Charlynn Anderson - North County Staff | Posted: Tuesday, December 23, 2008 11:00 pm
Cedar Fort residents will recall joyful memories during a cherished Christmas Eve tradition -- the annual Cedar Fort Christmas Eve Program.
Rehearsals have been under way for weeks, but participants have been uncertain where the final production would be staged. Finding a venue for the annual production proved to be a challenge this year since Alpine School District has purchased the old chapel from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which houses the only stage in Cedar Fort.
Choreographers and scene directors mapped out the songs and dances without knowing exactly how much space they would have to work with or whether a curtain would be available for scene changes.
In years past, the annual production has been staged at the old LDS chapel as a local community event, but the new LDS chapel's cultural hall does not have a stage. The purchase of the old chapel building by Alpine School District for use as additional school space raised liability and use issues for the pageant.
Town officials and school district officers were able to work out insurance and public use issues in time for the traditional program to have a stage and curtain.
"It's fun that this year's program is all about Christmas traditions because the Christmas Eve Program is one of our oldest traditions," said program writer and director, Kelly Berry.
The program, titled "An Old-fashioned Christmas Story," will center around a mother, played by Rebecca Moore, explaining Christmas traditions to her two children, played by two of her real-life children, Jason and Mary.
As each tradition is featured, variety acts will highlight that custom. Dancing greeting cards, old English Christmas carolers, lumberjacks cutting Christmas trees, children portraying Christmas stockings and gifts will all add sparkle to the stage. Local children will act out the Nativity scene complete with angel songs and young shepherds and wise men.
A surprise comedy act by some pageant veterans will explore the sillier side of holiday customs.
This year's nostalgic Christmas waltz features long-time Cedar Fort residents who participated in the program as children. Finally, Santa Claus has scheduled a visit at the end of the program to give the little ones a treat and listen to their last minute Christmas Eve requests.
If you go --
Event: Cedar Fort Christmas Eve Program
Date: Dec. 24
Time: 5 p.m.
Place: Old Cedar Fort Chapel, corner of Center St. and Church St., Cedar Fort
Admission is free