The Abbeville Opera House Hosts A Special Christmas Show

Turn Canadian humorist/playwright Norm Foster loose on Santa Claus, his North Pole workshop, the elves and sundry other characters and you've got a sure-fire holiday hit on your hands. That's exactly what you'll find at the Abbeville Opera House with Foster's new play Dear Santa, which opens on Friday, December 4 for a two weekend run at the historic turn of the century theatre in Abbeville.

Abbeville Opera House Executive Director Michael Genevie is bringing the holiday show "back by popular demand!" "We had such an incredible response to the show when we first did it last December," says Genevie, "that we invited the cast back for a return engagement."
"If you think you've got a lot to do this time of the year, imagine what life must be like at the North Pole", says Genevie. "Santa and his elves are busier than ever and so are cast and crew at the Abbeville Opera House." The Norm Foster Christmas play is the third production in their "all-family season of shows". Most of the principal characters are returning this season for Dear Santa, but the Opera House did have auditions for some of the elf roles, as well as, for the children's chorus in the show.

Leading the large and talented Opera House ensemble again this year will be Terry Gilchrist as Santa Claus, Mark Meyers as Algernon Gladstone, Rick Dettmann as Bozidar, Wendy Capps as Octavia, Michele Ballenger Smith as Lou Flapdoodle and Meg Genevie as Kit Bishop.

Newcomer Jake Brandt, who was just seen in the Opera House production of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, will be playing Michael Bishop, and Juliana Morris will return to the stage as the head elf, Skiffle. Kelsey Eller will be playing the role of elf Piffle, as well as serving as understudy for Kit. Other members of the large cast include: Devon Bowie as Balderdash, Jess Bowie as Phooey, Hannah Horton as Yeegads and Isabella Ceraldi and Cynthia Ceraldi as Short Stack. Also returning for the holiday show this year will be Ruth Freeman as the Choir Director and Evelyn Horton as Mrs. Bishop. New to the Opera House stage this holiday season will be Malloree Brandt, Grace Anne Whitmire, and Ivrie Hite as the Elves; and, Childrens Choir Members Drew Beauford, Madison Harris, Caitlin Anderson, Zoe Harris, Dylan Beauford, Keith Harris, Grace Ann Dubose, Caleb Freeman, Mackenzie Freeman and Anna Smith.

Not only will many members of last year's cast return to the Opera House stage in December, the primary technicians are returning as well, with Lisa Edwards again serving as Stage Manager, MaryAnne Canaday as Assistant Stage Manager, Robbie Bowie on Lights and Sound and Johnson Reames on Ropes.

Performances are set for Friday and Saturday evening at 8pm on December 4, 5, 11 and 12, with two Saturday matinees set for 3pm on December 5 and 12. Tickets are $17 for adults and $16 for children (under 12) and seniors (over 65). Reservations may be made with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover card by calling the Abbeville Opera House Box Office at (864) 366-2157 - Monday through Friday from 10 am to 2pm. For more information visit the Opera House web page at theabbevilleoperahouse.com.

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