A Christmas Wish: A Two-Act Family Drama

Lives of fictional characters living at the time of the Nativity are blessed by the event. A Christmas Wish invites you to share the joys, fears and dreams of ordinary and not so ordinary individuals as they follow the Star that leads to Bethlehem. Celebrate the Reason for the Season through drama, music and dance as presented by Acts Theatre Societys 40 members, ranging in age from 10 to 39 and holding!

(PRWEB) November 4, 2003 --
A Christmas Wish
A Two Act Family Drama With Music
By George R. Henaut

On November 27, 28, 29th Acts Theatre Society will return to the deCoste Entertainment Centre for a two-act drama with music entitled,
A Christmas Wish. In the drama, lives of fictional characters living at the time of the Nativity are touched by the blessed event. The drama invites the audience to share the joys, fears and dreams of ordinary and not so ordinary individuals as they follow the Star that leads to Bethlehem. An array of characters is presented in the drama; some of them are familiar Biblical characters including: Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, the Prophet, lepers, beggars, good Samaritans, etc. Some of the fictional characters include: the disfigured but rich land owner who happens to be a woman, the forceful tyrant, the frivolous flirt, the fearless angel, the cantankerous old grouch and the arrogant merchant and his family. If there is a villain in the story, it is human pride and apathy.

The drama is a blending of Biblical and fictional scenes, dramatic action and comedy, music, dance and special effects. Traditional Christmas music such as O Holy Night, the Magnificat and Silent Night are blended with inspirational songs such as, El-Shaddai, The Holy City and Give Thanks.

A Christmas Wish is, in fact, a revision of two earlier dramas, The Birth of Christmas (1991) and The Jesse Tree (1992); both were performed at the deCoste Centre. The last Acts production at the Centre, A Dickens Christmas, was staged in 2000. All proceeds from The Christmas Wish will go to the deCoste Centre. Approximately 40 members are involved in the production as: actors, dancers, musicians, and behind the scenes personnel.

A Christmas Wish will be presented just as the season of Advent begins. It is hoped that the drama will help everyone to focus on the reason for the season as festive celebrations begin. ACTS is encouraging church and social organizations to attend as groups, hoping they will combine an evening at their favourite restaurant with an evening of drama. The deCoste will offer a discount to groups booking seats for 10 or more members.

ACTS is pleased to welcome 16 new members to its Fall season: Nicole Allen, Devon Bate, Ed Bowden, Clarice Campbell, Donna Cooper, Anna Marie Galvin, Ben Hartley, Katie LeBlanc, Keith LeBlanc, Sue MacLachlan, Kimberley Mosher, Megan Ward, and Margie Watters. A partnership has been established with the Ashlei School of Ballet for the new season. Janet Bradbury will provide choreography for two of her dancers, Meghan MacKeigan and Jillian Sexton who portray the Spirit of Christmas in dance. Wynne OBrien who has worked behind the scenes for a number of productions will make her stage debut for the pending production. Donna Cooper who has worked with several theatre companies and Ed Bowden who is no stranger to Pictou County stages will make their stage debuts with ACTS.

Returning for their second season with Acts are: Debbie Cyr, Kitty Holley, Geri Marshall, Stephen MacDonald, Brennan Wyatt. Geri makes her acting debut with ACTS.

Completing the cast for the new season are: Jim Bate, Caroline Barclay, Margie Beck, Pat Duggan, Sharon Gauthier, Brenda MacLaughlin, Sandra Mosher, Lloyd MacLean, Diana Read, Brady OBrien, Branden OBrien, Sean Snell, Neil Weber.

Margie Watters will serve as costume designer/dresser, Gilles Gauthier as stage manager/set designer, Pauline Henaut as music director/conductor, George Henaut as director/producer.

A production requires a wide variety of talents:
To stage A Christmas Wish the following positions were created to ensure that the production is successful: playwright, producer, director, music director/conductor, stage manager, stage crew, choreographer, lighting and sound technicians, costume designer, seamstresses, dressers, set designer, carpenters, publicists, actors, singers, musicians! Because the society is small, numerous members assume more than one position at any one time during a production.

In A Christmas Wish for example, Keith LeBlanc who plays a guitar in the orchestra, also helps with stage management and with wardrobe and the construction of some props. Katie LeBlanc helps with stage management, make-up and wardrobe.
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