A Marion Tradition Continues To Touch Hearts

Traditions have a way of wrapping themselves around our hearts and drawing us back year after year to a special place and time. In every sense, they are a gift.

Written and directed by Clare Cooke, “Christmas at the Palace 2020: The Gift” features the talent of individuals ages 6 to 76. During the show, these community members will guide the audience on a joyful journey into the holiday season.

With a theme of “The Gift,” the cast will focus patrons’ attention on gifts like family, friends, love, and freedom. Marion’s favorite holiday show will feature all the fun and heart-felt moments of previous years, while allowing the cast and audience alike to experience the show with safety. Numbers will feature fewer performers on stage at one time, allowing the cast to shine as they share their talent.

The show includes dance numbers performed by Martha Douce and Diverse Moves Dance Studios. Back with twice the fun are those tapping men and women to show off their fancy footwork. Kristi Wink directs four tap lines, Dashers, Prancers, Blitzens, and Vixens.

Dee Ehrman and Kathy Hill will lend their musical talents to this year’s program by performing a piano duet, “Ukraine Carol of the Bells.” The program also features vocal solos by Sami Kay Mergy, Darren Sites, Madi Blankenship, and John W. Garnes, II; duets by Jami and Dustin Rawlins, Madi Schenk and Tanner Wink, and Nicole Hummel and Leah Menzie. An adorable children’s parade led by the Man in Red will sing “Tomorrow Is Christmas” and various ensembles will share the joy of Christmas with songs like “Here We Come A Caroling,” “Hark the Herald,” “Little Drummer Boy,” and “On This Winter’s Night.”

An a capella quartet, Reacquainted, will perform the Pentatonix version of Fleet Foxes’ “White Winter Hymnal.” “I’d Like to Lasso Santa” is an animated number by Carly Cruse, Reid Roston, Scarlett Roston, and Brooklyn Wallace. The Wink siblings will perform “On This Winter’s Night,” joined by a children’s chorus. The Hummel family will present “What a Glorious Night” in beautiful family harmony.

The pit, under the direction of Rick Baird, boasts the talent of Bill Swihart, Beth Cumbie, and Steve Cumbie on woodwinds; Jacob Hartman on trumpet; Parker Baird on trombone; Dee Ehrman and Kathy Hill on keys; and David Johnston on drums. Vocal direction for this show is provided by Steve deWeber.

The Palace board is planning a Christmas tree auction in conjunction with the show. Trees, donated and decorated by community members, businesses, and organizations (see the website for a full list), will be displayed on stage during the show. Proceeds will help offset losses the Theatre has experienced during COVID shutdown. Photos of each tree, with bidding instructions, will be posted on the Palace’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/marionpalace). Winning bidders may take home trees following the final performance.

Tickets are on sale now for $22 adult, $12 age 12 and younger. Seats are limited to 300 per show. Patrons are encouraged to purchase in advance for the best seating and to avoid lines at the door. Tickets may be purchased at the Palace Box Office, 276 West Center Street or by phone (740) 383-2101.

Ticketholders may enter through the Theatre’s main front doors and also through the front May Pavilion doors. Concessions will be available at both locations. Social distancing will be provided through spaced seating. There will be no intermission.

“Christmas at the Palace 2020” is sponsored by First Citizens National Bank and Marion OB/GYN, Dr. David & Jude Foulk. Supported by Ohio Arts Council.

Main Stage ♦ Tickets: $22 adult; $12 child age 12 & younger

Ticket On-Sale Monday, November 2 All Members ♦ Monday, November 9 General Public

SHOWTIMES:
Thurs, December 3 – 7:00 pm
Fri, December 4 – 7:00 pm
Sat, December 5 –  2pm & 7:00 pm
Sun, December 6 –  2 pm

*Only 300 seats available per show

*****************************************

CHRISTMAS AT THE PALACE CAST LIST:

CHILDREN’S CHORUS: Alyvia Alspach, Madison Bishop, Izabelle Cooper, Oly Coy, Londyn Danals, Alexis Eden
Charlee Etgen, Elise Kramp, Macie Kearns, Eric Lavery, Lilly Lawson, Addison Malone, Jillian Matthews, Allison McCleary
Amelia McFarland,  Sophia Raimo, Kaylynn Ramey, Hillary Rawlins, Madeleine Rawlins, Logan Rigsby, Elliana Schenk
Bailey Schertzer, Charlotte Sloan, Matthew Szuch, Lucy Turner, Suzanna Turner, Cassidy Williams, Laykan Wippich

YOUTH CHORUS: Brody Cahill, Gabby Cametti, Macyn Danals, Abby Isler, Alexander Lisiecki, Marissa Loyer
Quinn Menzie, Carter Rawlins, Halli Schenk, Sarah Perkins, Macie Snyder, Ruby Williams

ADULT CHORUS: Linda Blue, Lynette Burris, Joceylyn Cummins, Charlotte Danals, Asa Deeren, Iris Deeren
Steve deWeber, Linda Fargo, Hadleigh James, Abbey Knight, Lori Lavery, Leah Menzie, Zane Menzie
Sami-Kay Mergy, Eric Mosley, Dan Nolting, Brian Schenk, Madi Schenk, Wendi Snyder, Brea Turner
Eric Walker, Joy Watkins, Cameron Williams

SOLOS, DUETS, TRIOS, and ENSEMBLES:

Carly Cruse, Reid Roston, Scarlett Roston, Brooklyn Wallace

Brady, Sadie, & Tanner Wink

Nicole Hummel, Leah Menzie

Kylee Bristoll, Sarah Cooper, Brianna O’Dell, Bryana McCann

Darren Sites

Dustin & Jami Rawlins

Madi Blankenship

Sami-Kay Mergy

John Garnes, II

Beau, Nicole, Bryson, Reagan, & Kennedy Hummel

John Garnes, Dustin Rawlins, Brian Schenk, Tanner Wink

Madi Schenk, Tanner Wink

INSTRUMENTAL:

Bill Swihart

Dee Ehrman, Kathy Hill

MARTHA DOUCE DANCERS (Group 1): Macyn Danals, Ava Fleming, Mara Frank, Adisyn Hall
Heather Shoffner, Hailey Smith, Sarah St. Germain, Ashley Watkins

MARTHA DOUCE MARTIETTES: Elaina Chiles, Emma Chiles, Londyn Danals, Breeona Davis
Aryonna Dunn, Tayten Kelly, Chloe Smith, Josie Smith, Ciara Sturm, Avery West

MARTHA DOUCE DANCERS (Group 2): Makadyn Bonsel, Jadyn Darling, Eva Deeren, Addison Kile
Delaney Myers, Emma Shaffer, Emma Smith, Katelyn Wicker, Ruby Williams

DIVERSE MOVES DANCE: Makayla Brown, Adrianna Chidester, Quiana Revere, Shannon Smith
Alexus Toombs

BLITZENS (Tap Line):  Melissa Bollinger, Joni Carlson, Olivia Davis, Dee Ehrman, Kathy Hill Lynn Jamison
Colleen Mauk, Shahara Sansotta, Sadie Wink, Amanda Zucker

PRANCERS (Tap Line): Steve deWeber, Jacob Hartman, Ralph Hill, Ron Iarussi Dan Nolting, Bobby Petrovski
Timothy Roston, Stan Sansotta, Bill Tabbert, Cameron Williams

DASHERS (Tap Line): Kain Anderson, Carson Bollinger, Asa Deeren, Kirk Detweiler, Mateusz Lisiecki
Zane Menzie, Kyle Peltier, Dustin Rawlins, Owen Williams, Brady Wink

VIXENS (Tap Line): Sherril Appelfeller, Kim Bradshaw, Olivia Brazell, Lynette Burris, Jenn Chiles, Maria Crawford
Diana Dailey, Linda Fargo, Katie Isler, Judy Little

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

Bob & Donna Bender

TREE DONORS AND DECORATORS:

Artisan’s Guild

Kevin Smith – First Citizens National Bank

Lowe’s

Meijers

Howie Smith — Wilson Bohanan

Fuzzy’s Floral Shop

Gale and Trace Families

Verne Hart Insurance

Douce Dance Studio

Graphic Packaging

Mary Litell

Mauk Chiropractic

Dean & Sue Jacob

The Family of Ula McNamara Watts

River Valley National Honor Society

River Valley Ag Class

Palace Besties — Jon Baldauf, Sara Grote, Blake Huffaker, Danielle Knight, Jessica Dyer Leahy, Mandy Myers
Jared Riley, & Emily Yaksic

 

---

Co-Sponsored by First Citizens National Bank and Marion OBGYN, Inc. Dr. David Foulk & Jude Foulk