DECEMBER 10, 2009 ISSUE
Ensemble Stage Presents Holiday Variety Show December 18 and 19
Members of the kids chorus rehearse a scene from Christmas in Blowing Rock, a variety show to be performed by the Ensemble Stage Company Friday and Saturday, December 18 and 19.The Ensemble Stage Company will channel the cheery nostalgia of an Andy Williams or Bing Crosby Christmas special on Friday and Saturday, December 18 and 19, with a variety show called Christmas in Blowing Rock.
The High Country-themed production will take place at the Blowing Rock School Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. on Friday and at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for kids 12 and under.
The Ensemble Stage Company formed early this fall and already has produced one play, a stage version of the radio play War of the Worlds. The founding members of the company have more than 70 years of combined experience in professional theatre.
“We’re doing good,” said founding member Robert Miller, who is director of the Christmas show. “The feedback from War of the Worlds has been great.”
The 70-minute variety show will feature Christmas carols, dancing, storytelling, music, comedy and more. The show also features original scripted scenes between acts. According to the company’s website, almost all the songs in the show are ones that were specifically mentioned in an audience survey completed at the War of the Worlds performance.
“As with all of our work, we want the community to feel a part of our productions as much as possible,” the website said.
Melvin Tunstall III is flying in from New York to serve as host of Christmas in Blowing Rock. Tunstall has acted and directed with the Blowing Rock Stage Company.
“He moved to New York in October, but we convinced him to come back to play our host,” Miller said.
The cast features a seven-member adult chorus, a seven-member kids chorus with children from five Watauga County schools, featured musical guests Diana and Sarvis Ridge and Jeff Eason and dancer Callista Addis. Guest storytellers will include Blowing Rock Mayor J.B. Lawrence and playwright Robert Inman.
Various grade school classes around the community will make the decorations for the on-stage Christmas tree.
The Ensemble Stage Company used the proceeds from the nearly sold-out War of the Worlds show on October 30 to fund the Christmas show and launch a new website.
The new company will also take part in Blowing Rock’s annual Winterfest celebration by producing an Echo Park concert and a game show. The concert will take place Friday, January 29, 2010, at 8:00 p.m., and the game show will be held Saturday, January 30, 2010, with a family-friendly version at 4:00 p.m. and an adult version at 9:00 p.m. Both events take place at the Blowing Rock School Auditorium.
The company recently incorporated as a nonprofit and is seeking volunteers to serve on its board of directors and auxiliary committee.
“As we continue to blossom and grow, we will expand Ensemble Stage to include acting classes, presenting events, touring plays for schools, in-home staged play readings, event consulting and, of course, full-staged play productions as well as other exciting performing arts endeavors,” the website said.
Tickets to Christmas in Blowing Rock are available at the Blowing Rock Visitors Center, Gems by Gemini and Black Dog Coffee. You can also purchase tickets by calling 828-406-2884 or by clicking to www.ensemblestage.com.
The company will collect food donations for the Hunger and Health Coalition at the Christmas in Blowing Rock performances.
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