THE ESSENTIAL A&E PICKS FOR NOV 23 - 29 

• Megs Vincent

Utah Symphony: Messiah Sing-in
If you haven't already officially started your holiday season—and it does seem to begin earlier every year—Thanksgiving weekend certainly feels like the launch date. That's one reason it has been the traditional setting for one of Utah's most beloved Christmas season traditions, as the Utah Symphony & Chorus invites guests to sing along with the powerful music of Handel's Messiah.

Conductor Matthew Straw leads the symphony, while the Symphony Chorus and soloists Jasmine Rodriguez (soprano), Sarah Scofield (mezzo-soprano), Jeremiah Tyson (tenor) and Tshilidzi Ndou (baritone) in the 1741 oratorio inspired by the Biblical story of Jesus, including the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament and Jesus' life, death and resurrection. The structure was inspired by Handel's devotion to the three-act structure of Italian opera, and perhaps surprisingly to those unfamiliar with the entire work, its most famous individual section—the "Hallelujah" chorus—comes not at the end of work, but at the end of the second act, marking the triumph over death. Audience members, as is part of the performance's long-standing tradition, are invited to sing along in celebration.

You can join the Utah Symphony & Chorus for the performance of Messiah on one of two performance dates—Saturday, Nov. 25 or Sunday, Nov. 26—at 7 p.m. at Abravanel Hall (123 W. South Temple). Tickets range from a family-friendly $7.75 (less than the cost of a movie ticket) to $41. Performance scores, courtesy of Riverton Music, will also be available in the lobby for purchase. Visit utahsymphony.org for tickets and additional event information. (SR)

Star of Wonder
When Star of Wonder creator James Conlee spoke to City Weekly about the show in 2022, he emphasized its evolution over time. Much of that evolution has involved the storytelling in the show, which takes the story of the legendary World War I "Christmas truce" of 1914 and applies a "jukebox musical" format incorporating many familiar and beloved Christmas Carols. "The heart of the show was always intended to be our soldier, but we started to weave him into it more and more," Conlee said. "The feeling I had was, 'That soldier's story was great; I wish we had more of it.'"

Yet that evolution has also involved a kind of "slow roll-out," as the creative team thoughtfully considered how many seats to make available. In part, those decisions were connected to the reduced-capacity COVID year production in 2020, which Conlee considered a blessing in disguise; "I'm kind of glad we got to refine ourselves under the curtain of COVID," he said. "It allowed us a smaller audience, and a more sympathetic audience, to do that; there wasn't as much on the line." Now, the production has nearly doubled capacity from last year for a new venue at Thanksgiving Point, allowing even more local folks to enjoy the inspirational, music-filled show.

The 2023 production of Star of Wonder plays at Thanksgiving Point (3003 Thanksgiving Way, Lehi) for four performances—Saturday, Nov. 25, and Monday – Wednesday, Nov. 27 – 29—at 7:30 p.m. nightly. Tickets are $20 general admission, $10 for children and students. Visit starofwonder.com to purchase tickets and for additional event information. (SR)

World of Illumination: Candy Rush
Lights: We love 'em around the holidays, don't we folks? There's something about the darkest days of the year, combined with a festive holiday spirit, that makes us seek out illumination in all its forms. Locally, there are beloved institutions like the lights at Temple Square and Hogle Zoo's annual ZooLights, many cities and towns offering decorations and community trees, plus neighborhood walks to see how are neighbors are glowing up for the season. But when it comes to lights on a grand scale, you're looking at a whole other level of twinkling wonder when it comes to the specialty drive-through experiences by World of Illumination.

For 2023, World of Illumination brings its Candy Rush experience to Salt Lake City, inviting guests to drive through a display of more than a million lights. The animated show features dancing sugarplum fairies, a gigantic gingerbread village and more, all focused on the theme of the sweet treats. It's all "choreographed" to a soundtrack of seasonal favorites, ranging from classic Christmas carols to contemporary hits—and you can enjoy it all on your car radio, while staying toasty in your vehicle as you make your way through the venue.

World of Illumination's Candy Rush visits the Utah State Fairpark (155 N. 1000 West) through Dec. 31, operating 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Tuesday – Sunday, with additional days on Monday, Dec. 18 and Monday, Dec. 25. Timed-entry tickets are available for specific dated slots, at a per-vehicle cost of $39.99 or $49.99 depending on date. Visit worldofillumination.com to purchase tickets and for additional event information. (SR)