Calendar of Events

The Appalachian Ballet Company will present the annual holiday tradition - The Nutcracker in their 47th anniversary season. The production features live music by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and guest artist Aaron Smyth. The Appalachian Ballet Company will present four public shows December 1 at 7:30 pm & December 2 at 3 pm at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium AND December 7 at 7:30 pm and December 8 at 3 pm at the Clayton Center for the Arts in Maryville. Two school matinees (includes K-8 curriculum guide covering common core standards) will be presented at 10 am at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium on Nov. 29 & 30.

For over 100 years, this classic story has proven to be a favorite, enchanting audiences of all ages. Come see the magic with lavish scenery, glorious tutus, soldiers, snowflakes and sugar plums! For more information: 865-982-8463, www.appalachianballet.com

SHOP FARRAGUT and The Town of Farragut will again usher in the holiday season with the 8TH Annual Countdown to LIGHT THE PARK, presented by TDS.

The event will be held from 5:00 -7:00pm on Monday, November 26th at Founder’s Park on Campbell Station Road, near the Farragut branch of the Knox County Library. With the Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen in attendance, and entertainment by area performers, this family friendly event will set the holiday mood. The highlight of the evening will be when new Mayor Ron Williams and other Town officials welcome a very special guest dressed in a Red Suit. He will be asked to throw the switch at approximately 6:30 pm on 50+ trees, garland pole wraps and other lighted decorations, featuring over 60,000 glistening bulbs throughout the park. Entertainment will be provided by the Farragut High School Madrigal Singers, the Concord Brass Quintet, plus Soloists from Farragut’s Angela Floyd Schools and the Akima Club Singers. Mrs. S. Claus and her elves will be there helping post letters to the North Pole!

Parking will be available across the street from the park, courtesy of Westgate Christian Fellowship and south of the park at the new Farragut Town Community Center, (formerly Faith Lutheran Church). The Knoxville Sheriff’s Department will be on hand to assist those crossing Campbell Station Road.

Attendees can look forward to enjoying the holiday cheer with freshly-baked cookies to be provided by Costco and other area businesses. Coffee and hot chocolate will be courtesy of First Watch Café. The event will be held rain or shine. For more information, contact Steve@farragutbusiness.com or call 865-307-2486.

Reception on Dec 11, 6-8 PM - open to the public! Awards begin at 6:45 PM with a welcome by Tennessee State Senator Becky Duncan Massey.

Now in its 13th year, the exhibition offers middle and high school students from around East Tennessee the opportunity to participate in a juried exhibition and to display their talents and be honored for their accomplishments in a professional art museum environment.

The East Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition is open to students in grades 6-12, attending public, private, or home schools in 32 counties across East Tennessee. Fewer than a third of the more than 950 entries in this highly competitive show made it through a rigorous jury process. The best-in-show winner will receive a purchase award of $500, and the artwork will become a permanent part of the collection of Mr. James Dodson, on loan to the Knoxville Museum of Art's Education Collection.

Since 2005, the East Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition has presented the work of nearly 4,000 students who have competed for a total of $7 million in scholarships made available to eligible juniors and seniors by colleges and universities from around the nation.

Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-5PM, Sunday, 1-5PM. Information: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org

Whether with family, friends or on a date you'll love skating in the heart of Downtown Knoxville in Market Square! Join us at Holidays on Ice presented by Home Federal Bank to make memories that will last long after the holidays are over. Enjoy skating under the stars and twinkling lights while listening to music every night. There may even be a panda sighting by our Holidays on Ice Mascot, 'Peppermint Panda'!

Market Square - Located in front of the Knoxville Chamber at 17 Market Square, Downtown Knoxville

Admission price includes entry fee, skate rental and unlimited time on ice! We accept cash, Visa and Mastercard.
Adult: $11, Children Age 12 & Under: $8
Season Pass Adult: $50, Season Pass Children Age 12 & Under: $35

RINK HOURS:
Regular Hours Nov. 23, 2018 - Dec. 16, 2018
Monday thru Thursday: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

**Saturday December 15: 1:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Weather permitting the Cool Sports Mites and Mini Mites will hold their Winter Classic Tournament at Holidays on Ice on Market Square from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Extended Hours Dec. 17, 2018 - Dec. 30, 2018
Monday thru Thursday: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Hours Jan 2, 2019 - January 6, 2019
Monday thru Thursday: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Special Holiday Hours for
Christmas & New Years:
Christmas Eve: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed
December 26: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
New Years Eve: 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
New Years Day: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Phone: 865-215-4423 or http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/government/city_departments_offices/special_events/knoxvilles_holidays_on_ice/

Presented by the Cruze Farm Pizza Barn every Wednesday-Sunday. Free!
Movies start at dusk with Pizza Barn carry-out

NOV 30 TO DEC 2 - POLAR EXPRESS, and BOGO HOT CHOCOLATE AT ASBURY
DEC 5 TO DEC 9 - ELF, and FREE SODA WITH EVERY PIZZA!
DEC 12 TO DEC 16 - NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION
DEC 19 TO DEC 23 - A CHRISTMAS STORY

6 PM - Christmas Cartoon
6:35 PM - Feature Film (headlights off during movie)
Tune to 91.5 FM to listen
Pizza carry out 865-333-1265

2723 ASBURY ROAD, KNOXVILLE, TN 37914
http://www.cruzefarm.com/christmas-movie-drivein/

Showtimes
Fri Nov 23, 2018 | 8:00PM
Sat Nov 24, 2018 | 8:00PM
Thu Nov 29, 2018 | 8:00PM
Fri Nov 30, 2018 | 8:00PM
Sat Dec 1, 2018 | 8:00PM
Sun Dec 2, 2018 | 2:00PM
Fri Dec 7, 2018 | 8:00PM
Sat Dec 8, 2018 | 8:00PM
Sun Dec 9, 2018 | 2:00PM

Feel the exhilaration of flying as the irrepressible Peter Pan returns to take us on an unforgettable adventure to Neverland, that magical place “where dreams are born and time is never planned.” Watch as Peter and his sidekick Tinkerbell whisk the Darling children beyond the Second Star to the Right to join the Lost Boys as they navigate the danger and excitement of battling pirates, a clock-ticking crocodile, and the dreaded Captain Hook. Audiences of all ages are sure to take delight in this dazzling and timeless classic!

Oak Ridge Playhouse, 227 Broadway, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Information and tickets: 865-482-9999, www.orplayhouse.com

By John K. Alvarez, Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald
Directed by Courtney Woolard

Instead of performing Charles Dickens' beloved holiday classic for the umpteenth time, three actors decide to perform every Christmas story ever told — plus Christmas traditions from around the world, seasonal icons from ancient times to topical pop-culture, and every carol ever sung. A madcap romp through the holiday season!

"Warning: If you see Every Christmas Story Ever Told, you'll never be able to watch Dickens' A Christmas Carol without laughing out loud."
— David Jacobson, Life Newspapers (Sacramento)

"A hilarious send-up of, well, every Christmas story ever told ... This is a highly recommended alternative to cut-and-dry Christmas offerings."
— NUVO Indianapolis Arts and Entertainment

"The play accomplishes the small miracle of making all Christmas myths seem both utterly ridiculous and absolutely essential. Yes, Virginia, you can have your fruitcake and eat it, too."
— Steve Schneider, Orlando Weekly

Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 319 North Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information & tickets: 865-544-1999, www.theatreknoxville.com

Knoxville's Favorite Christmas Tradition! An original folk-rock Christmas musical by Don Chaffer (of Waterdeep) and Chris Cragin-Day.

This new musical dares to take the classic story at its word. There really is a pregnant virgin. There really are shepherds and angels and foreign dignitaries (a.k.a. wise men). There's a ratty extra room/stable at the inn, and a maniacal, bloodthirsty dictator, whose menacing shadow hangs over everything.

And obviously, it’s a comedy. Seriously. It is.

The Unusual Tale of Mary & Joseph’s Baby surprises both virgin-believing and non-virgin-believing audiences alike bringing a new sense of wonder and imagination to the age-old story. For more info, visit www.unusualtale.com.

Note to Parents: The musical is fun for the whole family! We recommend the show to children ages 7 and up. We are parents ourselves and would rate the show PG: for mild language. Translation: there are 2-3 mildly "adult" words in the show.

Performances are Nov 21-25 and Dec 12-23. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-unusual-tale-of-mary-josephs-baby-2018-tickets-51652553177

Performed at The Swift Building, 119 W. 5th Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. River & Rail Theatre Company information: 865-407-0727, www.riverandrailtheatre.com

Twenty-two pieces by art students from community colleges across Tennessee will be on display. Community college students from across the state will have their art work displayed at Pellissippi State Community College in the first show of its kind. Current and former students at Tennessee's 13 community colleges were invited to enter works generated the past two years in studio art classes. There was no cost to enter.

Seven community colleges had students participate, with 103 works submitted. Peter Hoffecker Mejia, a visiting assistant professor of art at the University of Memphis and a former Pellissippi State student, served as juror, choosing 22 works for the exhibition.

"There's a little bit of everything we were allowing: photography, painting, drawing, design, sculpture, blacksmith, print making, collage. It's quite a survey."

A closing reception and awards ceremony will be held 3-5 p.m. Dec. 7. Three places and two honorable mentions will be awarded, with gifts donated by David Lusk Gallery, located in Memphis and Nashville, and Jerry's Artarama in Knoxville. Pellissippi State also will purchase the winning art work for $500, which the student will receive. The art work then will go on display at that student's community college.

Bagwell Center Gallery hours: M-F 10 AM - 6 PM.

Hardin Valley Campus of Pellissippi State: 10915 Hardin Valley Road, Knoxville, TN 37932. Information: 865-694-6405, www.pstcc.edu/arts

November 16 through December 22, Wed through Sat at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm.
One pay-what-you-can preview on November 15 at 7:30 pm.

By Betsy Kelso and David Nehls

They’re baaack! It’s holiday time down in Armadillo Acres (North Florida’s premier mobile-living community), and everyone’s filled with warmth and beer. But when a freak bout of amnesia strikes the trailer park Scrooge, neighborly love is put to the test. Be on hand as Betty, Lin, and Pickles jingle all the way with some new neighbors in an all-new, all-trailer-park musical! You don’t have to have seen our 2017 summer production of The Great American Trailer Park Musical to enjoy this sequel, but if you did, you know it’s a cat-fightin’, sun-worshippin’, chair-throwin’ good time...but with tinsel and Keg Nog! Definitely for mature audiences. *The show has some mature language & may not be suitable for children. Parental discretion advised.

TICKET PRICES: Wed, Thu, & Sun $22 ($16 for students); Fri & Sat $24 ($16 for students)
Get your tickets now! https://www.ticketpeak.com/res/FlyingAnvil or you can call our box office at 865-357-1309.
Flying Anvil Theatre, 1300 Rocky Hill Road, Knoxville. Information: www.flyinganviltheatre.com

The Ewing Gallery is pleased to present two exhibitions for the months of November and December. We will be having an opening reception on Thursday November 15 from 5-7:30 PM in the Ewing Gallery. Some of the artists whose work is featured in Blurring Boundaries will be in attendance.

Blurring Boundaries: The Women of AAA from 1936 – Present
Curated by Rebecca DiGiovanna - More than 80 years after its founding, AAA continues to nurture and support a vibrant community of artists with diverse identities and approaches to abstraction. In celebration of this tradition, Blurring Boundaries: The Women of American Abstract Artists traces the work of the female artists within AAA from the founders to contemporary, practicing members. Included are works by historic members Perle Fine, Esphyr Slobodkina, Charmion von Wiegand, Irene Rice Pereira, Alice Trumbull Mason, and Gertrude Greene, as well as works by current members, such as Ce Roser, Irene Rousseau, Judith Murray, Alice Adams, Merrill Wagner and Katinka Mann. Through fifty-four works, the exhibition explores the stylistic variations and individual approaches to guiding principles of abstraction: color, space, light, material and process.

Mutual Muses: James Seawright and Mimi Garrard
Curated by: T. Michael Martin - Mutual Muses is a two-person exhibition showcasing works by James Seawright and Mimi Garrard, who have been working together as well as individually since the 1960s. Their lives and practice have inspired each other throughout their careers. This exhibition is an interwoven love story featuring individual works by Seawright and Garrard as well as ones inspired by the other and those created collaboratively. Their life of interconnectivity as mutual muses is beautifully explored and presented in this survey exhibition.

The Ewing Gallery will be closed from November 22- 25 in Observance of the Thanksgiving holiday and from December 13, 2018 - January 10, 2019.

Ewing Gallery, 1715 Volunteer Blvd on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Information: 865-974-3200, www.ewing-gallery.utk.edu

After a three-year hiatus, the cult holiday classic, “The Santaland Diaries,” adapted by Joe Mantello from the essay by humorist and best- selling author David Sedaris, and starring David Brian Alley as Crumpet, returns to the Clarence Brown Theatre’s Carousel Theatre November 14 – December 9, 2018.

A Pay What You Can Preview performance will be held Wednesday, Nov. 14. At the Friday, Nov. 23rd performance patrons wearing an Ugly Sweater will have the opportunity to be selected for a picture with Crumpet on Santa’s chair. A talk back will take place Sunday, Nov. 25 following the matinee, and the Open Captioned performance is Sunday, December 2. The production, which is for mature elves only, will have start times of 2:30 pm for the matinees and 8:00 pm for the evening performances. It will be performed without an intermission and will include smoke.

Based loosely on Sedaris’ real life experience, “The Santaland Diaries” tells the tale of a struggling actor in New York City who out of necessity takes seasonal work as Crumpet the Elf in Macy’s Department Store’s Santaland Village. The comic holiday adventure chronicles Sedaris’ humiliation, frustrations and ultimately his hopefulness all told though his masterful sardonic wit.

David Sedaris made his National Public Radio debut on December 23, 1992 when he read his essay titled “Santaland Diaries” on the show “Morning Edition.” Since his successful debut, Sedaris has gone on to publish multiple bestselling books including “Barrel Fever,” “Me Talk Pretty One Day” and “Let’s Talk Diabetes with Owls.” He also has been a frequent contributor on NPR’s popular radio show “This American Life,” all of which has contributed to his reputation as one of America’s preeminent humorists. Sedaris’ story was adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello and premiered on November 7, 1996 at the Atlantic Theatre Company in New York City.

The 2015 production was directed by Jeff Stanley. Calvin MacLean will direct this year’s remount.
Clarence Brown Theatre, 1714 Andy Holt Ave on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. For information: 865-974-5161, www.clarencebrowntheatre.com. For tickets: 865-974-5161, 865-656-4444, www.knoxvilletickets.com