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Traditions of Christmas by Christian Community Theater It’s Christian Community Theater’s tenth anniversary edition of their holiday extravaganza – Traditions of Christmas! And after a few years performing at the Copley Symphony Hall, this year they are back where it started at the East County Performing Arts Center in El Cajon. This ambitious production blends together a dazzling array of Christmas traditions, including those from around the world. Which is where the show begins in its Christmas Around the World scene featuring singers and dancers representing Mexico (Feliz Navidad), Germany (Silent Night sung in its native Germanic tongue), Fum Fum Fum by the French, Happy Hanukkah from Israel, vocalist Robert Olson with a great solo singing of the Irish carol Christmas in Killarney, and some fantastic dance routines including a wooden-shoe dance from Holland, Pacific Islanders hula dancing to Mele Kalikimaka, and all highlighted with some magnificent Irish “Riverdancing” to I Saw Three Ships led by Sarah Vincelett. And the traditions continue! There’s a Pageant of Santas where you see Santa and his numerous variations throughout the world and a gaggle of American Santas all tapping together. Then there’s a USO Christmas Show with a 1940s and 50s theme filled with a variety of favorite carols and concluded with an inspiring salute to our military. Then it’s off to the North Pole where Santa Claus and ever-merry and motivational Mrs. Claus (Katie Wilson) gets the Elves and all manner of toys ready for Christmas while all singing and dancing to several childhood favorite carols, and punctuated with a hilarious singing of I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by Christina Hillmann or Natalie Necochea. Add to that some exceptional choreography (K.C. Grulli and Vivian Valade) and dancing by the Christmas Rockette-like Kickline and toy soldiers, a number of traditional carols sung by superb singers, a charming Suzy’s Zoo Nutcracker featuring amusing much-larger-than-life-sized critters performing a condensed version of Tchaikovsky’s ballet, a paired down version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with music from the Albert Finney musical version of Scrooge and enhanced by a hilarious performance by Joey Minnich in his second year of doing the part, and ending with a lavish Living Nativity including real-live barnyard animals and huge camels from the East. With stockings full of holiday music, dancing, singing, unbelievable costumes (Elayn Thoeny), and good cheer, Director and CCT founder Paul Russell sends up a spectacular Christmas production for its tenth year in what is sure to just keep growing as a San Diego Christmas tradition for many more years to come.Rob Hopper San Diego Playbill |