Actually, there’s no place like
“Down home” for the Holidays. “Down home” means “Country” and “Country” means
“Opry”. Little Theatre on the Bay will bring in the Holiday season, this
weekend only, with “Country Christmas” December 5, 6 and 7. Director Shirley
Kintner has held the reigns both this year and last, and has lined up some
great music with the help of Opry Veterans and Newcomers alike.
Christmas Opry began as an
offshoot of Summer Opry 15 years ago, and I believe Marty Crouse was the
originator. I remember toying with a Christmas show when I was directing
Summer Opry way back when, only my vision was a play. I even wrote the script!
It had a grandpa who didn’t believe in the Christmas Spirit, and a storm which
closed the bridge and the performers couldn’t get to the grange hall, so they
took refuge at the old grandpas house to wait out the storm. Needless, to say,
all the performers ended up at grandpas house and in the end, guess who got
Christmas Spirit? Maybe I’ll dust it off one of these years.
Anyway, Christmas Opry has a lot of great seasonal music accompanied by the
Opry band lead by Dave Ford. Dave has been band leader or part of the Opry
family for over 25 years. His enthusiasm and musicianship…Okay, his sense of
humor too, make the Little Ole Opry Band a notch above. Doug Jones continues
playing the keyboard and guitar, and lending his lovely voice to the mix. Bill
Berrian plays the bass, and Dwain Rayburn will return to play the pedaled
steel. We welcome Tom Beckstrom on percussion this Christmas.
Jill Hanson will lead her comedy team down the primrose path to the outhouse,
as usual, and Ron Nance will emcee.
I have been really impressed with Dino Coolen’s work on the set. He built a
porch which butts up to the backdrop, and the band plays on that porch. He
built open beams, and railings and decorated the whole thing with garlands and
twinkle lights. He cut down alder trees and covered them with sparkle lights
and red glass balls for the stage dressing left and right. I am very
impressed.
And the talent! Brad Burnett will return to the stage after 7 years away. Bill
Berrians boy Trevor will sing “Hallelujah” from the “Shreck” movie…I love that
song! All those wonderful kids will be back: Austin Thompson, Clint Guevara,
Kelly Coolen, Hannah Kintner, Alyssa Birrer, Abby Collings, Misty Speakman,
Shon Mobley, …and a lot of us Old timers will be back too.
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