MIAMI — Christmas gets an injection of soul this week as two holiday-themed productions open for one night in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Tonight, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County presents The Colors Of Christmas, a holiday concert featuring four superstar performers in one amazing show.

Meanwhile, just up the road at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Ashanti Cultural Arts Inc. presents the annual production of The Chocolate Nutcracker. The performance takes place 7 p.m. Saturday.

In “Colors”, the all-star tribute to the musical spirit of the season will bring a dazzling group of artists: 2003 “American Idol” winner Ruben Studdard; Grammy-nominated freestyle singer-songwriter Taylor Dayne; Broadway songstress Jennifer Holliday; and two-time Grammy Award winner Peabo Bryson. This quartet will ring in South Florida’s holiday season at 8 p.m. in the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall, 1300 Biscayne Blvd.

Tickets to TheColorsOfChristmas are $39, $59, $69, $89 and $114, and may be purchased through the Adrienne Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949-6722, or online at www.arshtcenter.org.

The timeless Peabo Bryson spans 20 albums offering a mix of pop and soul in a way only he can. The two-time Grammy award winner is famous for his duets with Natalie Cole (What You Won’t Do for Love) and Roberta Flack (Tonight, ICelebrateMyLove) and his two Oscar-winning songs for Disney animated films, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.

Jennifer Holliday is a two-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist and the Tony Award-winning Broadway star of the smash hit musical Dreamgirls. Holliday’s heart-wrenching torch-song ballad And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going was a show-stopping moment in the history of Broadway musicals and catapulted her into international stardom.

Taylor Dayne stands out as one of music’s most dynamic artists of all time. Helping to usher in freestyle music with the hit Tell It ToMyHeart, her unique vocal style has sold more than 75 million albums and singles worldwide and earned her numerous best-selling gold and platinum albums. Taylor has garnered three Grammy nominations and appeared in many film, television, and Broadway stage roles such as Elton John’s Aida.

Over 10 years, pop sensation Ruben Studdard’s smoothly soothing vocal style has won the hearts of many around the world. The American Idol winner pulled 24 million votes while on the show and became a household name across the country. Studdard has released five albums and has toured with stars such as Peabo Bryson, Melissa Manchester, CeCe Winans and David Foster.

Ashanti Cultural Arts presents TheChocolateNutcracker at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Amaturo Theater of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets cost $15 at browardcenter.org.

TheChocolateNutcracker gives an African American perspective to the age-old tale, TheNutcracker by George Balanchine. that has been a holiday tradition for many years, featuring performances by African drummers and multi-cultural modern dancers that depict the story of Kwanzaa through a musical score ranging from classical to jazz.

Ashanti was founded in March of 1990  in Fort Lauderdale, Florida by Linda Houston Jones. The name Ashanti is a royal West  African tribe  known for its cultural richness and diversity.

Ashanti Cultural Arts provides a variety of programs to enrich lives of all youngsters and adults through instruction in dance, music, literacy and wellness. It is dedicated to providing outreach programs to the underserved communities throughout Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

Ashanti’s classes and programs are held at the African-American Research Library & Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.

For other information email:  ashanticultural@bellsouth.net.