Priority list includes jazz for the holidays, an upgraded ‘Nutcracker,’ more

Holiday Cabaret

The jazz Kitchen corrals a range of talented locals including Steven Stolen, Brenda Williams, Gail Payne, Gary Walters, and more  for a musical holiday celebration. Shows at 5:00 and 7:30. If you are of the sort that wants to participate, you may want to wait until Dec. 20 for the Holiday Sing-a-Long featuring Wendy Reed. Dec. 18 The Jazz Kitchen  Details

“The Nutcracker”

How do you upgrade a classic, crowd-pleasing ballet? Pair it with live music from the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. That’s what the Indianapolis School of Ballet is doing for its 10^th-anniversary production of the holiday warhorse. Dec. 16-18 Murat Theatre Details

“Chemistry of Color”

The last in the IMA’s CSI (Conservation Science Indianapolis) series explores how colorants are made and the ways in which dating and authentication can result from pigment analysis. Dec. 17-Dec. 7, 2017  Indianapolis Museum of Art  Details

Also this week:

Straight No Chaser brings its 20^th Anniversary Tour to its birthplace at IU Auditorium in Bloomington Dec. 14, then heads up to the Murat for three shows Dec. 21-23.

The Indianapolis Children’s Choir’s “Angels Sing” concert takes over St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Dec. 16-17.

The Indianapolis Men’s Chorus holds its annual Christmas Concert Dec. 16-17 at Marian University Theatre.

Clowes Hall celebrates Irish Christmas Dec. 15 with Keith and Kristyn Getty.

Home Free, winners of NBC’s “The Sing-Off,” brings its holiday show to the Palladium Dec. 15.

Lauryn Hill plays the Murat Dec. 13.

“A Tiff-mas Spectacular,” Dec. 16-17 at the Indy Fringe Building, features singer Tiffanie Bridges.

Tim Grimm and Krista Detor team up for an Indy Folks Series concert at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Indianapolis Dec. 17.

Morris Day and the Time, El Debarge, and Atlantic Star are featured at the 106.3 Holiday Jam at the Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond Dec. 17.

Indy Film Fest’s Rock & Reel Series continues with a screening of “A Song for You: The Austin City Limits Story” at the White Rabbit Cabaret, Dec. 14.