Five Cultural Events Celebrate Christmas Season at LWC

COLUMBIA, Ky. -- Lindsey Wilson College will give the region an early Christmas present.

Actually, Lindsey Wilson's performing arts programs will give the region five early Christmas presents in the form of cultural-affairs productions that celebrate the Christmas season:

* a Christmas Madrigal Dinner: Nov. 27-29;

* Christmas Carnival: Dec. 1;

* "Messiah -Sing," a community performance of Handel's Messiah: Dec. 3

* performance of Thornton Wilder's The Long Christmas Dinner: Dec. 5, 6, 8;

* and Lindsey Wilson Concert Band Winter Concert: Dec. 7.

Several of the events are free and open to the public, while tickets are available for the Madrigal Dinner and the performance of Don't Dress for Dinner. For ticket information to those two events, contact LWC Assistant Professor of Theatre Robert Brock at brockr@lindsey.edu or (270) 590-4803. Proceeds from both events' ticket sales support the LWC performing arts programs.

Madrigal Dinner: Nov. 27-29 -- This is the second year Brock and LWC Director of Choral Ensembles Gerald Chafin will collaborate to give guests a taste of Christmas centuries ago, when the holiday was an occasion of lavish costumes, joyous music and memorable food. In addition to an elegant meal, the event will feature a musical performance by members of the Lindsey Wilson Singers. Festivities begin each night at 6 p.m. CT in the Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center. Cost: $25 single ticket, $40 per couple. For tickets, contact Brock at brockr@lindsey.edu or (270) 590-4803.

Christmas Carnival: Dec. 1 -- Part of the Columbia-Adair County Chamber of Commerce's annual "Christmas in Columbia" celebration, the carnival -- which is free and open to the public -- will be from 1-4 p.m. CT in the LWC Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center. The second-annual event will feature inflatables for children, cookie decorating, ornament making, a Christmas storybook village, performances by the Lindsey Wilson Concert Choir and Concert Band, and a visit from Santa Claus. For more information, contact the Holloway Health & Wellness Center at hwc@lindsey.edu or (270) 384-7380.

"Messiah-Sing": Dec. 3 --Attending a performance of George Frederick Handel's masterful Messiah is a Christmas tradition in many communities. But on Dec. 3 the LWC choral ensembles will come together for a free community performance in which audience members will be invited to sing along with selections of the 18th-century oratorio. The musical accompaniment will be performed by The Commonwealth Strings of Louisville, Ky. For more information about acquiring a score or the rehearsal tracks, contact Chafin at chafing@lindsey.edu or (270) 384-8084.

The Long Christmas Dinner: Dec. 5, 6, 8 -- Christmas dinners come and go in the Bayard house, as does life and death. This touching, nostalgic Thornton Wilder play reminds audience members what they cherish most about the Christmas holidays and how quickly time passes. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. CT in the renovated V.P. Henry Auditorium. Tickets: $5 general admission. For tickets, contact Brock at brockr@lindsey.edu or (270) 590-4803.

Lindsey Wilson Concert Band Winter Concert: Dec. 7-- Under the guidance of LWC Director of Instrumental Ensembles Tim Allen, the LWC Concert Band will perform a selection of Christmas and seasonal favorites at a concert that is free and open to the public. Performance: 7 p.m. CT in Biggers Sports Center.