Entertainment

Tessa Dowell helped out  Jonathan Dowell and Wendy Songe, also known as the Appalachian and Celtic folk music group, Dually Noted, at the Crossroads Bible Church Saturday. They played a combination of Appalachian and Celtic folk music in a concert benefitting the United Way of Northern New Mexico. There was also a silent auction in the lobby.

NEW YORK (AP) — Though Adele didn’t have a new album or a worldwide tour in 2012, she’s still rolling. After a year of Grammy glory and James Bond soundtracking, Adele has been voted The Associated Press Entertainer of the Year.
In 132 ballots submitted by members and subscribers of the AP, Adele easily outpaced other vote-getters like Taylor Swift, “Fifty Shades of Grey” author E.L. James, the South Korean viral video star PSY and the cast of “Twilight.”
Editors and broadcasters were asked to cast their ballot for the person who had the most influence on entertainment and culture in 2012.
Adele’s year began in triumph at the Grammys, took a turn through recording the theme to the 007 film “Skyfall,” and ended with the birth of her son in October. The ubiquitous Adele was that rare thing in pop culture: an unqualified sensation, a megastar in a universe of niche hits.
By the end of the year, her sophomore album, “21,” had passed 10 million copies sold in the U.S., only the 21st album in the Nielsen SoundScan era (begun in 1991) to achieve diamond status. Buoyed by hits like “Someone Like You” and “Rolling in the Deep” long after its release in early 2011, “21” was also the top-selling album on iTunes for the second year running.

On Saturday, Los Alamos Little Theatre will host the Southwest Rural Theatre Project, performing “The Truth About Santa,” by Greg Kotis.
This is not holiday fare in the “Miracle on 34th Street” vein, as a philandering Santa has to explain his bastard kids to Mrs. Claus ... and hope to survive her wrathful revenge. Parents,  think “PG-13” before bringing the kids.
The show was described by one critic as “ ... a play that has every right to become the ‘Christmas Carol’ (or Mahabharata) for weird theater geeks across the world.”
The New York Times called it “a holiday show for people sick of holiday shows.”
For those that have been missing their annual shot of melodrama, this performance encourages marshmallow throwing and hissing or booing at the villains of the play.
Southwest Rural Theatre Project is staging this play at a variety of venues around the state.
The Los Alamos show will start at 7:30 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m. Admission is by donation. Those still wondering what to do New Year’s Eve, might consider going to the opening performance of “Frost/Nixon” by Peter Morgan.

The Annual Big Band After Christmas Dance will be from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Dec. 27 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Hall, 3700 Canyon Road, Los Alamos.
The dance is a memorial for Catherine LeClaire, who was a longtime member of the quartet, the Mountainaires. Proceeds from the dance will be used to purchase a new organ fro the church, in her name.
Music will feature the Los Alamos Big Band and for this dance, the featured vocalist will be Rene LeClaire, Cathy’s widower. Rene was also a member of the Mountainaires. The Los Alamos Big Band has played at dances throughout Northern New Mexico since 1984, under the direction of Jan McDonald, who for many years, was the bandleader at Los Alamos High School.
The band features the music of the Big Band era, such as “In the Mood,” String of Pearls,” Sing, Sing, Sing” and “Moonlight Serenade.” They also play other music such as “Moon River,” Latin numbers like “Besame Mucho” and even “Rock Around the Clock.” Several Christmas tunes will be featured at the dance.
Decorations and refreshments at the dance will be provided by the IHM Youth Group.
The Big Band started in 1984, when Dick Souder retired from Chrysler in Michigan and started working at Los Alamos National Laboratory.