Northwestern State University’s School of Creative and Performing Arts will stage its most popular holiday production in Natchitoches. The 27th annual Christmas Gala, a perennial holiday favorite in Natchitoches, will be presented Dec. 2-4 in A.A. Fredericks Auditorium.
Show times are 7 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with an additional 9 p.m. show on Friday. Matinee performances are also presented for area schools at 9:30 a.m. and noon Dec. 2-3 and 9:30 a.m. Dec. 4.
For many, the Christmas Gala has been a tradition to kick-off Festival weekend.
“More than 12,000 see the gala in Natchitoches each year, and it is met with enthusiasm from all audiences. The school-age students particularly love the show, and we are hoping to bring together all of the audience favorites for this year’s production,” said Dr. Greg Handel, director of the School of Creative and Performing Arts.
Tickets to are $10 and can be purchased through the university website. Tickets can be purchased at the box office prior to each performance, but advance ticket purchases are recommended as the shows sell out quickly. Northwestern State, BPCC@NSU and Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts students are admitted free with a current student ID.
Admission for the children’s show is $3. Those planning to bring groups to the children’s show should make reservations by calling at (318) 357-4483.
Each area of the School of Creative and Performing Arts will be part of the Gala including music, theatre and dance and fine + graphic arts, as well as new media, journalism and communication arts. The Gala will feature the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra, the NSU choirs, Northwestern State Department of Theatre and Dance, The NSU Jazz Orchestra, NSU Rockettes, NSU Percussion Ensemble, The Out-on-a-Limb Improv Troupe, and video and visual art provided by Northwestern State Department of Fine + Graphic Arts.
This year, the Christmas Gala will also be staged at Shreveport’s historic Strand Theatre with performances at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12. Tickets are $10 general admission. Tickets for NSU and BPCC students are free, but students must RSVP by Dec. 7. To purchase tickets or RSVP, go to nsula.edu and click on Gala.
