BY RUTH RICE
RRICE@TRIBDEM.COM
A local holiday production will combine drama, dance and music to tell the story of the season.
“A Heartfelt Christmas” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Arcadia Theater, 1418 Graham Ave., Windber.
Mike D’Angelo and Joe Inman, who head Redwood Ministries, are producing and directing the musical, which will benefit Windber Hospice.
D’Angelo and Inman met with Vicki Meier and Brenda Deyarmin of the hospice in September to plan for the fundraiser.
“Vicki talked to Arcadia on behalf of us, and we picked the musical and fit the music to suit the drama,” D’Angelo said. “It’s a unique musical because it gives you liberties with the music. You can use whatever music you want.”
D’Angelo, who is a co-director and who also will portray the grandfather, said the production will feature familiar carols and Christmas songs.
Playwright Cora Alley, who wrote the story of a young girl who discovers she can have peace and joy no matter what her circumstances, has waived royalties because the play is being used for a benefit.
“It’s a heartwarming show with some touching moments, some fun and a good meaty story,” D’Angelo said.
The cast also includes Tabitha Weaver as the granddaughter, Kelly Devett as the mother and Jonathan Smith as the brother.
Soloists will be Josh Devett, Richelle Horne and Matt Harris. Aubrey Saloka will be the violinist.
Tina Bickford and Matt Price will perform a duet.
The chancel choir of Oakland United Methodist Church will perform several numbers, and Tapestry of Praise, a Christian interpretive dance ministry, and the dance team from the Oakland church will perform “O Holy Night.”
Another group will do a dance interpretation using dowel rods, and dancers from Dance Unlimited in Windber also will perform.
Some songs will be performed by the characters within the drama while other songs and the dances are part of a fictional Christmas Eve rehearsal taking place at the same time.
Tickets are $10 for all seats and will be available from cast members and at the Arcadia box office from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Hospice benefit
What: “A Heartfelt Christmas.”
Where: Arcadia Theater, 1418 Graham Ave., Windber.
When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12.
Tickets: $10.
Information: 467-9070.
