Catholic schools team up for 'Yes, Virginia'
Date: 12/19/2012
By Lori Szepelak
lori@thereminder.comCHICOPEE — Yes, Virginia, there will be a holiday show in your honor thanks to two local performing arts clubs.
Eva Stockhamer, producer and director of Holyoke Catholic High School productions and also serves as performing arts director at St. Joan of Arc School, has brought the students together with young people from St. Joan's to stage "Yes, Virginia: There is a Santa Claus" on Dec. 21 at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 56 St. Anthony St. Showtime is 7 p.m.
Stockhamer noted in an interview with
Reminder Publications that the show is a condensed version of the traditional holiday movie.
"There are some things that don't 'happen' in front of our eyes, but for the most part it follows the movie," Stockhamer said, adding that Macy's purchased the rights to the movie and is working on a musical stage version.
"This holiday season only Macy's is offering free rights to perform a one-hour version to schools and nonprofits," Stockhamer said. "I really wanted to do something for the holidays that would include a lot of children."
Young people in starring roles include Rebecca Duffy as "Virginia," Victoria Santos as "Ollie," Alexa Keogh as "Miriam," Evan Garber as "The Scraggly Santa," and Natanya Furgal as "Mr. Church."
Stockhamer encouraged area residents to put the production on their "to do" list because it is a "nice collaboration" between both performing arts clubs.
"I have some Holyoke Catholic members building the entire set, others are painting the set complete with an oversized 'letter' from Virginia to the editor," Stockhamer said.
Holyoke Catholic students will also be providing and selling refreshments, ushering and lighting the show. Costumes and props from the high school will also be used in the production.
"The team of performers and those getting the set ready is the best part of the entire production since they are grades 6 through 12 combined," Stockhamer said. "I am very proud of the coming together of the two groups for one really nice one-hour family show."
Since the production is 60 minutes there will not be an intermission. Stockhamer noted that a special raffle is planned as well as a lottery tree.
Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased at St. Joan of Arc or by contacting Stockhamer by email at
hstocky@gmail.com. Tickets will also be available at the door. In the event of inclement weather, the production will be staged Dec. 22.
Stockhamer is assisted by George Garber, musical director, Brianna Stockhamer, choreographer, Patrick Moskal, lighting director, and Nick Cox, Tyler Cox, Thomas Heavren, and Joseph Lyons, all set construction. Mara Sobon and a group of volunteers are handling the set painting.
Stockhamer added that Christine Thompson, a teacher at St. Joan and costumer for the Majestic Theater in West Springfield, has "graciously" loaned costumes, altered some and helped out with all aspects of getting the costumes prepared for the show.
"I am very proud that St. Joan's arts club has doubled since this spring so I wanted something large, fun and familiar," Stockhamer said.
