COSTA MESA - The Segerstrom Center for the Arts will present three spirited seasonal programs in December, including the Johnny Mathis Christmas Show on Dec. 4, the classic musical Irving Berlin's White Christmas on Dec. 13, and celebrated opera baritone Paulo Szot on Dec. 15.Segerstrom Center's resident companies are also presenting their own holiday shows. Johnny Mathis Christmas Show - Dec. 4 -- $52-$110: Mathis will perform holiday favorites and many of his most popular songs. Since his first two hits, "Wonderful, Wonderful" and "Chances Are" reached the top of the charts in 1956, Mathis has been inducted into the Grammy Award Hall of Fame twice and the public has continued to love the singer, his music and that distinct Mathis voice ever since. For this special 55th anniversary tour, Mathis will be joined by comedian/singer Gary Mule Deer for part of the evening. Irving Berlin's White Christmas - Dec. 13 - Jan. 1 - $20-$85: The classic holiday movie "White Christmas" comes to the stage in this brand new musical with classic Irving Berlin hits, including "Blue Skies," "How Deep in the Ocean?" and, of course, the title song "White Christmas." The musical tells the story of two buddies putting on a show in a magical Vermon inn and finding their perfect mates in the process. Paulo Szot - Dec. 15-18 - $55-$75: Paulo Szot's star-making turn in the smash revival of "South Pacific" was one of the most talked-about performances of that, or any other, year. Since that Tony-winning performance, the Brazilian baritone has continued to wow audiences every time he takes the stage, from the Metropolitan Opera to the Cafe Carlyle and beyond. Additional holidays shows scheduled at the Segerstrom Center: Nutcracker for Kids - Dec. 10 - $29-$46 Handel's Glorious Messiah - Dec. 11 - $25-$125 Fiesta Navidad - Dec. 13 - $25-$95 A Michael W. Smith Christmas - Dec. 15-17 - $25-$185 Tis the Season! - Dec. 18 - $20-$135 Holiday Organ Spectacular - Dec. 20 - $15-$75 For tickets and information, go online to scfta.org or call (714) 556-2787.

********** Published: October 20, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 27