Holiday Spectacular Opening Weekend
This week is Tech Week for ONU’s annual production of Holiday Spectacular! Thanks to the show, I have been getting into the Christmas spirit a bit early. I usually wait to start thinking of Christmas until after Thanksgiving, but this year I am just so excited. I think being away from home makes going home for Christmas even more special.
The Holiday Spectacular opens on Thursday, which means we are having our final rehearsals this week. Tech week is probably my most favorite week throughout the entire rehearsal process. We get to add some of the most fun aspects like working with our orchestra and getting to wear our costumes. For this show, our costumes are 50’s dresses with coats, gloves, and hats for the outside scenes. We also get to wear cute Santa dresses, and long ball gowns for our show choir moment. The kids’ costumes are the best part of the show, and it’s so funny to see little reindeers or candy canes running around backstage. My favorite number to be in is ‘Man With 100 Names’ which I pictured below! It is a fast-paced dance where we are sat in a row of boxes, and use our hands and feet to make different shapes and ripples down the row.
Most of the kids have been in the Holiday Spectacular longer than I have. They all come from the Ada or Lima area, and many dance at the same studio. In Toledo, most of the dance studios in the area do an annual production of Nutcracker. In Ada, the Holiday Spectacular is their Nutcracker. This means many of the kids do Holiday every year. Some of the them are 10 years old, but have been in the show for five years. Some of them are 15 or 16, and have been in Holiday for 10 or more years. It’s so funny to listen to the younger kids tell stories about years ago, and how they don’t recognize the Grinch or Cindy-Lou, because they’re not the same as last year.
I didn’t realize before being involved, but the show has somewhat of a cult following. People really love this show, and it is part of a Christmas tradition for so many families around the Ada and Lima area. It is similar to how many families in Toledo see Nutcracker annually, but is almost more special because it is our own show. I’ve never been in a show that is so important to people’s families, but I am so excited to be a part of their Christmas tradition! The show opens this Thursday and runs until Sunday at the Freed Center!
Olivia, this is a side of ONU that I do not get to experience so it is always great to read about someone else' experience. I think I will go to the show this year, it looks to be very fun. Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year especially since my birthday is a few days before. Good luck with the show!
ReplyDeleteHey Olivia! I have heard nothing but great things about this show! One of the girls in my sorority is playing Mrs. Claus and we are all so excited to go and watch! With the cold weather, the Christmas vibes have arrived. I hope all of the shows are successful!
ReplyDeleteOlivia, I agree with Cam's comment above. This is something that I do not get to see and experience a lot because of our basketball schedule, but I would love to get to a show. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteOmg yes! Holiday has been so fun to be a part of, and I'm super glad that we get to do it together! The process went so fast, and working with the kids has been a new experience that I have not had before. Break a leg bestie!
ReplyDeleteBalancing doing a show and schoolwork must be so difficult!! Knowing musical theatre is something you're passionate about though, has to make it more enjoyable!! Loved the part about the cult following. it makes me think of the nutcracker at home and how its such a big part of my christmas traditions. it makes me so happy to think we are bringing that same joy to the ada community.
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