HISTORIC ORPHEUM THEATRE: FROM CLASSIC TO CONTEMPORARY

Minneapolis’ historic Orpheum Theatre is staging two blockbuster musicals and a powerful, award-winning drama this winter as part of its “Broadway on Hennepin” series. Billed as the largest vaudeville house in the country when it opened in 1921, with early performances by the Marx Brothers, Jack Benny and Fanny Brice, the Orpheum was lovingly restored for $10 million in the early 90s with a magnificent, 2,000-pound chandelier and an extended stage befitting big theater and musical shows.

Running from Dec. 13-31 is Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s perennially popular “The Phantom of the Opera,” with eye-popping new designs, staging and choreography, and a cast and orchestra of 52, making it one of the largest productions now on tour.

Stephen Karam’s funny, hopeful and moving family drama “The Humans,” winner of best play at both the 2016 Tony Awards and the New York Drama Critics Circle, will run from Feb. 13-18, revealing a family’s secret fears and follies at a Thanksgiving gathering in Manhattan.

The last show of the winter will be “School of Rock,” based on the Jack Black movie about a rocker posing as a substitute teacher who turns his prep school students into a head-banging rock band. The play was reimagined with 14 original songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber, plus all the original songs from the movie, and a real kid’s rock band playing their instruments live on stage. It runs March 6-11. For more information, call 800-859-7469, or visit hennepintheatretrust.com/broadway. or visit whitebirchresort.net/activities

Christmas Lights over Lake Superior!

Each winter, the Bentleyville Tour of Lights transforms the Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth into an illuminated winter wonderland with colorful displays and holiday music. Dubbed "America's Largest Free Walk-Through Lighting Display," Bentleyville's festive display features more than 4 million lights. The 2017 event will also feature the #OnlyinMN monument.

Bentleyville's 12-story Christmas tree is more than twice the height of the one in Rockefeller Center and is covered with 100,000 LED lights that dance to holiday music. Using more than 5.5 miles of rope light, festive displays include Sesame Street, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys, Minnesota icons such as Split Rock Lighthouse, Duluth's Aerial Lift Bridge, Paul Bunyan, Babe the Blue Ox and more.

As you stroll through the festive display, visitors can sip on hot cocoa, munch on popcorn or roast marshmallows over a campfire. Children have the opportunity to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus every night.

The spectacle runs from Nov. 18 through Dec. 26, 2017. The show is free, but monetary donations are appreciated. Guests are also encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy or non-perishable food items for the Salvation Army.

Parking is available in front of Bayfront Festival Park. Visitors are encouraged to use the free Jingle Bus shuttle service that is available at multiple locations throughout the city or board the festive Bentleyville Train that arrives from the Edgewater Hotel & Water Park.

Nearby family attractions include the Great Lakes Aquarium, Lake Superior Zoo, Spirit Mountain Ski and Recreation Area, and numerous restaurants and hotels.