This living post of Artsy things to do New Year’s Eve ’24 that will continue to be added to throughout the month.
Sometime we want to party all night, other times we want to crawl into bed with a sexy partner. tiff is letting you indulge in both by celebrating the 25th anniversary of Stanley Kubrick’s Eye’s Wide Shut. Starring Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise, this year you can indulge without having to talk to anyone.
“Based on Arthur Schnitzler’s novella Traumnovelle, Eyes Wide Shut was both the final film of Stanley Kubrick and his longest in the making: perhaps inspired by his well-known devotion to Max Ophüls, who had frequently adapted Schnitzler for the screen, Kubrick had first conceived the project in the early ’70s. Eventually, Kubrick cast superstars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, married in real life at the time, to play Bill and Alice Hartford, a wealthy couple whose seemingly stable relationship is suddenly upended by Alice’s confession of a prior erotic obsession, which sends the shocked Bill out of their NYC apartment and into a nocturnal world of sexual fantasy and intrigue. Attracting controversy even before its release for its supposedly graphic sexual content (mostly concentrated in the notorious setpiece of a masked orgy at a palatial mansion), Eyes Wide Shut powerfully articulates two of Kubrick’s long-standing thematic obsessions — namely, desire and death — and stands as a majestic final testament from a true master of cinema.”
Adapted from the original 2019 programme note by Andrew Tracy
Tickets available through Tiff: https://tiff.net/events/eyes-wide-shut
The Nutcracker
Experience the wonder of the holidays with James Kudelka’s The Nutcracker, a spectacular family production. The adventure begins at a Christmas Eve party in a 19th-century barn and introduces siblings Marie and Misha to delights beyond their wildest dreams, from magical creatures to savoury treats and the glittering land of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Set to Tchaikovsky’s famous score and featuring magnificent sets and costumes, The Nutcracker is an unforgettable tribute to the imagination.
Tickets available through the Nation Ballet of Canada: https://national.ballet.ca/productions/the-nutcracker/#more_information
‘Twas the Night Before…
An exhilarating spin on the beloved Christmas classic as only Cirque du Soleil could imagine.
‘Twas the Night Before… is Cirque du Soleil’s first holiday show, based on the classic poem “A Visit from Saint Nicolas” by Clement Clarke Moore. Memorable lines from this cherished classic inspired Cirque’s story about a jaded young girl who rediscovers the magic of the holidays. A festive flurry of love and cheer created especially for families, ‘Twas the Night Before… features thrilling acrobatics, lovable characters, and a soundtrack including holiday classics reinvented by Cirque du Soleil. The show was conceived and is directed by Cirque du Soleil senior artistic director James Hadley, a 25-year veteran of circus productions and live theatre.
Tickets available through Ticketmaster. More info here: https://tolive.com/Event-Details-Page/reference/Twas-2024
New Year’s Eve 2025 Masquerade at Old Mill Toronto
Get ready for the Old Mill’s biggest and most exclusive New Year’s Eve party at Old Mill Toronto! Join us for an unforgettable Masquerade party. Dress to impress in your finest attire and mask for a night full of luxury, excitement, and top-tier live entertainment.
Tickets (if there are any left) available through the Old Mill: https://www.oldmilltoronto.com/event/nye/
Into the Woods in Concert
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine
Directed by Richard Ouzounian
Conducted by Paul Sportelli
One of Sondheim’s most popular works, this Tony Award-winning musical takes everyone’s favourite storybook characters and brings them together for a timeless yet relevant modern classic.
The story follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.
Featuring:
 Tess BengerCinderella |  Gabi EpsteinThe Baker’s Wife |  Sara FarbThe Witch |  Mike NadajewskiThe Baker |  Eric Peterson Narrator/ Mysterious Man |  Fiona ReidJack’s Mother | |
 Nicole Joy-FraserCinderella’s Step Mother |  Robert MarkusCinderella’s Prince/The Wolf |  Ben PageJack |  Heeyun Park 박희윤Little Red Riding Hood |
Tickets available through the Royal Conservatory of Music: https://www.rcmusic.com/events-and-performances/stephen-sondheims-into-the-woods-(3)
