday inspired plays by Nicky Davis, K. Brian Neel, Kelleen Conway Blanchard, Benjamin Benne, and Pilar O’Connell. Look out for divorce courts, miserable orphanages, bloody puppet shows, and all the usual holiday staples.
DEC 10
Homo for the Holidays 2015
BenDeLaCreme, Kitten N’ Lou, Cherdonna, Waxie Moon, and more help you usher in the holiday season and make your yuletide gay. Look forward to sexy, spectacular drag and burlesque acts.
DEC 29-JAN 10
The Book of Mormon
The smash-hit musical from the creators of South Park is coming to Seattle. Few things reach mass cultural appeal like this anymore—Breaking Bad comes close—where everyone and their mother is still talking about it.
DEC 31
Amy Schumer
“This New Year’s Eve, instead of getting blitzed on André and making out in front of your lonely friends, do all that in front of Schumer at KeyArena.” -Rich Smith
FOOD & DRINK
DEC 4-5
Winter Beer Fest
The bright side to long, gray, wet winters is all the time you get to savor the seasonal offerings from local craft breweries—dark malty stouts, robust winter warmers, and barrel-aged gems.
DEC 5
Pyramid Brewing’s Snow Cap Party
Celebrate another year of Pyramid Brewing with brews (obviously) as well as some solid techno-pop provided by LIGHTS and The Mowgli’s.
DEC 4 & 18
Twilight Noodle Slurp
Wing Luke Museum’s three-hour walking tour of the International District during which they sample some of the many noodles offered at the neighborhood’s diverse mix of Asian restaurants and learn about the dishes.
MUSIC
THROUGH DEC 21
Home for the Holidays
Directing the Seattle Men’s Chorus for the last time, Dennis Coleman will pull out all the “beloved carols, soaring holiday classics, and charming, cheeky antics” audiences have loved over the years.
DEC 5
Afghan Whigs, Sir Mix-A-Lot, and Mary Lambert
“Charity events have a funny way of bringing odd band lineups together. Case in point, this year’s SmooCH event features local singer-songwriter Mary Lambert, junior high dance playlist staple Sir Mix-a-Lot and… the Afghan Whigs.” Joseph Schafer
DEC 8
Deck the Hall Ball
“Deck the Hall Ball is a standing tradition in Seattle that either serves as a great way to see established bands share the spotlight with locals and up-and-comers, or kind of a cheese fest.” -Kathleen Tarrant
DEC 9
Dandy Warhols
Hipster survivors/documentary subjects the Dandy Warhols keep on keepin’ on.
DEC 10
A Very Belltown Christmas
Genius nominees Chastity Belt, and other Stranger favorites Hibou and Dancer and Prancer, help the Crocodile usher in the holiday season.
DEC 12
Muse
Epically inclined rockers Muse come to Seattle on their Drones world tour, named after their seventh studio album released earlier this year.
DEC 13
Charlie Brown Christmas with Jose Gonzalez Trio
Jose Gonzalez takes on Vince Guaraldi’s holiday classic with his trio.
DEC 16
Ciara
Noted Russell Wilson muse and mega-talented R&B singer Ciara headlines the Showbox.
DEC 18
Lil Wayne
The Carter himself, iconic New Orleans rapper Lil Wayne plays the Xfinity.
X and mike watt and the secondmen
Legendary punk rockers X (and mike watt) will pay a very special visit to the Showbox.
DEC 30/DEC 31
Shabazz Palaces/Digable Planets
On December 30, it’s the return of legendary rap group Digable Planets; then, on New Year’s Eve, enjoy the spaced-out sounds of Digable Planet Ishmael Butler’s new endeavor, brilliant Afro-futurist cosmonauts Shabazz Palaces.
READINGS & TALKS
DEC 1
Srikanth Reddy
“Reddy will relate Gertrude Stein’s and Emily Dickinson’s notions of likenesses to the way modern American poets think about social identity and difference. This may sound like a hopelessly heady enterprise, but Reddy is a deeply (if quietly) funny professor-type whose electric mind makes surprising connections between unlike things.” -Rich Smith
DEC 17-19
Anastacia Tolbert: 9 Ounces
This show, written by Hugo House writer-in-residence Anastacia Tolbert, promises themes that loop around, interweave, and pop back through, all through multiple characters portrayed by a single actor.
