Percussionist Adam Snow appears with the Davidson College Jazz Ensemble in a free concert Friday.

Our week begins with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Most government offices, banks and schools are closed, but there’s a day of programs at Davidson College. Town Boards in Davidson and Cornelius both meet Tuesday night, and the citizens’ group Widen I-77 also meets Tuesday. There’s lots of live music this week, beginning Wednesday with a special show Wednesday at The Birdsnest in downtown Davidson, featuring ukelele player and singer Heather Mae, singer-songwriter Bethel Steele and cellist-vocalist Sarah Clanton Schaffer. Davidson College Jazz Ensemble gives a free concert Friday with percussionist Adam Snow. And Davidson College and Davidson Community Players Connie Co. present the kids’ show “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Read on for the details.

On the big screen, Our Town Cinemas has “Gangster Squad,” “Les Miserables,” “This is 40″ and “Zero Dark Thirty.” Opening Friday, it’s “Lincoln,” and “Silver Linings Playbook.” See showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story

Davidson Community Players’ the Connie Company and the Davidson College theater department will present the children’s adventure story “Jack and the Beanstalk,” Friday through Sunday, Jan. 25-27, at Cunningham Theater Center Barber Theatre, off North Main Street in Davidson. Read the full story

“Good Evening from Beyond the Fringe” is at Warehouse PAC in Cornelius.

By CONNIE FISHER
DavidsonNews.net

The British have come to the Lake Norman region, not to conquer this time, but to share some fun. The wacky and farcical wit for which our ancestors across the pond are so well known is on view on two local stages. Davidson Community Players is producing the comedy “Farndale Avenue—A Christmas Carol” at the Armour Street Theatre in Davidson, while The Warehouse Performing Arts Center in Cornelius has Dudley Moore and Peter Cook’s witty “Good Evening from Beyond the Fringe.” Read the full story

Saturday at Our Town Cinemas.

Meetings, holiday parties and visits with Santa, the Davidson Wildcats’ annual Black Out Belk game vs. UNC Charlotte, and lots of live music are on the schedule this week across the area. Preschoolers can have cocoa with Santa on Friday morning at Cornelius Arts Center, while Davidson neighborhoods will light up streets and sidewalks Saturday in the annual “Noel for Neighbors” luminaria display to raise money for Davidson Housing Coalition. Offerings on local stages include “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” “Beyond the Fringe” and “The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of ‘A Christmas Carol’.” There’s a free concert Thursday at the college with the Jazz Combo and Saxophone Quartet, and the N.C. Baroque Orchestra plays in Sunday’s Music at St. Alban’s concert. Read the full story

Another ‘Tawba Walk art crawl is planned Sunday in Cornelius.

Holiday theatrical productions and downtown festivals in Davidson, Cornelius, Mooresville and Kannapolis are on the schedule this weekend, along with plenty of live music and other entertainment. The 25th Christmas in Davidson is expected to bring as many as 30,000 people to town Thursday to Saturday nights, for carriage rides, a visit from Santa, and visiting with neighbors along Main Street. Friday night also brings holiday festival in downtown Mooresville. The North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade marches from Davidson to Cornelius on Saturday. Bella Love presents another ‘Tawba Walk gallery crawl on Sunday afternoon in downtown Cornelius. The Lake Norman Yacht Club hosts its Christmas Flotilla and Parade on Saturday, and it’s time for A Kannapolis Christmas in downtown Kannapolis.

On stage, Davidson Community Players host their holiday production of “The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of ‘A Christmas Carol’.” And Activate Community Through Theatre presents “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” at Woodlawn School Saturday.

Our Town Cinemas in Davidson has “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2″ as well as “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Skyfall,” and “Rise of the Guardians.” And looking ahead: They’ll have a “Lord of the Rings” marathon on Dec. 8. Check the showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story

ACT presents an interactive “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer at three locations in the coming weeks.

Looking for some theater this holiday season? You’ll find some good options in the area this year: Davidson Community Players will present the comedy “The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of ‘A Christmas Carol'” Nov. 29 to Dec. 16 at the Armour Street Theatre in Davidson. And for kids, Activate Community Through Theatre will perform an interactive production for kids of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” over the first three Saturdays in December at venues in Mooresville, Charlotte and Concord. Also, Warehouse PAC in Cornelius will stage “Good Evening From Beyond The Fringe” by Dudley Moore and Peter Cook Dec. 6-16. Read the full story