Wonderful Life, Family Matters & Fantasia: Calgary entertainment this weekend

There's lots going on in the Calgary arts and entertainment scene, so if you need some help sorting through it all, here's our weekly roundup.

It's a Wonderful Life

Lunchbox Theatre has an adapted version of the George Bailey classic story, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.

This version is set in the 1940s so it's a perfect way to tell the remarkable tale.

Their award-winning ensemble performs with full-on foley effects, like using a bag of cornstarch to make the sound of boots crunching through the snow, to bring the story to life.

Catch this production until Dec. 22, and here's all the details.

Family Matters

If you are a fan of classical music, you just might be familiar with the Cohen family.

Dad Franklin Cohen is principal clarinet emeritus of the Cleveland Orchestra and his kids are well known in Calgary's classical community and beyond. Diana is concertmaster of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and Alex plays timpani for the company. Diana's husband, Roman Rabinovich, is a world-class concert pianist.

For the past few winters, they've performed a holiday show called Family Matters, and this Sunday is the third iteration of the tradition.

They've got a great programme including works by Strauss and Schubert, as well as a Mozart work known as the Kegelstatt Trio.

You can catch the Cohens and Family Matters 3 at St. Stephen's Anglican Church on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Here is the ticket info.

Winter Fantasia

Also on Sunday, over at Mount Royal University's Bella Concert Hall, is Winter Fantasia. It's a holiday-themed showcase featuring MRU's Arietta, Aria and Arioso choirs, which feature children from Grades 1 to 12.

The Conservatory Sinfonia will also be there, and The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher by Robert Kraus will get a dramatic telling. It's basically a different take on 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, with a little break-and-enter, overeating and, of course, snitching.

Catch Winter Fantasia this Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Bella.

Here's more information on that one.

Holiday market

A Calgary craft institution is celebrating a big anniversary this weekend. Market Collective's 10th Anniversary Holiday Market starts this weekend and continues again next weekend at the BMO Centre.

Fans will know this is the first time they've graduated to the big venue, so that's super exciting.

They'll have live music, interactive workshops, galleries, food and drinks and more than 150 local vendors, plus some special surprises.

The 100% Skate Club will be there, holding a skate session from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

It's only $5 for the whole weekend.

Here's all the details for you.

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