Lawrenceville has as much holiday spirit as the North Pole with Reindeer Games, comedy nights and more!

As the air gets cooler and fills with festive spirit, theatergoers can warm up to special holiday programs at Aurora Theatre! Guests of all ages are invited to share family traditions during the Colombian-style holiday celebration Noche de Velas or join Aurora’s touring troop for one-night-only engagement at the theatre with Blitzen’s Reindeer Games! Shows filled with holiday spirit for families with young children abound at Aurora Children’s Playhouse while adult theatergoers can expect side-splitting laughs from Aurora Comedy Nights. Young actors can also hone their skills in this season’s Jingle Bell Rock Workshop. The holly-jolly spirit continues throughout December with Christmas Canteen 2018, This Wonderful Life, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and The Festival of Trees! With something for every member of the family, this month’s holiday happenings are certain to fill hearts with cheer!

Teatro Aurora:  Noche de Velas
Friday, December 7 at sunset
FREE!
Enjoy sounds, tastes and different cultures at Aurora Theatre during this Colombian-style holiday tradition! Guests are invited to bring a candle, bites to share with the community and gifts for the Festival of Trees! For more information, please visit: bit.ly/NocheDeVelas2018.

Blitzen’s Reindeer Games
Monday, December 10
8 p.m.
Tickets $15
Giggle and sing along with Aurora’s popular holiday entertainment as the theater puts on a public performance dedicated to amusing, interactive improv and delightful holiday tunes. For tickets, please visit: bit.ly/BlitzenReindeerGames2018

A Doll’s House Staged Reading
Monday, December 17
7 p.m.
FREE!
Ibsen’s theatrical masterpiece drew attention to the hypocrisy of Victorian middle-class marriage on the stage in late 19th century society. This dramatic tale, directed by Justin Anderson, takes place at Christmas time and will perfectly set the stage for A Doll’s House, Part 2, Aurora’s Signature Series performance in January. Admission to the reading is free, but reservations are required. Guests are encouraged to visit bit.ly/ADollsHouseReading.

Aurora Children’s Playhouse
Saturdays in December at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. 
Tickets $7
Aurora Theatre gathers the finest youth performers in the region and brings them to Gwinnett County as a part of this series intended for youngsters to have their first theatrical experiences. These exuberant, holiday themed performances feature puppeteers, magicians, storytellers, jugglers and musicians. Each show runs around 45 minutes in length and is perfect for young attention spans while still being fun for the entire family. Playhouse tickets are $7; punch cards are available for $50 and good for 10 admissions to any Children’s Playhouse show with no expiration date.

‘Twas the Night before Christmas performed by Piccadilly Puppets
Saturday, December 8
Youngsters may think they know what happened on the night before Christmas, but an eyewitness mouse is here to tell the true story! Clement C. Moore’s classic holiday poem from more than 100 years ago is given a playful revamp and will keep every member of the family on their toes throughout the performance. This hand-puppet version of the story is slam packed with silly twist and turns and is sure to be the new favorite version! After the show, guests are invited to take pictures with Santa in the studio theatre with a donation to Toys for Tots. For show tickets, please visit bit.ly/AuroraNightBeforeChristmas.

The North Pole Fa-la-la-la Follies by The Puppet Guy!
Saturday, December 15
The zany residents of the North Pole are ready to perform their annual talent show! Packed full of hilarious holiday high-jinx, this show features the talented residents that live in a land full of snow, including a wisecracking fruitcake, a musical goose, tumbling teddy bears, a duo of dancing deer, the “not-so-abominable” snowman and more! For tickets to this holly-jolly classic, please visit bit.ly/FaLaLaLaFollies.

Santa’s Missing Mail by All Hands Productions
Saturday, December 23
Christmas is in danger! Two diabolical bad guys out to stop Christmas – Ominous Crook and his sidekick, Skellmutt – are stealing Santa Claus’ mail. Meet the panicked elves, a wise-cracking reindeer, a dim-witted superhero and Ole Saint Nick himself as they try to get the jolliest season back on track. When David’s friend Fitzgerald discovers he needs help, the audience can pitch in and assist him in writing a letter to Santa. This quick, action packed hand-puppet show is almost guaranteed to bring to smile to every face. For tickets, please visit bit.ly/SantasMissingMail.

Aurora Comedy Nights
Adult audiences can expect to be filled to the brim with laughs this holiday season! The endless entertainment of Aurora Comedy Nights is back at Aurora Theatre this December, without the standard two-drink minimum. Host Katie Causey and the best comedians around town will help ring in the New Year in a side-splitting fashion! For more information, please visit bit.ly/ComedyNights2018.

New Year’s Eve Weekend Comedy Spectacular with host Katie Causey
Dan Mengini featuring Jenny Jennings
Friday, December 28  and Saturday, December 29
7:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.
Tickets $18
Atlanta’s favorite comedian Dan Mengini makes another stop on his “Been There, Dumb That” Comedy Tour at Aurora Theatre! He delivers a show that’s fun, relatable and a great cure for loneliness. It’s truthful, brilliant and certain to keep you laughing into 2019. Dan will also be joined by actress, stand-up comic, sleeptalker and University of Georgia grad, Jenny Jennings as they fill the night with good laughs and a healthy dose of holiday cheer! To purchase tickets, please visit bit.ly/DanMenginiJennyJennings.

Aurora Theatre Academy
The Aurora Theatre Academy provides an excellent opportunity for young thespians to learn the ropes and to tap into their creativity. Gwinnett County’s premier destination for practicing and studying arts is open to students of all ages and instructed by some of the area’s finest professionals.

Jingle Bell Rock Workshops 
For Elementary through Middle School Students
Friday, December 21 and 28
Thursday, December 27
10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tuition $37 (includes pizza lunch)
Youngsters can come and play for a day while Winter Break is well on its way at Aurora Theatre Academy! Participants can dress in their favorite holiday attire and get ready for some Eggnog Improv while watching what happens when Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman meet at the grocery store. Join Atlanta’s theater pros for a day full of theater games, kooky Christmas characters, pizza and more fun! For more information and tickets, please visit bit.ly/JingleBellAuroraTheatre.

Continuing in December…

The Festival of Trees
November 15 – December 23
During regular box office hours and performances
FREE!
Aurora will once again spread the goodwill of the season by hosting The Festival of Trees in support of both the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots drive and local food banks. From delicate to dramatic, the Festival of Trees will deck the halls of Aurora Theatre with nearly 30 trees decorated by local businesses. To vote on the “best dressed” tree, visitors can place a new unwrapped toy and/or a non-perishable food item underneath to help guarantee that everyone has a wonderful holiday season: the tree with the most donations will be declared the Best of the Fest!

Christmas Canteen 2018
November 15 – December 23
Tuesday – Saturday at 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets from $30
As Gwinnett’s longest-running theatrical holiday tradition, Christmas Canteen 2018 returns for a 23rd smash year! This musical is brimming with songs, comic sketches, trips down memory lane and a tiny touch of Christmas magic: a little something to get everyone in the festive spirit! To purchase tickets, please visit bit.ly/ChristmasCanteen2018

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
November 23 – December 22
2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.; select dates in repertory with This Wonderful Life
Tickets from $20
This one-man rendition of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol truly captures the spirit of Christmas, with the addition of a few incredible theatrical effects. For show times and to purchase tickets, please visit bit.ly/AuroraAChristmasCarol

This Wonderful Life
November 24 – December 23
2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.; select dates in repertory with A Christmas Carol
Tickets from $20
This heartwarming and hilariously touching stage adaptation of one of the most popular films ever made will bring joy to the entire family. The show stars Jeremy Aggers, who will play the roles of all the well-loved characters, including Clarence, Mr. Potter, Uncle Billy, Mary, Mr. Gower, yes even Zuzu – as well as the iconic George Bailey. Audiences will follow along with the characters and their stories, learning that true richness comes from the heart! For show times and tickets, please visit bit.ly/TicketsThisWonderfulLife

For more information or to purchase tickets for events, call the Box Office at 678.226.6222 or visit www.auroratheatre.com.