By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays Community Theatre will present a special Christmas show this weekend along with a fundraiser for one of the child cast members who is in the hospital.
"We Need a Little Christmas Holiday Extravaganza" performances will be tonight through Sunday at the community theatre, 121 E. Eighth.
Performances will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday with a matinee on Sunday at 2 p.m. The Friday and Saturday night shows are sold out, but tickets are still available for Thursday and Sunday. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased online at www.hctks.com.
The performances will be a variety show with song and dance. Director Cheryl Glassman's daughter, Sarah, wrote three songs for the show.
"The show is actually a couple of shows within a show," Glassman said. "It revolves around a gentleman played by Jerrett Leiker. The love of his life has passed away, and he is wandering through life without purpose or feeling.
"He is visited by an undercover elf named Jingles (Jack Stoecklein). Jingles tries to work his magic to help Jerrett find the goodness in living. They hear songs and see TV scenes from the past. Other elves arrive. Toys come to life."
The spirit of Jerrett's lost love, played by Claire Nickerson, follows his journey. The audience will see a mix of comedy, music and drama, Glassman said.
"We definitely will provide an opportunity for folks to experience Christmas and the holidays in many different ways," she said.
Glassman said the big man in the red suit will be in the show.
"There's a surprise to who he is," she said.
There is a one-act play within the show called "The Christmas Tea" wherein three toys discuss their purpose. The Christmas Tea was written by Robert Neil Porter, and distributed by Pioneer Drama Services, Denver.
The shows are appropriate for family viewing.
"This is a show for everyone," Glassman said. "If you do come, it will be a time to laugh and reminisce and pull a little on the heartstrings," Glassman said.
The community theater had auditions for the show in October. Different groups have been coming in to learn their songs, and now they are all coming together, Glassman said.
"It's cool to become someone outside of your box," Glassman said.
In the spirit of this season of giving, the theatre is asking attendees to bring a canned good or nonperishable food item for local food pantries.
A bake sale will benefit cast member Malachi Miller, 12.
Malachi is in the pediatric ICU in Omaha. The theatre hopes to help the family with travel expenses. Malachi's character is still part of the show as he is mentioned in the script.
Amy Baltodano contributed to this story.
CAST LIST
MICHELE FOSTER
CODI FENWICK
GENE STREMEL
ELISABETH BERGMAN
AMY BERGMAN
BROOKE LEIKER
ROBERT CUSTER
CLAIRE NICKERSON
ADAM CONKEY
ANDY STANTON
JANESSA MILLER
KHLOE BARTLING
RYAN GIEBLER
ZACHARY LEIKER
LUCA ALBERS
LYLA OLLER
BRAYDON HEPT
MAYA OLLER
HANNAH LOHRMEYER
LYLA OLLER
MERERICK OLLER
JERRETT LEIKER (THE ELDER)
JACK STOECKLEIN
EVELYN SCHMIDT
ELLA FENWICK
CHRISTIAN MILLER
ALLISON WEBER
CONNER MILLER
VIVIAN LEIKER
DANA STANTON
SOPHIE SCHMIDT
NORA STOCKLEIN
KELSEY ROBBEN
KYNSIE LEIKER
JENSEN MILLER
MATTHIAS MILLER
MALACHI MILLER
STELLA HARRIS
JERET LEIKER (THE YOUNGER)
ACCOMPANIST: CURTIS SANDER
DIRECTOR : CHERYL GLASSMAN
ASSIST DIRECTOR: SANDY GLASSMAN
LIGHTS: CONNER WERTH
SOUND: ALBERT KRAUS
STAGE CREW MNGR: SARAH LEIKER
ASSIST STG CREW: ALICIA WINDHOLZ, AMY BERGMAN, GLORIA CUSTER
SET DESIGN: SHAWNA KOEHN, SARAH LEIKER, CODI AND ELLA FENWICK
SET CONSTRUCTION: JERRETT LEIKER, ADAM CONKEY
PROP MISTRESS/STAGE MNGR: AMY BERGMAN
COSTUMES: SHARONA FONDOBLE, JESSICA ALBERS, ST. CATHARINE CATHOLIC CHURCH, SANDY GLASSMAN, HAYS ARTS COUNCIL (BALLERINAS), PARENTS & CAST MEMBERS
HAIR/ELVES/TOY MAKEUP: SANDY GLASSMAN, GLORIA CUSTER, BETH OLLER
HAIR CONSULTANT/WIG DESIGN: CHELSIE NELSON