Miracle on stage

ManeStage Theatre Company of Sumner will present the holiday musical, “Miracle on 34th Street” – based on the classic Christmas film.

The play will be preformed by a cast of experienced artists and musicians ages 6 to 60, featuring Timothy B. Lott as Kris Kringle, Renee Lukins as Doris Walker, Jose Alamo as Fred Gailey and Rylie Maxey as Susan Walker.

The show is directed and choreographed by ManeStage Theatre Company Executive Director Brenda S. Henson. Costumers are Judy Brooks, Joelle Collins and Jodi Josephson and the music director is Jennifer Garretson. The cast is comprised of more than 50 local, seasoned, volunteer storytellers.

The play opens Saturday and run through Dec. 13 at the Sumner Performing Arts Center, 1707 Main St.

Performances are scheduled for 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays, 7 p.m. Fridays and 2 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students, seniors and military and $10 for children 10 and younger.

For tickets and information, visit www.manestagetheatre.com or call 253-447-7645.

Orchestra performs

The Plateau Community Orchestra performs its annual holiday concert “Sounds of the Seasons” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Enumclaw High School auditorium.

Under the direction of Erin Lampe, the orchestra will perform “Stille Nacht,” “Nutcracker Ballet, Set 1,” “Concerto Grosso,” “A Christmas Festival,” “In the Bleak Midwinter,” “The Christmas Waltz” and “Winter Wonderland.”

Lampe is a graduate of Bowling Green University in Ohio, and is in her second year as musical director for Glacier Middle School in the White River School District.

Now in its sixth year, the Plateau Community Orchestra attracts musicians of all ages and skill levels.

As a nonprofit organization, the orchestra is funded by member donations, concert donations and generous supporting grants through the city of Enumclaw and 4Culture.

Miracle and dessert

Tickets are on sale for Stage Door Productions’ radio theatre presentation of the classic holiday movie, “Miracle on 34th St.” The show takes place at J. J. Smith Elementary School building, 1640 Fell St., Enumclaw, at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 and 2 p.m. Dec. 6.

Social hour for desserts begins one hour before the show.

Join Stage Door Productions for coffee and dessert as it celebrates the holiday season with the play that proves there is a Santa Claus. Done in traditional Lux Radio Theatre style, this show is a holiday hit with many families – the perfect gift for loved ones.

Tickets are $15 for all seats with group rates available. Tickets are available at the Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce, Radio Shack or the Arts Alive! Gallery in Enumclaw, or by calling Stage Door Productions at 360-825-2212, or visiting the Web site at www.stagedoorprod.org.

Band gets into spirit

The Gateway Concert Band will present its winter concert “Here We Go Again!” at 2 p.m. Dec. 6 at the White River High School auditorium and again at 7:15 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Enumclaw High School auditorium.

The Gateway Concert Band is a community band based in Enumclaw. It is directed by Jack Prindle. Formed in March of 1996, it has presented more than 150 performances in its 13-year history; all of the band’s concerts have been free of charge. The band is open to any interested adult and competent high school instrumentalists, without audition. It rehearses between 7 and 9 p.m. Monday evenings at Enumclaw Middle School.

The program begins with a rousing arrangement of the Navy hymn “Eternal Father: Strong to Save.” Next, Holly Gentes of the flute section is featured in a setting of Massenet’s poignant “Meditation” from the opera “Thais.” “The Eighth Candle” is an original piece for Hanukkah. Next, assistant conductor Stephanie Magnusson leads the band in a lyric arrangement of the spiritual “He’s Gone Away.” The first part of the concert concludes with a piece that lives up to its name – “Exhilaration.”

Christmas is definitely the theme of the second part of the concert, which opens with “Christmas Declaration.” After the pop favorite “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” the band presents a haunting arrangement of the Huron carol “‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime.” A Vegas-style setting of Christmas song “A Showstoppin’ Christmas” is followed by the challenging arrangement of traditional Christmas songs written for the Marine Band entitled “A Rhapsody on Christmas Carols.” The concert closes with the audience joining in on Christmas “Pop” Sing-Along.

The band is excited to release its first CD for sale to the public at the concerts. “Holiday Favorites” is a collection from the band’s last eight December concerts. Patrons will hear several of the pieces on the CD performed live again, and then be able to purchase a CD to enjoy those and several other holiday pieces over and over at home.

There is no admission charge, but a $5 donation is recommended. For more information or directions, call 360-825-5369 or visit the WEb site at www.gatewayconcertband.org.

Resident in play

Enumclaw’s Sarah Deady will appear in the musical version of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” at the Heavier than Air Family Theater, the resident community theater group at Green River Community College.

Deady will perform in the adult chorus, which includes a couple minor roles, in the Frank Capra holiday film classic that tells the uplifting story of George Bailey, who gets the chance to see what life in his hometown of Bedford Falls would have been like had he never been born.

Performances are 7 p.m. Dec. 11, 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 12 and 13 and 7 p.m. Dec. 18, 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 19 and 3 p.m. Dec. 20.

The ticket office is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. To order tickets call 253-833-9111. Individual ticket prices are $10.

Chorale sings on

The Cascade Foothills Chorale presents “Christmas Was Made for…” at 7 p.m. Dec. 19 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 20 at the White River High School auditorium.

Each section of the concert will finish that statement “Christmas Was Made for…” For example, decorating, children and family, faith, hope and peace.

The concert will feature the long-time classic “Ring Those Christmas Bells,” as well as an old Chorale favorite set to flashlight choreography; “Sleigh Ride,” an arrangement of “You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch,” as well as wooden soldiers brought to life, a rousing dance song for Hanukkah, “Fum, Fum, Fum,” and the ethereal “O Nata Lux” by Morten Lauridsen, a piece never performed on the Plateau; an audience sing-along to seasonal favorites like “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night.”

The concert will also include a few different settings of “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” Matheis said. One where the audience gets to compete for best-seating section and another where everyone finally learns what happens with all those gifts once Christmas is complete.

Tickets are $10 for general and $8 for seniors/students.

The price of admission includes a dessert buffet at the conclusion of the concert in the high school’s commons. For tickets or information, contact Bonnie Azzelino, president, at singers@cfchorale.org or call 253-486-5046.

High School concert

The Enumclaw High School choir will perform its Christmas concerts at 7 pm. Dec. 14 and 15 at the high school auditorium. Admission is $2. The title of the concert is “O Night Divine”