Saint Paul, Minnesota – (September 3, 2025) – The Ordway Center for Performing Arts today announced its trio of holiday performances designed to capture the spirit of the season, featuring audience favorites including Broadway hit musicals The Notebook and Jesus Christ Superstar, The String Queens, and the Celtic Family Christmas performers. Tickets for all shows are on sale now.
Ringing in the Ordway’s holiday lineup is the Broadway musical The Notebook, a moving musical based on the best-selling novel and iconic film, November 18–30. Then the Ordway will present Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy: A Celtic Family Christmas on December 5 with a roof-raising celebration of reimagined seasonal classics. The festivities will continue with The String Queens returning by popular demand to the Ordway Concert Hall on December 6. Their critically acclaimed performance will fill the decked-out space with soulful, orchestral renditions of holiday favorites from their album “Our Favorite Things.” Closing out this year’s seasonal lineup is the triumphant return of Jesus Christ Superstar from December 9–28 with its fresh take on the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber musical masterpiece.
“We are thrilled to offer such an eclectic and exciting lineup of shows for this holiday season,” said CEO and President of the Ordway Chris Harrington. “From the high-energy Celtic musical celebration and heartwarming love story of The Notebook, to the soulful sounds of The String Queens and the timeless rock opera of Jesus Christ Superstar—there's something truly magical for everyone to enjoy at the Ordway during the final months of our 40th anniversary celebration.”
The Ordway’s 2025 holiday performance lineup includes:
Based on the best-selling novel that inspired the iconic film, The Notebook tells the story of Allie and Noah, both from different worlds, who share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart. “Full of butterfly-inducing highs and beautiful songs” (Entertainment Weekly), The Notebook is a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love, and features music by singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson and a book by TV’s Bekah Brunstetter (“This Is Us”). Travelers and Blaze Credit Union are the presenting sponsors of The Notebook.
Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy: A Celtic Family Christmas
Get ready for an exhilarating night of festive cheer with the Celtic Family Christmas performance, starring powerhouse fiddlers Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, their family, and their world-class band. Their high-energy performance promises exciting new versions of classic Christmas favorites, sure to get feet stomping, hearts racing, and set spirits ablaze. Having sold out over 1,000 shows across North America and collaborated with icons like Yo-Yo Ma and Alison Krauss, they bring an unmatched passion and virtuosity to their holiday celebration.
The dynamic trio return to the Ordway Concert Hall by popular demand with their signature authentic, soulful, and orchestral renditions of holiday classics. Their performance will feature music from their hit holiday album “Our Favorite Things.” Praised for creating uplifting and magical musical experiences that inspire diverse audiences, The String Queens boast an impressive repertoire spanning from the Baroque era to jazz and today’s Billboard hits. They have graced stages at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, performed for Presidential Inauguration Concerts, and headlined at the Wimbledon Championships.
You won’t want to miss this mesmerizing new production of the iconic musical phenomenon, Jesus Christ Superstar. Celebrating its 50th Anniversary, this Olivier Award-winning revival hails from London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, directed by the acclaimed Timothy Sheader (Crazy for You, Into the Woods) with cutting-edge choreography by Drew McOnie (King Kong, Strictly Ballroom). The production has garnered unprecedented reviews and accolades, appealing equally to theater lovers and concert music fans.
Set against the backdrop of the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas, this rock opera masterpiece by legendary Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award-winning songwriters Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber pays tribute to the historic 1971 Billboard Album of the Year while creating a uniquely fresh and inspiring theatrical world. The world-famous score features unforgettable songs like "I Don’t Know How to Love Him," "Gethsemane" and "Superstar."
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