The Rented Christmas, this year’s Stage West Community Theatre holiday play, opens this Friday, Dec. 8, with the first of six performances over the next two weekends at the Lions Club, 832 Ocean Shores Blvd. NW. The curtain goes up at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 8, 9, 15 and 16, and at 2 p.m. on Sundays, Dec. 10 and 17.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are available at Dolores & Faye’s, Mocha Madness, Ocean Shores Animal Hospital, Ocean Shores Convention Center Visitor’s Information Center and at the door.
Lorraine Hardin, who is once again directing, said the story is a funny and heartwarming tale of a middle-aged bachelor and prominent businessman who has a challenging job for the proprietor of the local rent shop: He wants to rent a Christmas, not just with a tree and Christmas carols, but complete with a wife, a family, and all of the happiness for which he has been secretly longing.
“One reason we chose to produce this particular show was the number of young people called for in the cast,” Hardin explained. “Our purpose is to include children in the art of live theater, in all aspects, and we wanted a show that featured several children this year.
“The Rented Christmas is a sweet holiday show that can expand to include as many children as a theater can attract. We were fortunate to find 10 youngsters who truly wanted to be involved, both on stage and behind the scenes,” she said.
Young actors in the cast include Isabel Harnagy, Samara Gibson, Keira Gibson and newcomer Joey Owen. Ensemble singers who are each new to Stage West are Max Fisher, Emmilee Findley-Macasieb, Miriam Wilkerson and Alicia Heyd. The local theater group welcomes back familiar adult faces Karin Noble, Rich Smith, Anna Frazier, Angie Long, and Michael Barbero, and newcomer Bill Young.
Stage West already has three productions planned for the first half of 2018.
“Ethel and Albert” will be presented in March and “Play On” will run in May, while spring dates for “Gin Joint” are to be announced. More information is available online at www.stagewestcommunitytheatre.org.
Christmas Concerts
North Beach Singers present their annual performance of “A Christmas Concert,” starting on Friday Dec. 8 at 7 p.m., with a Saturday afternoon performance Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. Both performances will be at Faith Community Church, 240 Canal Dr. SE in Ocean Shores. A third performance will be at 3 p.m. Saturday Dec. 16 at Pacific Beach Community Church in Pacific Beach. Admission is a donation of food or money to North Beach Food Banks.
Christmas for kids
The annual Kiwanis Kids Christmas party will be on Dec. 16 from 1-4 p.m. at the Ocean Shores Convention Center, with Santa and gifts galore for students in the North Beach School District. On Sunday Dec. 17, the Teen Christmas Dance will be from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Ocean Shores Elks Lodge.
‘December to Remember’
Oyhut Bay is partnering with the Coastal Interpretive Center and KOSW 91.3 FM radio for a “December to Remember” event.
On Friday Dec. 15, Santa is scheduled to arrive in the Village Square at 5 p.m. courtesy of Ed Duncan’s Classic Hot Rods. He will cruise into the plaza in a red and white ’57 Impala. The Village Square is decorated with over 25 lighted trees selected from Beerbower’s Tree Farm in Elma. Santa will be greeted by caroling led by youth from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. A holiday pet costume contest will be at 7 p.m. in the village Square, hosted by KOSW.
Seabrook’s Surfin’ Santa
A new tradition is coming to Seabrook this holiday season — the first annual Surfin’ Santa and Holiday Lights Parade. The route is along Seabrook Avenue, Meriweather Merchants, and Front Street to watch the Parade of lights and gather up candy canes. Parades will start at 5 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 16 and on Dec. 23.
Seabrook also hosts Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 17 from 9-11 a.m. at Mill 109 restaurant with a breakfast buffet.
(L-R) Karin Noble is trying to arrange The Rented Christmas with help from Angie Long and Anna Frazier.
