Falling for those holiday shows is natural

Published 12:12 am Thursday, September 22, 2011

I don’t know about you, but I think this fall-like weather we’ve been experiencing has been a wonderful change. Just as I begin to believe the hot days will never end, the weather breaks. It’s as though the powers that be understand my short attention span. When fall arrives, with its grayer skies and cooler temperatures, I have the pleasure of anticipating the excitement that’s right around the corner. That excitement I refer to? The new season at the Turnage, of course.

On Sept. 30, just one week after the official start of autumn, we’re hosting a preseason event that is sure to bring a smile to your face: the music of the Good Lovelies, a folk trio out of Canada, is as upbeat and beautiful as the women themselves. If you’re a fan of spot-on harmonies and up-tempo instrumentation, then you must see this show. Then, on Oct. 14, we officially kick off the season with “The Rat Pack Show.” This stage tribute to the crooners of old features the original cast of the No. 1 stage show in Las Vegas. At $40 a ticket per person (or $75 to also attend the preshow party), you will not see a better show for your money anywhere in the Carolinas this year.

OK, it’s more than just the Turnage’s fifth season that I look forward to in the fall. It’s also the coming of my favorite holidays: Halloween and Christmas. In some ways, though, these are tied up in the new season, too. This Halloween, for instance, the Deplorable Folly Players are bringing “Terror (to) the Turnage,” where you’re invited to dress in your best costume and come out for treats and prizes and two classic scary movies, “House on Haunted Hill” and “Night of the Living Dead” — still the scariest movie I have ever seen. They’re doing all of this for only $5 a person at the door. Is it possible to have a better time for a better price?

At Christmas, who doesn’t love to hear the music of the season with their friends and family around them? This December, we have three different musical experiences for you and yours to enjoy. As is now traditional at the Turnage, we’ll have the Tar River Swing Band on Dec. 16 for Big Band Christmas. The band will do its impeccable best to bring swing to seasonal classics, this year under the fresh leadership of Jonathan Wacker.

Another local favorite, the Beaufort County Choral Society’s Christmas concert, is returning to the Turnage this December. Because of this show’s consistent popularity, we’re already looking for ways to make sure that no one gets turned away at the door, and as soon as we come up with a plan, I promise to share it here.

Finally, we have a new kind of holiday music to bring to you this year. Dec. 3 welcomes Jennifer Licko and her two musical accompanists, who will bring you “A Celtic Christmas.” You’ll not want to miss the gorgeous melodies of this historic culture, or the lilting beauty of Licko’s voice. We expect this show to be a sellout, so make sure you don’t delay in getting your seats for this memorable performance. (Call 252-975-1191, or visit turnagetheater.com.)

Tomorrow, fall will be officially upon us, and with so much to look forward to, it seems I won’t have time to get tired of it this year. I hope you’ll find the time to come and share the joys of the season with us here at the Turnage Theater.

Katherine Buchholz is the box-office manager for the Turnage Theater.