Worth the Drive

Less than 2 hours

Carson Center, Paducah, Ky.

The Moscow Ballet is bringing its "Great Russian Nutcracker" to Cape Girardeau for two performances on Dec. 12 and 13 at the River Campus' Bedell Performance Hall.

But before the tour rolls through Cape Girardeau, the ballet will take the stage at Paducah's Carson Center for a Nov. 29 performance. The show in Paducah is the same performance of the "Nutcracker," complete with an act two set in "The Land of Peace and Harmony," but features a different cast.

Tickets range from $25 to $65. For more information call the Carson Center at 270-450-4444 or visit www.thecarsoncenter.org.

Shryock Auditorium, Carbondale, Ill.

The Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra is encouraging its patrons to join in the fun in its Friday night concert performance of Handel's "Messiah" -- they want to crowd to sing along.

The symphony orchestra will present its first-ever singalong "Messiah," with the audience seated according to voice type. If you really don't want to sing, you don't have to. Tickets are $15.

For more information visit call 618-453-ARTS or visit. www.siuc.edu/shryock.