Students to paint Portrait of Christmas
by Ashley Clark, entertainment editor

     Christmas sounds will fill the NE Fine Arts Theatre next week as members of NE Players Company (NEPCO) and students from NE Acting and Music Theatre Workshop present their musical production, A Portrait of Christmas.

     All the musical numbers for the production, which opens Monday, Dec. 11, are linked thematically.

     The show starts out with A Portrait of Christmas, which consists of songs such as The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Christmas Is and a duet between Anthony Perez and Vanessa Mercado, It Must Have Been the Mistletoe.

     Santa’s Rockin’ Christmas Rock Down features the company counting down the top 10 Christmas songs of all time. Jolly Old St. Nicholas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Jingle Bell Rock are just a few of the seasonal songs performed.

     According to cast member, Rusty Thornsburg, the revue features something for all audiences.

     “The music ranges from traditional Christmas carols to more non-traditional, contemporary songs,” he said. “I think it’s the non-traditional songs that are the most fun,” he added.

     Some of the more contemporary numbers are solos such as Once Upon a December, sung by Lisa Wash, and Old Toy Trains, sung by Eric Wilder.

     Julie Wilder will sing The Christmas Song, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and Merry Christmas, Darling.

     “The show is filled with high-energy dancing as well,” NEPCO member Amber Rolen, said.

     Thornsburg said the show will wrap up with the cast singing Christmas carols with the audience.

     “It’s a really fun show, and I hope everyone comes to see it,” he said.

     NEPCO members featured are Rolen, Perez, Wash, Wilder, Lyssa McLearen, Michelle Velarde, Michael Kraft and Ember Harris, who also does decorations for the show.

     Other cast members include Mercado, Julie Wilder, Tonya Stapleton, Ansley Hamlin, Brenda Cooper, Dana Wilson, James Fryar, John Hicks, Sarah Phillips and Rob Reasonover.

     A Portrait of Christmas is directed by Stacy Schronk. Laura Mahon designed the lighting; Jim McDowell designed the scenery, and sound was designed by Johnny Watts.

     The show will run Dec. 11-15. Performance starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 for general admission, $3 students 18 and under, seniors 65 and over. TCC faculty, staff and students will be admitted free with I.D.