As we get ready to bid fall farewell, it’s also the last opportunity to catch the best concerts and plays the season has to offer. From Grammy Award-winning singers and musicals to laugh out loud comedians and a clown (yes, you read that right), these are the best performances you need to catch before the end of 2021.
Ginger Billy
12/1
He’s shirtless, he’s tattooed, and, yes, he’s got a big red beard. South Carolina native Ginger Billy is back with his Backwoods Comedy Tour, turning his hilarious YouTube videos into a tear-jerking stand-up routine at Jammin Java.
Dianne Reeves
12/4
Five-time Grammy Award-winner Dianne Reeves will be showcasing her masterful jazz vocals in a debut performance at the George Mason Center for the Arts. Heralded as one of the top jazz vocalists in the world, Reeves is sure to inspire audiences with her mixture of jazz and R&B style.
Jane Lynch’s A Swingin’ Little Christmas
12/5
Jane Lynch (known for her roles on Glee and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) partners up with fellow comedian Kate Flannery (Meredith on The Office) for a musical comedy performance. The two will put a holiday twist on their classic cabaret show Two Lost Souls, guaranteeing plenty of laughs and tears.
The Improvised Shakespeare Company
12/7–12/19
No script, no rehearsal—not even a title to the performance they’ll eventually give in front of a crowd of people. The audience actually plays a key role in The Improvised Shakespeare Company’s set, providing suggestions that the group works off organically. The only thing they know for sure is that there will be plenty of “thous,” “thees,” and “thines” to go around.
Vienna Boys Choir
12/10
Hear angels sing (the angels in question being a talented group of 8-to-14-year-old boys). The Vienna Boys Choir is more than 500 years old and boasts incredible singers from 31 countries, as well as top-notch alumni like, oh, you know, Franz Schubert and Joseph Haydn. Check out Christmas in Vienna at the George Mason Center for the Arts this winter.
Iphigenia: A New Opera
12/10 & 12/11
Operatic styles collide in this re-imagined tale based on the original myth. Mixing classical and jazz music as well as ancient times and the modern era, Iphigenia reveals the injustice of misogyny and patriarchal values.
William Elliott Whitmore
12/10
Banjo? Check. Bass drum? Check. Folk singer William Elliott Whitmore is now ready to play on. The Iowa native stirs the soul with his powerful voice and steady presence. This multitalented performer will wow audiences at Jammin Java come wintertime.
Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations
12/15–1/16
This smashing Broadway hit details the journey of The Temptations through time, following their rock-and-roll history right into the Hall of Fame. This musical biography features jams from the R&B group like “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.”
Street Corner Symphony
12/15
Missing those Pitch Perfect vibes? Get your a cappella fix with this group of Nashville-based singers. Originally premiering on NBC’s a cappella competition The Sing-Off, this quintet performs a variety of songs across several different genres. This season’s theme? All holiday, all the time.
The Ex Files
12/17
Sometimes, the hardest part of getting over a breakup is remembering all the good times that came before. That’s where playlists like “The Ex Files” come in—to remind us of the roller-coaster ride of love we just got off. Performed on stage by nine singers, these tunes take us back through journeys of love we just can’t escape.
Tom Papa
12/18
Tom Papa has left his comedy mark on the stage, television, radio, podcast, and publishing industries. Now, he’s taking his latest show, the Family Reunion Tour, on the road with a pit stop at The Birchmere. Papa’s show is sure to be as relatable as it is uproarious.
Puddles Pity Party: UNsequestered Show
12/20
America’s Got Talent quarterfinalist and musical-variety-show creator Puddles Pity Party is not your average clown. The towering 6-foot-8 entertainer uses his golden voice to mesmerize audiences, performing with vulnerability and raw emotional power. Catch his unforgettable show at The Birchmere, tissue boxes in hand.
Pretty Woman: The Musical
12/28–1/2
Love this iconic ’90s romance? You’ll love it even more on stage, with an incredible score and breathtaking dancing—not to mention the fact that it features that smashing Roy Orbison hit that inspired the movie in the first place. Walk on down the street to The National to grab your tickets today.
Feature image by Morris Mac Matzen
This story originally ran in our September issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to our monthly magazine.
