Wherever one goes for culture these days, up pops a photo of and a tribute to the late Arthur Wagner, founding chair of UCSD’s Department of Theatre and Dance, who died last September. La Jolla Symphony and Chorus’ program Dec. 5 and 6 was no exception. Arthur and his wife, Molli, were frequent attendees and supporters of the symphony as well as numerous other area cultural institutions. As he introduced the program’s final offering, Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 3, music director Steven Schick remarked that Wagner frequently urged him to program more Copland, whom Wagner said was one of his favorite American composers. How fitting, then, that Schick, a distinguished professor in the UCSD music department, did so. The orchestra, heavy on brass for the big sound of Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” section, came through in brassy and soaring fashion. Wagner would have been very pleased. As for Schick – a performer, an author, a conductor and a 2014 inductee into the Percussive Arts Society’s Hall of Fame – he remarked that the two best decisions he ever made were joining the faculty at UCSD and marrying his wife, Brenda. I’m happy to report that Molli was seen Dec. 3 at the UCSD drama department’s opening night of a visually and sonically fetching production of Anton Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard.” And I don’t consider it too much a coincidence that the production’s excellent musical score, by Kyle Adam Blair, was played by Fiona Digney on invented percussion (namely a tea cart, decanters and glasses). Digney is a doctoral student of Schick. The Blind Boys are back La Jolla Music Society welcomes The Blind Boys of Alabama to Sherwood Auditorium, 700 Prospect St., on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. Founded in 1944 and stronger than ever seven decades later, these gospel singers will showcase selections from their latest album, “Talkin’ Christmas!” A collaboration with blues musician Taj Mahal, “Talkin’ Christmas!” includes original and interesting works alongside popular seasonal gems. The performance will feature a selection of these brand new songs, covers of gospel classics and holiday standards such as “Do You Hear What I Hear?,” “White Christmas” and “Silent Night.”Audiences will also be treated to hits from the band’s previous Grammy-winning Christmas recording, “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” The performance will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 to $80. For more, see ljms.org or call (858) 459-3728. Globe solidifies classical ties The Old Globe Theater will present a co-production of David Ives’ “The Metromaniacs,” directed by the distinguished educator and theatre/opera director Michael Kahn, Jan. 30 through March 6. A 2013 inductee into the American Theatre Hall of Fame, Kahn has headed Washington, D.C.’s The Shakespeare Theatre (the Globe’s co-producer). He was the Richard Rodgers director of the drama division of The Juilliard School from 1992 to 2006, having joined the faculty in 1968. Ives is responsible for brilliant translations of two additional French farces, “The School for Lies” (seen at North Coast Repertory in 2014) and “The Liar” (seen at Scripps Ranch Theatre last season). Prepare your ear for rhymes and meter: “The Metromaniacs” concerns poetry, poets and would-be poets plus financial entanglements and writing prestige. Thus, it seemed perfectly natural to Ives to write it in metric rhyme, upping its laughter quotient a good deal due to Ives’ amazing use of language and a few purposeful groaners. He is also author of “Venus in Fur,” “All in the Timing” and “Time Flies,” all produced in area theaters. Kahn says on a YouTube video produced by American Shakespeare Theatre that when the actors do it right, it’s like watching the Olympics. A Few Holiday Offerings In addition to the Globe’s “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” (through Dec. 26) – which I’ve heard several people proclaim as the best ever – there are a few more already or soon to open: Still running through Dec. 27 is the excellent “A Christmas Carol” at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town. Lamb’s Players Theatre’s traditional Christmas productions, one at the Coronado venue (Kerry Meads’ “All I Want for Christmas,” through Dec. 27) and the other a sumptuous buffet at the U.S. Grant Hotel through Dec. 26. Recently opened are Paula Vogel’s “A Civil War Christmas” at Diversionary Theatre through Jan. 3 and “This Wonderful Life” at North Coast Repertory Theatre through Dec. 27. Happy holidays to one and all!