|
Traditions of Christmas by Christian Community Theater During the holiday season there is no shortage of Christmas-themed productions to go see. One that is worth the time (usually a precious commodity in mid-December) is Christian Community Theater's Eighth Annual Traditions of Christmas. Especially if you want to do something with the kids. The show packs a lot into its two-hour run. You'll get at least a couple stanzas from about fifty different carols, a glimpse of Christmas traditions around the world, a historical tour of Christmas carols, a Rockette-style kickline, a condensed Nutcracker performance by San Diego's Suzy's Zoo, a condensed version of A Christmas Carol based on the musical Scrooge!, and live exotic animals. Okay, only the camel might be considered "exotic." But a horse, donkey, and goat join the camel in the menagerie. Act One was thoroughly enjoyable, setting just the right festive Christmas mood . Some of the highlights were the Irish dancers (Colleen McClure, Braden McKinley, Brett Richter, Sarah Vincelett, Caitlin Wands, and Lauren Wands) in "Christmas Around the World" who were remarkably good. I was also surprised by the Stomp-styled Street Entertainers (Greg Good, Mike Hanggi, Jeremy Lapp, Chris Rubio, Jimmy Thompson, and Andy Weiss) of the "Christmas San Diego Style" who demonstrated exceptional talent playing the drums on the bottom of trashcans and stomping around the stage with brooms. In the next scene we were taken to Santa's workshop where children, dressed as toys, danced and played to several happy carols. The limber dancing of the Raggedy Ann's and Andy's, the stiff and intricate marching of the Toy Soldiers (both younger and older kids), and the antics of Mrs. Claus (Katie Wilson) helped make the "Santa's Workshop" scene one of the best of the show. But the next scene was my personal favorite. "Christmas Through the Centuries" is a survey of Christmas carols going back to the early Middle Ages. It begins in a monastery where vows of silence don't stop these imaginative monks from singing the Hallelujah Chorus via some deft use of poster boards. Skipping ahead a few years, Elvis Presley comes back to life, with the help of Nathan Lacy, to do Blue Christmas (CCT fans may remember Nathan in a similar role as the pharaoh in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat). The scene ends with a great mix of rappers (Mike Hanggi, Braden McKinley, John Wanser, Reid Wise) and a NSYNC-like band (Bryan Briney, Greg Good, Justin Kent, Jeremy Lapp, and Chris Rubio) doing competing takes on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Unfortunately, the Second Act loses much of the energy and charisma of the First Act. The real interruption is the insertion of a 20-minute version of the Scrooge! musical. Although I love the Albert Finney movie, the story just doesn't work in this drastically shortened edition. Nor does it seem to fit within the theme of the entire performance. In the next scene they try to recapture the magic of the First Act with the ensemble and kickline doing It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year and We Need a Little Christmas, but the flow was broken so severely by A Christmas Carol that the audience had already lost most of their enthusiasm, and they never quite recover it. The show ends with a fairly nice "Living Nativity" featuring O Little Town of Bethlehem, The First Noel, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, We Three Kings, Joy to the World, and the Hallelujah Chorus. They were all beautifully sung, but I must admit that my attention at the end was focused more so on the camel who seemed to dominate the stage. Perhaps because I've already heard the Hallelujah Chorus on stage a few times, and it always sounds pretty much the same. But seeing a humongous, desert-dwelling quadruped in a symphony hall is a bit more novel. To my amusement, he (or she) was just as infatuated with the audience as I was with it, straining its neck away from the crèche scene to check out the hundreds of onlookers. Despite the anti-climax of the Second Act, Traditions of Christmas is a great family show. Act One is worth the admission in itself. The ornate Copley Symphony Hall embellishes the entire performance with its regal atmosphere. If you're going to the Hall for the first time, be sure to go up to the balcony for a better view of the Hall's exquisite architecture. Rob Hopper San Diego Playbill ~ Cast ~
- Ensemble - Courtney Baker Bryan Briney Adina DiFede Greg Good Ritchie Gonzalez Justin Kent Jeremy Lapp Kim Messina Karen Osborn Becky Roland Chris Rubio Carolyn Stevenson - Chorus - Tim Axelson Kim Dominguez Josh Elwell Sherry Evans Sergio Garcia-Godoy Samantha Ginn Donna Hare Yoshiko Higurashi-Jensen Cathy Huot Steven Jensen Colleen McClure Marilyn Swan - Octet and Chorus - David Adams Sandy Adams Tysa Curry Heidi Darling Kim Dominguez Daniel Erpelding Jenna Erpelding Joel Gossett Lori Hable Stephanie Hargrove David Luke Christi McClure KC Rose Daniel Walsh ~ Solos ~ Go Tell It on the Mountain: Maria Griffin Bugler's Holiday: John Barnett, Russ Mitchell and Ben Tellinghuisen Holly Jolly Christmas: Samantha Ginn and David Adams The Christmas Song: Harvey and Ben Tellinghuisen Sleigh Bells Ring: Sergio Garcia-Godoy Little St. Nick: Bryan Briney Good King Wenceslas: Victoria Mora Here Comes Santa Claus: Stephanie Hargrove Jingle Bell Rock: Kim Messina Blue Christmas: Nathan Lacy Jingle Bell Funk: Andrea Griffin Reindeer Rap and Rudolph: Mike Hanggi and Bryan Briney White Christmas: Nathan Lacy Frosty the Snowman: Courtney Baker December the 25th: Bob White and Katie Wilson I Like Life: Steven Jensen and KC Rose Most Wonderful Time: Karen Osborn, Adina DiFede, and Chris Rubio - Christmas Around the World - Mexico: Diana Alkatib Monique Alkatib Riley Elwell Autumn Hammock Robert Olson Ryan Withall Germany: Kirk Adams Kevin Bradel Laurie Bradel Caitlin Cajka Juliann Friel Africa: Maria Griffin (solo) Andrea Griffin Garrick Hargrove Jocelyn Ragsdale Bobby Simpson (congas) Ireland: Colleen McClure Braden McKinley Brett Richter Sarah Vincelett Caitlin Wands Lauren Wands Holand: Shannon Cajka Angela Dibelka Mollie Esau Renee Mink Megan Roland Gingerbread: Bridget Ehman Caitlin Kneale Hawaii: Autumn Aragon Jamie DeVera Tim Manns Charise Tea Chris Withall France: Stephanie Garrett Shauni Gerner Stephanie Hable Sarah Hopkins Chelsea Lapp Carly Sandstrom - Christmas San Diego Style - Bugler's Holiday: John Barnett Russ Mitchell Ben Tellinghuisen Gaslamp: Ben Tellinghuisen Harvey Tellinghuisen Mexican Border: Sergio Garcia-Godoy (solo) Russ Mitchell, Trumpet Mike Hanggi Braden McKinley Chris Rubio Ritchie Gonzalez Heidi Sugawa East County: David Adams Samantha Ginn Line Dancers: Sandy Adams Tim Axelson Tysa Curry Heidi Darling Josh Elwell Dan Erpelding Jenna Erpelding Sherry Evans David Luke KC Rose Marilyn Swan Dan Walsh San Diego Style Kids: Laurie Bradel James Buchanan Joselyn Ragsdale Brett Richter Ryan Withall Stomp: Greg Good Mike Hanggi Jeremy Lapp Chris Rubio Jimmy Thompson Andy Weiss California Beach Boys: Bryan Briney (solo) David Adams Dan Erpelding Justin Kent ~ Christmas through the Centuries ~ Monks: Kirk Adams Rhonda Alkatib Kevin Bradel Christine Colwell Angela d'Avignon Courtney Evans Stephanie Garrett Samantha Ginn Andrea Griffin Kevin Klauber Vittoria Picone Bettina Reches Tarin Runyon Jessica Snodgrass Rosie Sybrandy Chris Withall Renaissance: Victoria Mora (solo) Sandy Adams (Recorder) Jenna Erpelding (Tambourine) Christi McClure (Flute) Justin Kent (Guitar) Court Jesters: James Buchanan Tristen Mora Ribbon Dancers: Natalie Emmons KC Grulli Michelle Millum Kristien Olson Gailey Palado Heidi Sugawa Big Band: Stephanie Hargrove (solo) Swing Dancers: Angela d'Avignon Natalie Emmons Greg Good KC Grulli Mike Hanggi Jennifer Phillips Amy Russell Chris Rubio John Wanser Reid Wise Rock-n-Roll: Kim Messina (solo) Nathan Lacy (Elvis) Funk: Andrea Griffin (solo) Funk/Hip Hop Dancers: Tim Axelson Carrie Briney Erica Bruce Angela d'Avignon Josh Elwell Natalie Emmons Mandie Esau KC Grulli Garrick Hargrove Colleen McClure Gailey Palado Jocelyn Ragsdale Amy Russell Heidi Sugawa Boys Band (NSYNC): Bryan Briney Greg Good Justin Kent Jeremy Lapp Chris Rubio Boys Band (Rap): Mike Hanggi Braden McKinley John Wanser Reid Wise Reindeer: Samantha Ginn ~ Christmas at the North Pole ~ Toys: Autumn Aragon Kendahl Blessing Maddison Blessing Kara Bradel Garrin Bradel Trevor Brown Cari Callen Crosby Curry Jacob Garrett Cory Hable Jake Kelly Mackenzie Manns Adana McWhinney Taylor Morris Kelly Murphy Natalie Necochea Sarah Olivarria Kalene Robbins Erich Spurgeon Andy Walsh Santa Claus: Santa Claus Mrs. Claus: Katie Wilson Raggedy Ann/Andy: Rhonda Alkatib Christine Colwell Courtney Evans Tristen Mora Ashleigh Mora Vittoria Picone Bettina Reches Tarin Runyon Jessica Snodgrass Rosie Sybrandy Elves: James Buchanan Shannon Cajka Mollie Esau Shauni Gerner Maria Griffin Caitlin Kneale Chelsea Lapp Timothy Manns Renee Mink Megan Roland Toy Soldiers: Diana Alkatib Monique Alkatib Caitlin Cajka Jamie DeVera Angela Dibelka Bridgett Ehman Riley Elwell Juliann Friel Stephanie Hable Autumn Hammock Sarah Hopkins Robert Olson Carly Sandstrom Charise Tea Caitlin Wands Lauren Wands Chris Withall Ryan Withall ~ Kickline ~ Carrie Briney Erica Bruce Lindsay Buchanan Natalie Emmons Mandie Esau KC Grulli Michelle Millum Kim Morin Kristien Olson Gailey Palado Jennifer Phillips Sarah Rossoll Amy Russell Maggie Jo Turner Sarah Vincelett Emily Wanser ~ Suzy's Zoo ~ Suzy: KC Grulli Jack: Braden McKinley Corkey: Heidi Sugawa Bears: Tim Axelson Josh Elwell Mike Hanggi Ducks: Laurie Bradel Shannon Cajka Chelsea Lapp Mice: Caitlin Cajka Jamie DeVera Lauren Wands Rabbits: Angela d'Avignon Ashleigh Mora Tarin Runyon Tigers: Samantha Ginn Chris Rubio ~ A Christmas Carol ~ Scrooge: KC Rose Young Scrooge: Greg Good Belle: Carolyn Stevenson Jacob Marley: Nathan Lacy Christmas Past: Cathy Huot Christmas Present: Steve Jensen Christmas Future: Tim Axelson Bob Cratchit: Dan Walsh Mrs. Cratchit: Sherry Evans/Marilyn Swan Sisters: Courtney Evans and Renee Mink Tiny Tim: Andy Walsh Fezziwig: Bob White Mrs. Fezziwig: Katie Wilson Gentlemen: Joel Gossett and Daniel Erpelding Children: Kirk Adams James Buchanan Riley Elwell Mollie Esau Shauni Gerner Garrick Hargrove Megan Roland Chris Withall Ryan Withall ~ Nativity ~ Joseph: Chris Rubio Mary: Tristen Mora Angel: Tim Axelson Drummer Boy: Chris Withall Kings: Josh Elwell Sergio Garcia-Godoy Joel Gossett Shepherds: Kirk Adams James Buchanan Kevin Klauber Braden McKinley John Wanser Ryan Withall |