'The Nutcracker' and more holiday things to do this weekend at the Jersey Shore

Every holiday season, the Company of Dance Arts has brought the magic of "The Nutcracker" to life.

Set to Tchaikovsky’s stirring score, soloists from New York City companies join accomplished local dancers in presenting the most popular ballet of all time at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank.

Join Clara as she journeys with her Nutcracker through the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets to meet the Sugarplum Fairy.

The show runs at 7 p.m. Friday, 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday. Tickets range from $25 to $55.

There's always plenty of opportunities to see "The Nutcracker," and you can catch the Atlantic City Ballet production at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Strand in Lakewood. Tickets range from $15 to $35.

Go: "The Nutrcracker," presented by the Company of Dance Arts, Friday to Sunday, Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank, $25 to $55; 732-842-9000, https://thebasie.org/events/the-nutcracker-2/.

Also: "The Nutcracker," presented by the Atlantic City Ballet, 7 p.m. Sunday, Strand Theater, 400 Clifton Ave., Lakewood, $15 to $35; 732-367-7789, https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/61179965/atlantic-city-ballets-the-nutcracker-lakewood-the-strand-theater.

There are a lot of holiday happenings this weekend, as well as a show about Irish playwright Samuel Beckett featuring Tony winner Bill Irwin, and "Always...Patsy Cline" starring Broadway's Carter Calvert and Emmy winner Sally Struthers of "All in the Family" fame. Here are a few things to do:

Holiday Made in Monmouth

The 2023 Holiday Made in Monmouth takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Robert J. Collins Arena on the campus of Brookdale Community College in Lincroft.

“The Holiday Made in Monmouth expo is a one-stop shopping event with a variety of vendors and products for everyone on your holiday shopping list,” said Monmouth County Board of County Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the Division of Economic Development. “This free annual event helps to promote and support small businesses throughout the county, and encourages visitors to shop local as they prepare for the holiday season.”

More than 200 vendors, who manufacture their products in Monmouth County, will showcase accessories, art, food and drink, jewelry, home décor and more.

To learn more about the 2023 Holiday Made in Monmouth expo and to view a directory of vendors scheduled to participate, visit MadeinMonmouth.com.

Go: Holiday Made in Monmouth, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Robert J. Collins Arena, Arena Drive, Brookdale Community College, Lincroft; MadeinMonmouth.com.

Messiah Sing at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church in Beach Haven

At 4 p.m. Saturday, there will be a Messiah Sing at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church, with guest artists the New Jersey Chamber Singers, featuring Artistic Director and Conductor Matthew Zabiegala, accompanied by Karen Miske on the church's organ.

In addition to the Messiah Sing, New Jersey Chamber Singers will perform a set of selections from their program “Light,” with musical imagery illuminating colors of the season.

You can sing along (the church requests that you bring your own score, although some extras will be available), or just listen and enjoy.

Go: Messiah Sing, 4 p.m. Saturday, Holy Innocents' Church, Marine Street, Beach Haven; 609-492-7571, [email protected]

Santa Brunch at B2 Bistro + Bar in Bayville

This B2 Bistro + Bar location will be hosting Jolly Old Saint Nick for pictures from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

Santa's brunch will feature chef-attended brunch and lunch stations, as well as plenty of desserts fit for the big guy, a la carte brunch cocktails and more.

Admission is $40, $25 for children 2 to 12; call the restaurant to make reservations.

Go: 125 Bayview Ave., 732-269-3000, b2bistro.com/bayville.html.

The Wag's Christmas Spectacular

The Wag's Christmas Spectacular takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Strand Theater in Lakewood.

A good old-fashioned holiday special, the family-friendly show is steeped in the traditions of classic holiday TV. Expect to hear Christmas songs everyone knows and loves, plus dance numbers, costume changes, comedy sketches and fun surprises.

The theme is “Christmas Around the World,” so there will be holiday songs and sketches from Ireland, Germany, Spain and more. Tickets are $20.

This Bayshore four-piece group just celebrated its 25th anniversary of entertaining audiences with pop and rock. More information is at thewagband.com.

Go: The Wag's Christmas Spectacular, 7 p.m. Saturday, Strand Theater, 400 Clifton Ave., Lakewood, $20; 732-367-7789, Strand.org.

Navesink Brass in Jackson

Navesink Brass performs holiday and Hanukkah favorites at the Jackson branch of the Ocean County Library at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Formed in Red Bank in 1992, the group consists of Thomas Bender and Kevin Pryor, trumpets; Nancy Shalvatis, horn; Daniel Carver, trombone; and Paul J. Eschelbach, tuba.

These professional musicians are “comfortable with all styles of music, from Renaissance to jazz and rock," according to a release. The library asks that you register at https://bit.ly/OclJacksonNavesinkBrass to attend this free program.

Go: Navesink Brass, 2 p.m. Saturday, Ocean County Library, Jackson Branch, 2 Jackson Drive, free; 732-928-4400, theoceancountylibrary.org/events.

Tower Hill Christmas concert in Red Bank

The Tower Hill Choir performs a Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Sunday at Tower Hill Church in Red Bank.

Music selections include Gustav Holst's "Christmas Day" and Hal Hopson's "A Carol Suite," which are arrangements of well-known carols.  "Myn Lyking," a 15th-century carol, and Dan Forrest's arrangement of "The Shepherd's Carol," a traditional Austrian carol, also will be performed.

Go: Tower Hill Choir, Christmas concert, 7 p.m. Sunday, Tower Hill Church, 255 Harding Road, Red Bank, free; 732-747-1348, towerhillchurch.org/events.

'Always...Patsy Cline' with Sally Struthers in Asbury Park

Asbury Park Theater Company presents Ted Swindley’s "Always… Patsy Cline," starring Broadway's Carter Calvert and Emmy Award-winning actress Sally Struthers of "All in the Family" fame.

More than a tribute to the legendary country singer, "Always… Patsy Cline" — playing through Sunday at Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove — balances down home country humor, heartache and the hit music that made Cline a household name.

The show is based on a true story about the relationship between Cline (Calvert) and Houston housewife Louise Seger (Struthers). The production features a live band on stage backing Calvert as she sings all of Cline's hits, including "Crazy," "I Fall to Pieces" "Back in Baby's Arms" and "Walkin' After Midnight."

In addition to "All in the Family," Struthers became a favorite of another generation as Babette Dell in "Gilmore Girls." Calvert's credits include a Tony Award nomination on Broadway for "It Ain't Nothing But The Blues," and the lead role of Grizabella in the national tour of "Cats."

"Always...Patsy Cline" plays at 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $46 or $49, plus fees. Student rush tickets are $35.

Go: "Always Patsy Cline," through Sunday, Jersey Shore Arts Center, 66 S. Main St., Ocean Grove, $46 to $49; 732-455-2296, https://asburyparktheatercompany.org.

Bill Irwin stars in 'On Beckett' at Two River

Through Sunday, Two River Theater presents Tony Award-winning actor and master clown Bill Irwin in his one-man show about Irish novelist Samuel Beckett.

After a lifetime captivated by Beckett, Irwin conceived and performs his 90-minute show exploring a performer’s relationship to Beckett, mining the physical and verbal skills acquired in his years as a master clown and actor.

Irwin’s approach to the comic, the tragic, to every side of Beckett’s work — including "Waiting for Godot," "Texts for Nothing" and more — will allow audiences to experience the language in compelling new ways. This show premiered on Oct. 3, 2018, at Irish Repertory Theatre in New York.

Go: "On Beckett," through Sunday, Two River Theater, 21 Bridge Ave., Red Bank, $45 to $90; 732-345-1400, tworivertheater.org.

Gabriela L. Laracca contributed to this story.

Have an event coming up at the Jersey Shore? Tell us about it. Email Bill Canacci at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore holiday things to do include Nutcracker, messiah,