The hustle and bustle of the holidays starts earlier and earlier every year.
Who’s to blame? Well, blame me, I guess. Our radio drama of Dickens’ Christmas Carol the first weekend in November even beat some local merchants to the punch. I worried that it was too early but it was a great success by almost every measure and so even before it aired on WQXE 98.3 and HCEC-TV over Thanksgiving and, soon, Christmas, I was already making plans to bring it back next season (be sure to catch the rebroadcasts on WQXE 98.3 at 7PM on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as well as on HCEC-TV at 9PM on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).
Speaking of hustle and bustle, between Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker, the PAC stage will have been in use 25 out of 35 days presenting over 1,500 performers to audiences totaling over 6,200 and that’s not even including rehearsals for both The Nutcracker and our January production of Sherlock Holmes! Whew! I’m tired just from writing that.
Truth be told though, I love it. From every middle school band taking a (whip) crack at Sleigh Ride to every high school choir ringing the rafters with Carol of the Bells; I love it all. For me the holidays are all about celebration and more often than not those celebrations include singing and dancing – and hopefully as little drama as possible.
So, here’s my Christmas wish. As you get caught up in the hustle and bustle, hit pause every now and then to appreciate the simple joys. Whether it’s your little “gumdrop” in The Nutcracker or your nephew on the sousaphone, all those events crowded into the next few weeks become the memories that keep us warm for years to come.
And if you’ve had your fill of good cheer, just remember that Sherlock Holmes is waiting in the wings with murder and mayhem come January.
This month the PAC Kid Spotlight shines on CHHS graduate Langley Williams. Langley will be performing the role of Snow Queen in this year’s The Nutcracker. Learn more about Langley and our other PAC Kids.
Congratulations to Felisha Keith & Teresa Tully lucky winners of a $20 PAC gift certificate for completing their Dickens’ Christmas Carol program survey.