Marble Falls church tells oldest Christmas story with new twist
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
MARBLE FALLS — Sometimes it takes a story being told from an entirely new perspective to remind us of the meaning.
Take, for instance, the story of the Nativity. You know the one: about a stable in Bethlehem where a young lady named Mary gave birth to a baby she called Jesus.
Most of us have probably heard it in its traditional story form. But what would happen if the animals that witnessed the couple’s journey to Bethlehem and that incredible night shared the story from their points of view?
What would they say?
Well, you can find out Dec. 6 and 7 during First United Methodist Church’s dinner theater production of “Christmas On the Air.” OK, the production isn’t exactly about animals but involves a very human plot.
“Basically, it’s about a radio station (in Bethlehem, Penn.) that has a Christmas Eve program every year where they invite children in, and the (radio staff) tell the Nativity story through they eyes of the animals,” said Joni Bedard, FUMC of Marble Falls music director.
The church volunteers as well as members of Highland Lakes United Methodist Church in Buchanan Dam began rehearsing several months ago. The production features stage acting as well as lots of traditional Christmas music, though sometimes in a new arrangement. Former Marble Falls High School theater arts teacher and Hill Country Community Theatre regular Mary Ann Fletcher is directing the production.
Making up the cast are Les Fenter, Darby Hambrick, Mary Ann Gardner, Mike McKeown and Sarah Reily. The show includes performances by both adult and youth choirs. The youth choir, Testify, will perform pre-show music Dec. 6, while the men’s ensemble, Saints Alive, will do the same Dec. 7.
“The music for this production is just amazing,” Bedard said.
And since it’s a “dinner theater,” you can expect a wonderful catered meal for the evening shows at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 and 5 p.m. Dec. 7. There will be a matinee at 2 p.m. Dec. 6, which only includes desserts.
“We’re going to bring in a lot of our shut-ins and homebound members, and we’re inviting the local retirement homes for the matinee, but it’s open to the public,” Bedard said.
Tickets for the evening dinner theater shows are $20, which includes the show and a full buffet. Tickets for the matinee, dessert-only show are $10. Bedard recommended people purchase their tickets early because when the church hosted a dinner theater several years ago, it sold out well before the date of the shows.
Tickets can be purchased at the church, 1101 Bluebonnet Drive in Marble Falls.
Proceeds from the event are going to two programs: Heifer International, which purchases livestock and water pumps for communities in poorer parts of the world; and an FUMC music scholarship fund.
“We have a lot of kids who want to take music at Harmony (School of Creative Arts), but they can’t afford it, so we hope to build up a scholarship to help them,” Bedard said.
While you can expect a great show and a wonderful meal, Bedard said the production offers something a bit deeper and longer lasting.
“The story at the end has a real strong message about how we’re given this gift, but we do whatever we can not to accept it,” Bedard said. “It’s really about salvation.”
Call (830) 693-4341 for more information.
daniel@thepicayune.com