The Ringling Holiday Events
Be sure to mark your calendar with some of the following activities at The Ringling to add to your enjoyment of the holidays. From amazing decorations in John and Mabel’s home and spectacular stage performances to free programs for the kids, there’s something for every age and interest.
HOLIDAY NIGHTS AT CA’ D’ZAN , 5-8 p.m. Through Dec. 24th
Dressed for the holidays, John and Mabel’s home – Ca’ d’Zan – features decorative fireplace mantels, balconies, and doors plus a 10-foot-tall tree that stands in the Grand Court of this spectacular historic home.
National Theatre Live. Asolo Theatre. 1 and 6:30 p.m., Dec. 11th.
A cornerstone of English drama since the 15th century, Everyman now explodes onto the stage in a startling production starring Academy Award® nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) in the title role. Everyman is successful, popular and riding high when Death comes calling. He is forced to abandon the life he has built and embark on a frantic search to find anyone who will speak in his defense. Directed by Rufus Norris (Broken, London Road). Run time: 1.5 hours. $20 / $18 for Members.
Joseph’s Coat by Dušan Týnek Dance Theatre,Turrell Skyspace, 5 p.m., Dec. 18th.
An exploration of what informs, shapes, defines and animates the diverse and dynamic creations of contemporary dance.
Dusan Tynek Dance Theatre returns with the full-length presentation of a new work inspired by The Ringling’s James Turrell Skyspace (preview presented in New Stages 2015). Six dancers create an ever-evolving architectural kaleidoscope; shifting, expanding and contracting in a rectangular formation made of human bodies, rapid movement and subsequent stillness that evoke the permutation of the light installation. $22.50 – $30. Tickets: (941) 360-7399 or order online at ringling.org.
Conversation With Dusan Tynek, Turrell Skyspace 2-3 p.m., Dec. 19th.
The challenges and opportunities of creating the site-specific work Joseph’s Coat are discussed by the Artistic Director of Dušan Týnek Dance Theatre.
Holiday Brass and Voices Featuring Axiom Brass, Asolo Theatre, 2 and 7:30 p.m., Dec. 19th & 20th.
Classical, light-classical, and popular concerts are performed by musicians and musical ensembles from around the world. Tickets: 941-360-7399 or ringling.org.
Family Workshop, 1:30-5 p.m., Dec. 12th
Family Workshops feature self-guided art projects. Families do not need to buy admission or register to participate; simply stop by the Dorothy and Charles Jenkins Children’s Welcome Center in the John M. McKay Visitors Pavilion and enjoy an art project at your own pace. Ages 4-10. Free drop-in program.
Kid’s Quest, 1 p.m. Dec. 12th, Dec. 19th
Kids Quests are 45-minute sessions facilitated by a Museum educator, featuring conversations and a game surrounding one or two featured objects in The Ringling’s collections. Ages 4-10 and their caregivers. $2 per child.
Gallery Walk & Talk 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., Dec. 17th
The birth of Christ is one of the most popular subjects in Western art. Museum staff will explore this timeless story, illustrated by paintings from the collection.
RINGLING BY THE BAY 5-8 p.m., Dec. 21st
Dance the night away at Ringling by the Bay on Monday nights. Start your week off right with live music and dancing on the spectacular Bolger Campiello. Food and beverage are available for purchase. $10 Adults / $5 Children 6+/ Free for Members.
Royal Taste: The Art of Princely Courts in Fifteenth-Century China Through Jan. 10th, 2016 at The Ringling Museum
Royal Taste offers a unique glimpse into the luxurious lifestyles and religious practices of princely courts in early- and mid-Ming China (1368-1644). This exhibition reveals some lesser-known aspects of palatial lives, religious patronage, and afterlife beliefs of Ming princes, whose world has long been a mystery. Free with Museum admission.
Glittering Grandeur: Spectacles Under the Big Top. Through Feb. 29, 2016. While the classic circus performance is a rich spectacle in itself, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries show owners including P.T. Barnum and the Ringlings recognized that they had the ability to increase attendance by including a different kind of spectacle in their traveling shows. Circuses would frequently open with a large scale theatrical performance that included hundreds of performers engaged in scenes of battle and festivals of dance and song. These “spec” displays were created on such a grand scale that they frequently rated several different poster designs each season. Free with Museum admission.
General Admission includes the Ringling Museum of Art, special exhibitions, Ca’ d’Zan mansion, Circus Museum, and Mable Ringling’s historic Rose Garden, all on 66 acres of magnificent grounds and gardens.
Adults are $25; senior citizens (65 and over) are $23; children ages 6-17 are $5; a three-day pass is $35. Free Admission for children 5 and under accompanied by an adult museum member. Advance tickets are available online or by calling 941-358-3180. Visit www.ringling.org for or more information.
Photos Courtesy of: The Ringling