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Will Santa Cancel Christmas? Will Santa Cancel Christmas? Local children inhabit UPT/UCLO holiday play Special to the Daily Journal. More than 30 community volunteers - ranging from the very young to the just about "old" - have planned a warm moment of theater that should bring smiles and joy all 'round. "This show is a community effort because it brings together the novices and the experienced actors together, many of them children who have never had an experience like this," explained Dawn Senften, Producer of "Cancel Christmas." "The entire theater experience - from set build/design, lights, sound, costumes - are drawn from the same pool as the actors, our community, " Senften said. "We will be having a food drive for Plowshares to help our community by giving the gift of food, and personal care items...this is truly a community effort. We are also doing school performances. Some of these children may be seeing a live performance for the first time!" This is a collaborative effort of Ukiah Civic Light Opera and Ukiah Players Theatre. There are several families whose children have dedicated a huge amount of time to this event: Susie (11, plays Tweet the Elf), Joanna (14, Lolly the Elf) and James (18) Slinkert (James plays Chump, one of the evil trolls); Madeline (13, a Wooden Soldier) and Bailey (11, plays Bunny the Elf) and Kendra (9, plays Spinner, another Elf) Grivette; Evan (7, Coco the Elf) and Owen (5, Charlie the Elf) Sangiacomo; Shayla (12, playing Phoebe the Elf) and Kiana (10, playing the Elf, Mittens) Hloucha; Avery (6, is Holly, the Elf) and Sierra (9, is Crystal, a ballerina) Pittman. Jordan Wegner's (12) grandmother is Mrs. Claus. Wegner portrays "Bug," one of the evil trolls. Santa is played by Brad Eidson and Mrs. Claus by Carole Hester. There are many special moments in this play. Brad Eidson, portraying Santa, said, "Cancel Christmas' is a story that kids and adults can relate to and enjoy. It has a message of giving people a second chance which is always an important one, but especially significant at Christmas time." Not many traditional Christmas pageants include evil trolls - but this one does. The play, written in 1976 by Sam Younghans, has a lot to do with forgiveness, compassion, love and joy. But the title, "Cancel Christmas," came about not from the author's wish to, indeed, cancel that special holiday, but because a note pinned on Santa's door said, "We have taken Mrs. Santa. If you want to see her again, cancel Christmas." Signed, "Bogwig of the North." Local songstress Paula Samonte added music and lyrics to this play and is thrilled to be co-directing with Les Pfutzenreuter. In addition to directing, Samonte plays the Mime in this production. Sandy Metzler is choreographing the show. You can learn more about the play at www.bogwig.com then click on the Ukiah performance. Eidson (Santa), by day is a speech pathologist with Ukiah Unified School District. He works with preschool and elementary aged students who have speech and/or language delays. He also works at local preschool programs, as well as at Hopland Elementary School. Eidson believes in community theater. "The people involved in this production, from the technical people to the actors and directors represent a wide range of backgrounds and experiences," he said. "We come together and each contribute some unique aspects to the overall production of the play, trying to give the community an enjoyable experience and a chance to escape from the everyday worries." Eidson admits he likes his own role in the production. "Who would not want to play Santa Claus in a Christmas play?" he said. "I enjoy working with the kids and continuing to work on the perfection of the classic Ho! Ho! Ho!'' I enjoy watching the audience reaction, working with a variety of people and seeing the play come together." Others in the cast include: Scott Travis (Gribby, the Head Elf), who added, "I think this production is a gift to the community because everybody does their part to make it happen - from people volunteering to do the set, or parents of the cast who volunteer their time and bring snacks or help any way they can during rehearsal, the people who support the play and come out to see it is also their way of contributing ... Being in this play also allows me to bring joy to others during what can be a tough Christmas season ... it's great to bring joy and laughter to their Christmas." Tom Johnsen, the Narrator quipped, "Being in theater keeps me alive." Johnsen views this production as a community effort because "People from college to elementary school are involved and a great many of these kids are coming from public schools, and that's where the cross section of the community is found." About the play itself, Johnsen says, "It's meaningful ... it really is. I have quite a privileged view being perched on the platform. I get to see the whole thing start jelling. Something I've seen throughout the whole production is that the kids are really lit up. There's not a bad moment in it." He is an oil landscape artist as well as photographer. Dawn Senften says the book and play provide life lessons too. "The story gives children another way to look at life a little differently," she said. "The answer is right before us with Bogwig who never found Love! But he finds a great surprise in Cancel Christmas.'" Matt Senften is the evil King of the Trolls, Bogwig. Ellie Siegel, "Flasher," the head reindeer, said, "I like being a reindeer that dances, for I like dancing. Flasher' becomes the hero because she saves the day. It's fun. This really is a gift to the community; it is very entertaining and I also like the message it's putting across for it brings people together and brings happiness into the world." Maria Carnevale (14) plays Candy, the Elf. She played "Chip" at age 11, the teacup in "Beauty & the Beast," and before that at age 10 she played Gridley, the sidekick to the phantom in "Phantom of the Orchestra." Other cast members include: Holly Robinson, Charlie Lucchesi, Margo Selleck, Izon Rai, Serena Grimm, Chaylee Curley-Holman, Sierra Hilton, Sandra Gates, Kylah Salinas-Tour. Linda Southwick plays the second reindeer, Dancer. (Mrs. Claus is played by the author, Carole Hester). Costumer is Linda Sauer and Kimberly Sauer is stage manager. |
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Cancel Christmas Copyrighted Material |
Mr & Mrs Santa & Gribby Move curser over image to see a second image.
Photos by Evan Johnson Move curser over image to see a second image.
Photos by Evan Johnson |
Cancel Christmas Copyrighted Material |
