The holiday season brings a time filled with anticipation and excitement. Some folks may focus on food, gifts, and music; some may think about travel, time off from school, and vacation. Others may get excited about family and traditions associated with the season. The brand new holiday show Mountain Home Christmas focuses on Appalachian traditions, family, and community within The Mountain State.
“We wanted to have a piece that hit a little closer to home, to the hills of West Virginia,” said writer Matthew Scott Campbell. “When we were looking at our season, that show didn’t exist, so I thought ‘well, we’ll find a way to make it exist.’”
Campbell spent time at the state archives, Greenbrier County archives, and other available historical societies researching. Stories highlighted in the show are pulled from actual magazines, newspapers, and holiday cards to create narrative versions of familiar stories centered around the holidays in West Virginia.
Six actor-musicians bring these stories to life on stage with a myriad of storytelling, humor, and traditional holiday songs alongside creative new music offerings. Returning to GVT will be Ken Sandberg (Pride and Prejudice) and Jenna Fawcett (Midsummer’s Night). Joining them will be Melody Berger, Sarah Gliko, Andrew LeJeune, and Spiff Wiegand. Between these six performers, audiences will be entertained by guitars, mandolins, violins, bass, accordions, flutes, and many other talents.
Campbell will be providing direction for the holiday show; Wiegand will direct the music as well as perform. New musical arrangements are written by Patrick Summers. The production features scenic design by Richard Crowell, costume design by Jenna Fawn Brown, and lighting design by E. Tonry Lathroum. Elizabeth Salisch will serve as the Production Stage Manager.
Now entering its 55th season, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, is a mainstay and theatre destination located in Lewisburg. The arts organization has been further recognized as a “West Virginia Jewel of the Hills,” awarded the Living the Dream Service Organization Honor Roll by The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission, and is a multi-year recipient of Non-Profit Business of the Year. GVT boasts a robust series of year-round programing and educational offers with the goal to enlighten, enrich, and enliven throughout the region.
The show opens at GVT on Dec. 9 and runs through the 17th. Tickets are $32 for general seating, $29 for senior citizens age 60 and above, and $20 for students. For more information on tickets, shows, and the organization’s history, visit the theatre’s website: www.gvtheatre.org or call the box office at 304-645-3838.
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