5 things to do in NEO: Holiday Shows, Guitar Festival and Immigrant Voices

After so many holiday cancellations last year, shows for the season are back on stage in Northeast Ohio. Also on this week's to-do list: an annual festival of acoustic guitar masters and a new series spotlighting local immigrant voices.

"Elf the Musical"

Holiday film favorite Buddy the Elf scampers onstage at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood in " Elf the Musical." The hysterical tale based on the popular Will Ferrell movie comes to musical life now through Jan. 2.

Cleveland Orchestra Holiday Concerts

Severance Music Center is decked out in its finest holiday attire as classical renditions of favorite carols reverberate for the Cleveland Orchestra Holiday Concerts. Conductor Brett Mitchell returns to Northeast Ohio to lead the spirited show now through Sunday, Dec. 19.

"Light It Up!"

Cleveland Play House turns into Tinselville, USA for the holiday season as it stages the musical event, " Light It Up!" A festive collection of pop, rock, jazz and gospel fills the air for this world premiere production onstage now through Wednesday, Dec. 22.

Woodchopper's Ball

Acoustic guitar ace Brian Henke presents the 20th anniversary of his Woodchopper's Ball in partnership with the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless. Nine folk-guitar masters play their acoustics at the Kent Stage Saturday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m.

"Becoming American"

The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage hosts a series of immigration stories " Becoming American" in partnership with Scene Magazine, Global Cleveland and Literary Cleveland. "In Our Backyard: Immigrant Voices of Cleveland" features essays written by American immigrants to Northeast Ohio Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m.