After earning his Ph.D. in history from Auburn University, Daniel Haulmen began work at Montgomery’s Maxwell Air Base in the research division. His work there elevated him to chief of the organizational history division at the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

Haulmen also became an expert on the famed Tuskegee Airmen after he chose to chronicle their entire history. He’s written 16 published articles, presented more than 20 historical papers at various conferences and authored five books. He received the Milo B. Howard award from the Alabama Historical Association for his article “The Tuskegee Airmen and the ‘Never lost a Bomber’ Myth” which was published in the Alabama Review.

He will be the featured speaker at the History Museum of Mobile’s (111 S. Royal St.) Dec. 12 Learning Lunch. The noontime event is free to the public. Attendees can bring their lunch and enjoy complimentary beverages.

For more information, contact Curator of Education Jennifer Theeck at 251-208-7510 or theeckj@historymuseumofmobile.com.

CCT stages comic holiday Austen sequel

Of the Bennet girls in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” Mary was in an unenviable spot. Her older sisters were witty, her younger ones vivacious and flirty. The pedantic and scholarly middle sister was lost in the mix.

Playwrights Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon changed her plight in their witty sequel entitled “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley.” When the clan gathers at Fitzwilliam Darcy’s ancestral home, Mary Bennet runs into the bookish Arthur De Bourgh, a Darcy cousin. You don’t have to be a jolly old elf to see what’s coming.

Chickasaw Civic Theatre (801 Iroquois St.) stages this yuletide comedy Dec. 7-16 under the direction of Nedra Bloom. Friday and Saturday curtain is 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinee is 2 p.m.

Tickets are $15.75, $12.50 for students, military and seniors.

For more information, call 251-457-8887 or go to cctshows.com.

New Nutcracker twist in mid-December

For some locals, it isn’t Christmas without fantastic dreams of magical rodents and toys that spring to life to dance with fairies. That’s because Mobile Ballet’s annual rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” has embued the holiday season with enchantment for decades.

Now under new Artistic Director Katia Garza, the classic ballet has new choreography. The shows at Mobile Civic Center Theater (401 Civic Center Drive) will also feature the talents of Ballet Master Israel Rodriguez and guest artists including Eduardo Pi Iglesias. Also for the first time, performers will include dancers from across the community as a result of open auditions.

On Saturday, Dec. 15, there will be a 2:30 p.m. matinee and a 7:30 p.m. show. Sunday, Dec. 16 features a 2:30 p.m. matinee only.

Tickets run $20 – $60.

For tickets or additional information, call 251-342-2241 or go to mobileballet.org.