Christmas show fills theater with holiday spirit

IRONWOOD - The Claudettes were still featured performers of the Community Christmas shows this weekend but the dancing group has turned over production of the annual show to new direction for the first time in over a decade.

This year the show was co-produced by Theatre North and the Historic Ironwood Theatre. Bethany Ann Hellen Basso directed the show as a dance choreographer and member of the HIT programming committee. Maggie Hill took on the musical direction as a volunteer with Theatre North.

When Basso heard the Claudettes were not going to do the Christmas show her first thought was that it had to keep going.

"This is definitely like a jumping off point and I think it went really, really well for our first year taking over, so that only shows positive things for the future," Basso said. "I'm just looking forward to what it will bring in the following years."

Together Basso and Hill created a variety style production with more than 80 participants who have rehearsed 25 separate acts since October. Both shows ended with the crowd on its feet in appreciation of show-stopping performances that showcase amazing local talent.

"I think it's an entertaining show from start to finish with a lot of fun surprises," Basso said.

The show is similar in that there is a lot of singing and dancing, she said. The difference is that in addition to the Claudettes performing, the show includes many more acts.

"It's like a variety show," said Hill, who also played the piano for much the show. "We've got a lot of really great singers and local talent, people who haven't done this particular concert before."

Kara Dums, a sophomore in the Wakefield-Marenisco School District, wrote and performed her own song, "Favorite Time," for the show. She also performed with Andy Hill, a ladies choir, and Cas Bordner on ukulele in singing the Hawaiian Christmas melody, "Mele Kalikimaka."

Another new addition was Beth Bordner with young roller skaters singing "I Wanna Go Skating With Willie." Other new performances included BAHS ballet and hip hop dancers, who performed to the theme from "Home Alone."

Bruce Greenhill, operations manager of the Historic Ironwood Theater, said this collaborative effort with Theatre North benefits both organizations in a way that also continues a favorite annual event.

"It's a fundraiser and it's great that so many people in the community turned up to support them to see them perform on stage, but also to buy tickets so that we can keep doing this sort of stuff," Greenhill said.

The talent and the variety in the show was certainly a factor in filling seats, Greenhill said. He particularly enjoyed the dancing elves, a group of 18 boys and girls who performed "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" to the choreography of Basso and Monica Zak.

"The little kids playing the little elves are just wonderful," Greenhill said. "The energy and enthusiasm of those little guys is a real crowd pleaser."

From jazz dancers to traditional holiday ballads, to choreographed dances and ballet, the show had something that moved everyone into the holiday spirit. A youth choir performed the "Grinch Medley."

Beth Bordner and Ethan Puisto sang "Silent Night" as a duet. Vivian Meradeth, accompanied by keyboardist Tim Mesun, had the crowd cheering with a velvety 1940s version of "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?"

The Ironwood Dance Company's pointe dancers performed ballet to "The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" from Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker." They had the crowd applauding with gusto again, as did the Claudettes who followed to close the show with "Toy Soldier," including Judy Holst and Marla Powers as "Tic andToc."

"It's really important to bring people together in a community," Basso said. "This is one way and this show is also a gift to the community."