A show to remember in December

By Erin Hawkins • December 6, 2017 1:30 am
The cast of Olympic Theatre Arts’ “Holiday Variety Show” from bottom left, Danika Chen, Jennifer Horton, Hannah Colwell, and top left, Leroy Davidson, musical director Karen Pritchard, Greg Scherer, Lorra Cornetet, Cylinda McAlister, Ryan Machedo, Ken Lillagore, David Meissner and Debbie Embree rehearse one of the scenes from its upcoming production set for Dec. 7-10. Sequim Gazette photo by Erin Hawkins
The cast of Olympic Theatre Arts’ “Holiday Variety Show” from bottom left, Danika Chen, Jennifer Horton, Hannah Colwell, and top left, Leroy Davidson, musical director Karen Pritchard, Greg Scherer, Lorra Cornetet, Cylinda McAlister, Ryan Machedo, Ken Lillagore, David Meissner and Debbie Embree rehearse one of the scenes from its upcoming production set for Dec. 7-10. Sequim Gazette photo by Erin Hawkins

‘Holiday Variety Show’

Presented by: Olympic Theatre Arts

When: Dec. 7-10; 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday

Where: Olympic Theatre Arts main stage, 414 N. Sequim Ave

Tickets: $12 adults, $10 students

The sounds of Christmas carols and a variety of holiday classics are taking over Olympic Theatre Arts’ main stage for its upcoming “Holiday Variety Show” production.

The show is set to run at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7-9, and 2 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10, at Olympic Theatre Arts (OTA).

Director Cathy Marshall, who has 35 years of performing experience including performances in OTA’s “Something’s Afoot,” “Spoon River Anthology” and “Squabbles,” said this show was adapted by Jerry L. Stewart with musical direction by Karen Pritchard and Leroy Davidson on keyboard.

Marshall said the opening of the show is dedicated to Stewart for all the work he did in adapting this production and his contributions to the theater.

Stewart was the business manager for OTA as well as a performer and died battling cancer in October.

“It’s dedicated to him in the fact that he helped us put this together and he’s not here,” Marshall said.

“He was always teaching; always helping us.”

Marshall said the cast opens the show with the song “Seasons of Love” from the musical “Rent” to commemorate Stewart’s contributions to the theater followed by a series of holiday songs.

“We felt like (Stewart) had done so much here at Olympic Theatre Arts and had been involved in this show so we wanted to pay a little tribute to him at the beginning,” she said.

Marshall said this show has been a work in progress since the summer and offers a variety of material from various sources including scenes and music from holiday classics such as “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “The Gift of the Magi,” “Babes in Toyland” and others.

Cast member Lorra Cornetet, the narrator for “The Grinch” scenes, she is hoping the show will put the audience in the holiday spirit.

“For me, Christmas is the best time of year,” Cornetet said. “I think what we’re really striving for is to give the audience this gift of walking out of the theater with a smile on your face.”

Cornetet said the show ranges from poignant to funny and that it is a production the whole family can enjoy.

“I think it’s going to appeal a lot to kids too,” Cornetet said.

Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $10 for students.

For more information, call the theater box office, open Monday-Friday 1-5 p.m., at 360-683-7326

Or, visit http://olympictheatrearts.org/OTA/.