Looking Back on the Dec. 12^th Holiday Show

This year’s holiday show was a great success with lots of musical diversity for our large audiences with many great new Harmonizer songs on the program.

Our shows were at 2 and 7:30 pm Dec. 12^th at Schlesinger Hall on the NOVA Community College Campus in Alexandria.  It is a great venue and great to be performing there again.

This year’s show featured several guest artists and a complete break away from the long-running dinner party with elves and toys in Santa’s workshop (actually the First Baptist Church – which was not available this year). Our guests were Marilyn Moore, operatic soprano; Positive Vibrations, youth steel orchestra; Word of Mouth a cappella ensemble and former winner of the Harmonizer Aca Challenge; and a contingent of the Pride of Baltimore SAI chorus. Our chapter a cappella group, TBD, also sang several songs on the show. Will Cox did his annual humorous recitation of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” when he forgets his lines and gets some of the words wrong.  It was back by popular demand!

The Harmonizers sang the first half in green, red or blue sweatshirts and everyone had a long white scarf.  Thanks to the team headed by Robyn Murane for getting them for us and having them organized for all to wear on the show. The second half we wore our black suites and the SAI singers wore black dresses when they were sharing the center section of the risers with the Harmonizers.

The steel orchestra, directed by Josanne Francis was placed on the orchestral apron of the stage.

Nick Leiserson was shows vp and helped with the show management along with Eleanor Dicks who joined his team. The FRIENDS IN HARMONY coordinated by Christina Ammerman and Robyn Murane managed the refreshment sales and merchandise in the lobby and other non-stage duties.  There was a large silent auction with different items for each show that was coordinated by Randall Eliason and Don Dillingham with much help from Don’s wife Saundra Deltac.  Several non-singing members were pressed into service for CD sales, auction operations and ushering. Bruce Minnick was Santa Claus in the lobby for all the big and little kids!! Of course a lot of the members helped with riser and equipment set up including the items for the steel orchestra. And everyone brought extra large wrapped gift boxes to help decorate the stage. Clear Harmonies provided sound support. Several chapter family members including Brigit Gilvary and Dixie Kennett were back stage helping with the flow of people from one part of the theater to the stage.

Here is a historical list of the songs on the show (abbreviation codes - AH is the Harmonizers; TBD is our a cappella group; WOM is Word of Mouth; PV is Positive Vibrations; MM is Marilyn Moore; and POB is Pride of Baltimore):

ACT I

“Welcome Christmas”  AH

“Sleigh-ride” AH

“White Christmas” AH

“Let It Snow” AH

 

“Here Comes Santa Claus” TBD

“Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer” TBD

 

“It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” AH

“Fa La La” AH

 

“It Came Upon A Midnight Clear”  AH/Sing Along

“Joy to the World” AH/Sing Along

“Silent Night” AH/Sing Along

“Do You Hear What I Hear” WOM

“This Christmas” WOM

Two  songs PV

“Ave Maria” PV/MM

INTERMISSION

ACT II

“Twas the Night Before Christmas”  Will Cox

“O Holy Night” TBD

“O Come O Come Emanuel” AH

“Mary Had a Baby” AH/MM

“This Little Light of Mine” AH/POB/MM

“Kyrie” AH/PV/POB

“Tribute to World Peace” AH/MM/POB/PV

“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” ALL

The musical leadership team included Joe Cerutti, director; Tony Colosimo, associate director; Terry Reynolds and Mike Kelly, assistant directors; Carlos Barillo, choreographer; Reed Livergood, musical director of TBD; and Steve White, music and performance vp (who also provided the sleigh bells accompaniment with the heirloom bells from his family).

Until next time – editorjack!

(This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record of the great things going on each week during the 67^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd