Lights, Camera, Christmas!
Published 10:00 am Saturday, December 5, 2015
Elizabeth Harty, Jody Ellertson and Dylan Kaercher rehearse a scene from “Lights, Camera, Christmas!,” which opens Thursday at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center in Albert Lea. – Cathy Hay/Albert Lea Tribune
ACT musical fundraiser lights up the stage with holiday spirit
By Cathy Hay
The stage is decked, the singing is angelic and the music is merry.
Several students are performing in “Lights, Camera, Christmas!” From left are Jaeda Koziolek, Grace Nelson, Marissa Vogt, Olivia Goodmanson and Dreya Sherdan. The cast of 50-plus comes from three states and 11 cities. – Cathy Hay/Albert Lea tribune
Dylan Kaercher’s “Lights, Camera, Christmas!” continues his theatrical tradition of presenting a holiday story with humor, song and dance. Written, directed and produced by Kaercher, the original production is also a fundraiser for Albert Lea Community Theatre.
Kaercher, of Austin, is known for his annual youth theater camp, his comedic acting and his original productions, including last year’s “Flyin’ Into Christmas.”
This year’s musical runs Thursday through Saturday at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center on Broadway in Albert Lea. Show times are 7 p.m. with an additional matinee at 2 p.m. Saturday.
“It’s a great community event. It’s a fun fundraiser,” Kaercher said. “It’s suitable for all ages — the humor goes across all levels.”
He’s not kidding about the community part. The cast numbers more than 50 people from 11 cities and three states. Actors range in age from 6 to “they can collect senior discounts.” Many of them have decades of acting experience and about 15 are taking the stage for their first time. Several others help behind the scenes. Linda Saxton is the musical director and Alyssa Abrego the choreographer.
Set in the Holiday Grand Hotel, the plot twists around Mark Hall, a big Hollywood producer who is at the hotel to film a new Christmas movie. The guests, staff and executives at the hotel all try to sing and dance their way into the movie. Competitiveness and confusion take their toll on the characters’ holiday spirit. Go to the show to see if they find the true meaning of Christmas. Audience members will find plenty to ho-ho-ho about.
Main characters are played by Kaercher, Carrie Boyer Olvera, Ross Persig, Jason Howland, Emma Martinson, Lauren Severson and the “swing sisters” of Mary Boorsma, Elizabeth Harty and Jody Ellertson.
Tickets are $12 each and are available at the box office at 3:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and two hours prior to the matinee and evening shows on Saturday; by calling 1-877-730-3144 (toll-free) 24/7; and online at www.actonbroadway.com.
Tickets, please
Who: Dylan Kaercher and a cast of 50-plus characters
What: “Lights, Camera, Christmas!”
When: 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday
Where: Marion Ross Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $12 each, available at the box office at 3:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and two hours prior to the matinee and evening shows on Saturday, by calling 1-877-730-3144 or going to www.actonbroadway.com.
