Tweet It! Holiday cheer is here again at the @KimmelCenter! From free family festivities to returning favorites, more info @ kimmelcenter.org Press Contact: Monica Robinson 215-790-5847 [email protected] CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY SEASON ON THE KIMMEL CENTER CULTURAL CAMPUS WITH SOULFUL SOUNDS AND RETURNING FAMILY FAVORITES FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Philadelphia, PA, November 16, 2017) –– The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is celebrating the holiday season with a spectacular lineup of shows and activities across its Cultural Campus. “Every year, we welcome back performances from our esteemed resident companies – favorites like the Pennsylvania Ballet’s George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, The Philly POPS’ Christmas Spectacular, and The Philadelphia Orchestra’s The Glorious Sound of Christmas – as well as celebratory events of our own like A Soulful Christmas,” said Anne Ewers, President and CEO of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. “The holidays are about spreading cheer and building memories with the ones you love, so give the gift of old and new experiences this year, and bring the whole family together on our Cultural Campus.” Programming kicks off in mid-November with groundbreaking electronic violinist Lindsey Stirling and her Warmer in the Winter Christmas tour. Three-time Grammy Award winner Brian Setzer brings his 19- piece band to perform seasonal hits like “Boogie Woogie Christmas,” “Dig That Crazy Christmas,” and “Rockin’ Rudolph” in The Brian Setzer Orchestra’s 14th Annual Christmas Rocks! Tour. Annual Kimmel Center traditions return with A Soulful Christmas, an evening of gospel and inspirational messages honoring American gospel singer Lady Tramaine Hawkins, and Tuba Christmas, two FREE performances with over 100 regional tuba, sousaphone, and euphonium players blasting out holiday favorites. Select monthly FREE Kimmel Center programs gets into the holiday spirit! Both La NOCHE, the Kimmel Center’s Latin music and dance party, and the monthly Organ Demonstration on the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ will feature tastes of holiday music. Ring in the New Year at the Kimmel Center with a full day of FREE performances, activities, and family fun during the annual New Year’s Day Celebration. Grab some hot chocolate and settle in for the best Mummer’s Day parade views on Broad Street. Details on holiday programming throughout the 2017-18 season can be found below. LINDSEY STIRLING WARMER IN THE WINTER CHRISTMAS TOUR Academy of Music November 16, 2017, 8:00 p.m. Critically-acclaimed electronic violinist Lindsey Stirling will release her first ever holiday album titled Warmer In The Winter on October 20 through Lindseystomp Music / Concord Records. In support of the album, Lindsey will embark on her Warmer In The Winter Christmas Tour which is set to hit the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts’ Academy of Music on Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. This brand new show will feature a fully revamped stage production with elaborate holiday themes as well as Stirling’s signature brand of dance routines and on-stage visuals. BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA’S 14TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS ROCKS TOUR Academy of Music November 17, 2017, 8:00 p.m. Rockabilly and swing music fanatics can thank three-time Grammy Award winner Brian Setzer for reviving the two genres of music in the 80s and 90s, respectably. Brian Setzer has fronted his 19-piece Brian Setzer Orchestra since its creation in 1994, sold over 13 million records, and received the Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award for his celebrated career and iconic line of Gretsch guitars. A replica of Setzer’s 1959 Gretsch “Stray Cat” guitar was donated to the Smithsonian Institute’s elite collection. The Brian Setzer Orchestra has released 17 albums since 1994, with their cover of Louis Prima’s Jump, Jive an’ Wail – their only hit on the Billboard singles chart. ORGAN DEMONSTRATION Verizon Hall December 9, 2017, 1:00 p.m. - FREE Once a month, the Kimmel Center’s FREE 1pm tour will start with a 15 minute demonstration of the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ’s unparalleled and dramatic sounds, LIVE in Verizon Hall. This demonstration is presented in partnership with The American Guild of Organists. A SOULFUL CHRISTMAS Verizon Hall December 12, 2017, 7:30 p.m. The annual A Soulful Christmas returns for its fifth year with an inspiring, uplifting communal gathering of regional choristers, performing holiday spirituals and gospel favorites. American gospel singer Lady Tramaine Hawkins will be honored. The evening will also feature special guest, Marvin Mills, on the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ. TUBA CHRISTMAS Commonwealth Plaza December 17, 2017, 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. - FREE There’s nothing more comforting than hearing the holiday classics. This December, the holidays come to life as more than 100 regional tuba, sousaphone, and euphonium players join together in a free performance for people of all ages. 2017 marks the 43rd anniversary for Tuba Christmas concerts/events which are presented throughout the world. NEW YEAR’S DAY CELEBRATION Commonwealth Plaza January 1, 2018, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. - FREE The Kimmel Center’s highly anticipated annual New Year’s Day Celebration returns for the 12th consecutive year! The Kimmel Center opens its door from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., providing a warm space filled with activities and performances, along with a birds-eye view of the famed Mummers Parade. Tickets Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling 215-790- 5883. See kimmelcenter.org for more information. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia, the Kimmel Center’s mission is to operate a world-class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience through diverse programming, arts education, and community outreach. The Kimmel Center Campus is comprised of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, SEI Innovation Studio, and the Merck Arts Education Center), the Academy of Music (owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association), and the Merriam Theater. The Kimmel Center is also home to eight Resident Companies: The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, The Pennsylvania Ballet, The Philly POPS, PHILADANCO, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and Curtis Institute of Music. With nearly 9,000 seats per night, The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is the region’s most impactful performing arts center, and the second largest in the country. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is the season sponsor of the Kimmel Center’s 2017-2018 Season. American Airlines is the official airline of Broadway Philadelphia. For additional information, visit kimmelcenter.org. # # # For photography, please visit www.kcpress.smugmug.com .