Christmas in the Country Cycle of Plays

[Jams]

The second show we have planned is for "Christmas in the Country" and
right now it looks like it's going to be a star event of the festival;
if we can make it work. The plan is to do several "Mystery Plays".
Basically the mystery plays a several "cycles" of plays that developed
in Medieval Europe to tell the bible story.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_play Andrew is researching to
find 3 or 4 scripts that tell the Christmas Story for us to use. The
plan is to use front porches on Royal Street as stages. There will
likely be a Narrator who travels between the locations and leads the
audience. Each play will run no more than 30 min. After the play the
audience will be led towards the next stage, the actors following
behind. Hopefully we will have enough actors to have separate casts for
each play. Right now the plan is to preform the last scene (Jesus's
birth) in the yard in front of Grace Church. This will lead directly
into a Christmas service at the church - that's the plan anyway. I am
working now on organizing the houses and locations. The biggest problem
with this show is that it will be cold out. I hope to combat that with
some outdoor heaters, and by having a merchant (likely Birdman) follow
with a cart of warm goodies for sale. I think this has the potential to
be an awesome experience. (thank you Ellen Humphries). It will stretch
us thin, but that means more opportunities for everyone to try
everything.

What do you think?

[Alex]

Awsome. Just awsome.

[Robi]

Jams,

I must admitt that I am kinda worried about us pulling this off due to
lack of actors, but I am sure you will work it out as usual. I will
call you when I get a chance, I rather talk to you in person about the
ideas I have....

[Jams]

Good news everyone:

I spoke yesterday with Father Holmgren and we discusses the idea. He's
very excited about it and he seems fully in support of it. He'll be
nessecary in getting everything setup with the church. He also
suggested that we finish in the church with a service known as
"Compline". It's basically an ending service, and it can be done as a
mideval chant with the incense and everything. It'll be candle lit and
decorated for Advent, so that'll be a great end to the show.

I've put in a proposal with the Police Jury to use the courthouse for
one of the plays. They have been very helpful in the past as long as
they don't have to do anything. And I think that will hold true here.

I spoke with Laurie Walsh and we discussed 2 other possible houses to
use downtown. I rode through Royal Street and picked out what porches
will be most effective and Hopefully we'll use Sainte Reine with it's
wrap around porch and nice gated yards and the Printer's Cottage. She's
going to speak with the home owners and get back with my by Tuesday to
let me know what she finds out.

This <i>is</i> exciting.

[Jams]

For your viewing pleasure, the proposal I submitted to the Police Jury
is here:

http://h1.ripway.com/sftheatre/PoliceJuryProposal.doc