‘Flying into Christmas’ comes to Albert Lea High School stage
Published 12:01 pm Thursday, December 4, 2014
![Local talent Carrie Boyer Olvera is one of the cast members of Dylan Kaercher’s “Flyin’ into Christmas.” – Hannah Dillon/Albert Lea Tribune](https://www.albertleatribune.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2014/12/1204.flyin_.into_.christmas.1.jpg)
Local talent Carrie Boyer Olvera is one of the cast members of Dylan Kaercher’s “Flyin’ into Christmas.” – Hannah Dillon/Albert Lea Tribune
‘Let’s put an airport on the stage’
Get into the Christmas spirit this weekend with Dylan Kaercher’s “Flyin’ into Christmas.”
“Flyin’ into Christmas” is a 45-part show, including the tech crew, that is written, directed, designed and choreographed by local talent Dylan Kaercher.
Kaercher, an Austin native, has been putting on a Christmas show for the past five years, and it began when he was a junior in high school.
Kaercher and some friends put together a show and the show acted as a fundraiser for the American Red Cross. From there it grew into an every-year thing, and each year a new show is performed as well as a new nonprofit organization is chosen for the fundraiser.
This year’s nonprofit is the Albert Lea Art Center. It takes place 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Albert Lea High School.
During his time acting in “Annie” over the summer, Kaercher began talking about his Christmas show and wanted to hold it in Albert Lea. From there, he got involved with the art center and the two combined.
The idea for “Flyin’ into Christmas” has somewhat been on Kaercher’s mind since he was a child. When he was young, Kaercher said he thought being a flight attendant would be fun, especially traveling around the holidays.
It’s a show he’s wanted to do for a few years, but he wasn’t sure if he could get a whole airport on stage. However, “Flyin’ into Christmas” utilizes every part of the theater, including the aisles between the seats, effectively turning the whole theater into an airplane.
The show has been in the works for over a year. Around the time of Kaercher’s 2013 Christmas show, he decided it was time to make a show about an airport.
“I got together with my group of friends and said, ‘All right. Let’s put an airport on stage,’” Kaercher said.
The premise of the play is Kaercher’s character is trying to get back to Minnesota to do his Christmas show and during his time at the airport he meets many interesting characters. However, there is a snowstorm and everyone is stuck at the airport.
The second part of the show has the characters trying to figure out how to get home before putting on a Christmas variety show at the airport to keep everyone entertained.
The show features not only Kaercher but local talent such as Rika Boorsma, Carrie Boyer Olvera, Charley Fleek and Octavia Staat, among others.
In the past, Kaercher said he’s gotten really good response from his shows. When he fundraised for the Red Cross a second time, the show sold out the approximately 600-seat Paramont Theater in Austin, and there was a waiting list to get in the door.
Kaercher said he sees people coming back year after year as well as new faces. Some people come to watch the show and get involved in the show the next year.
While the show has 45 people in the cast and tech crew, it’s not Kaercher’s biggest production. “Swingin’ into Christmas” for the Red Cross was his biggest cast at a whopping 152.
Tickets, please
What: Dylan Kaercher’s “Flyin’ into Christmas”
Where: Albert Lea High School auditorium
When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday
How much: $10
Where to buy: Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau, Albert Lea Art Center, cast members and at the door
Cast and crew
Director/script writer/set designer/choreographer: Dylan Kaercher
Musical director/assistant choreographer: Holly Ryks
Technical coordinator/Role of “Taylor”: Kyle Frank
Erin Boorsma
Mary Boorsma
Rika Boorsma
Carrie Boyer Olvera
Dane Brownlow
Lauren Brownlow
Spencer Dahl
Scarlett DeWild
Charley Fleek
Hannah Hagen
Sue Jorgensen
Emma Martinson
Kristy Minear
Mikey Minear
Michelle Neal
Stephen Samudio
Linda Saxton
Lydia Saxton
Anna Singelstad
Bianca Singelstad
Elisa Staat
Erica Staat
Joseph Staat
Octavia Staat
Eliza Williams
- Rika Boorsma, right, who was in Albert Lea High School’s production of “Into the Woods” last month, is in Dylan Kaercher’s “Flyin’ into Christmas.” – Hannah Dillon/Albert Lea Tribune
- Local talent Carrie Boyer Olvera is one of the cast members of Dylan Kaercher’s “Flyin’ into Christmas.” – Hannah Dillon/Albert Lea Tribune
- Charley Fleek, who played the titular character in this summer’s production of “Annie,” is in Dylan Kaercher’s “Flyin’ into Christmas.” – Hannah Dillon/Albert Lea Tribune
- Dylan Kaercher, center, is the writer, director, designer and choreographer of “Flyin’ into Christmas.” – Hannah Dillon/Albert Lea Tribune
- “Flyin’ into Christmas” has many classic Christmas songs as well as choreographed dances to go along with them. – Hannah Dillon/Albert Lea Tribune
- Dylan Kaercher’s “Flyin’ into Christmas” explores the stories of people at the airport, such as Holly the Hospitality Manager’s crush on Taylor, who works at Starbucks. – Hannah Dillon/Albert Lea Tribune
- Dylan Kaercher’s “Flyin’ into Christmas” has 45 members of the cast and crew, and puts an entire airport on the stage. – Hannah Dillon/Albert Lea Tribune