It’s hard to believe but the Holiday Season is here! The balmy Houston weather may not be putting some of us in a festive Holiday mood but there’s plenty going on that might do just that.  Here’s a list of upcoming shows at some of the many wonderful live performance venues in Houston’s Downtown Theater District and Toyota Center.

The Nutcracker performed by the Houston Ballet at Wortham Theater Center – 501 Texas Ave at Smith Street. For tickets & information, go to www.houstonballet.org or call 713-227-2787.  Performances run from November 25 through December 27.

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, The Musical performed by Theater Under the Stars at The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts – 800 Bagby at Walker. For tickets & information, go to www.tuts.com or call 713-558-TUTS (8887.) They also have a toll free box office number, 888-558-3882, and an email address, boxoffice@tuts.com. Performances run from December 6 through December 18.

A Christmas Carol, A Ghost Story of Christmas performed on the Hubbard Stage at the Alley Theatre – 615 Texas Avenue. For tickets & information, go to www.alleytheatre.org or call 713-220-5700. You can also email them at boxoffice@alleytheatre.org . Performances run November 18 through December 27.

The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris performed on the Neuhaus Stage at the Alley Theatre – 615 Texas Avenue. For tickets & information, go to www.alleytheatre.org or call 713-220-5700. You can also email them at boxoffice@alleytheatre.org . Performances run November 25 through December 31.

Shen Yun at Jones Hall – 615 Louisiana Street. Shen Yun is a spectacular combination of a live orchestra uniquely blending Western and Chinese Instruments, breath-taking animated digital backdrops and classical Chinese dance. It features a hundred performers and runs Dec. 21 – 27. For tickets & information, call 800-380-8165 or go to www.ticketmaster.com/shenyunhouston or www.ShenYun2012.com .

For more information about the Houston Theater District, please see http://downtownhouston.org/district/theater/ .

Cirque du Soleil: Dralion will be at Toyota Center – 1510 Polk St. – from Nov. 30 through Dec. 4. The show fuses the ancient Chinese tradition of acrobatic arts with the multi-disciplinary approach of Cirque du Soleil. For tickets & information, go to http://www.houstontoyotacenter.com/events/event_1147.php or call 866-446-8849. For Group Tickets, call 713-758-7200.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra Winter Tour 2011 comes to Toyota Center – 1510 Polk St. –  complete with all the loud rockin’, laser shootin’, pyrotechnic flamin’, retina scorchin’ Holiday cheer, fans have come to expect from the ensemble’s annual run through Houston. They perform 2 shows on Friday, Dec. 23 this year. For tickets & information, go to http://www.houstontoyotacenter.com/events/event_1155.php or call 866-446-8849. For Group Tickets, call 713-758-7200.

Please continue to check back as we post news and information for these and other upcoming shows in Houston.