A show to bring joy to every heart

This production ranges from the sounds of New York in the '40s to the "Twelve Days of Christmas."

By GAIL HOLLENBECK, Times Correspondent
Published November 24, 2007

HUDSON - Whatever your Christmas memories, Sights and Sounds of Christmas is sure to bring some of them to mind.

The holiday production by the Word of Life Bible Institute uses wintry settings, traditional songs and carols, and a live nativity scene to help the audience celebrate the season.

The Broadway-style musical opens this weekend and will continue through Dec. 9 at the Harry Bollback Performing Arts Center on the Word of Life campus.

West Hernando Christian School, Faith Christian Academy and Spring Hill Christian Academy will take students to see the production this week and next.

Lisa Britt, who teaches second and third grades at Faith Christian Academy in Spring Hill, arranged the field trip for the students and family members.

"This will be our third year going from the school," Britt said. "The story is beautiful, and it's a wonderful experience for the students to see a program about the real meaning of Christmas."

Britt said the school is encouraging extended family members to sign up in order to attend at the student price.

A group from Mariner United Methodist Church in Spring Hill plans to attend Wednesday, and members of the Faithful Friends, a fellowship group from Spring Hill Bible Church, will attend Friday.

Ramona Des Lauriers will be going with the group from Spring Hill Bible.

"We're going to the dinner and the show this year," Des Lauriers said. "I've gone for the past two years, and the production is excellent. You would not know that these were amateur actors. It tells the story of the birth of Christ and it reminds us, in the beginning of the holiday season, why we evenhave one."

From upbeat to reverent

Using a cast of more than 140, including 26 children, the three-act musical opens with a stage of cast members, dressed in 1940s-style winter garb, singing traditional Christmas songs. The setting is New York City, and you can almost feel the cold as you watch Frosty the Snowman, Santa, Rudolph and other Christmas favorites dancing and singing onstage in front of 60-by-20-foot backdrops.

The cast wears more than 600 costumes and is made up of students from the Word of Life Bible Institute and a few staff members and their families.

Students portraying war heroes and shopkeepers are among those singing tunes that transport the audience to the big band era. In a segment simulating a radio set, replicas of original commercials remind older viewers of the "golden age of radio."

In the second act, childhood memories come to life with a colorful Toyland, the little drummer boy, a jack-in-the-box, an enactment of The Twelve Days of Christmas, Raggedy Ann and Andy and everyone gathered around a Christmas tree.

The third act takes a serious look at the season with the enactment of the birth of Christ and renditions of church anthems traditionally sung at this time of year. Real livestock give the scene an authentic look.

As with all productions at the institute, there is a presentation of the Gospel message and an opportunity for audience members to make a commitment to Christ.

Mike Laymon has been the producer-director for the institute's productions for the past 10 years.

"The Sights and Sounds of Christmas is a Christmas musical spectacular bringing together nostalgia, history, holiday cheer and fun for the whole family," Laymon said. "It will snow right here in Florida in our auditorium. (There are) incredible sets, excellent live musical performances and incredible lighting, special effects and multimedia to take the audience through a Christmas journey back to the history of many of our favorite Christmas songs, the excitement of Christmas morning and a look back to the first Christmas and the reason we celebrate our favorite holidayof the year."

To 'the golden days'

There will be some additions this year. "I am adding some segments from old-time radio shows," Laymon said. "We will be doing a rendition of Abbott and Costello's Who's on First as well as a segment from the Fibber McGee and Molly show. We also have some new old-time radio commercials with Tide detergent and Lifebuoy soap."

Laymon hopes families and people of all ages will attend.

"We hope to bring smiles to every face and joy to every heart as we remember the golden days of Christmas and the reason why this season is so special to so many,"he said.

That, said Des Lauriers, is the reason she is excited about going again this year.

"We always enjoy it," she said. "We walk the path around the campus and enjoy the decorations. You really get into the spirit of Christmas the way the spirit should be."

Fsst facts

If you go

Tickets for Sights and Sounds of Christmas range from $20 to $24 for adults and are $5 for children younger than 12. Shows are at 1, 2:30, 4 and 7:30 p.m. today through Dec. 9, depending on the date selected. Lunch and dinner are available at an extra cost. Word of Life Bible Institute is 13241 Word of Life Drive, off Hudson Avenue in Hudson. Call toll-free 1-877-412-8687 or visit www.wol.org.

[Last modified November 23, 2007, 20:29:13]