The Story of the Christmas Spectacular
The story of this years’ Christmas Spectacular is a celebration of life in our community with incredible singers, dancers and musicians that benefits Make-A-Wish® Alaska and Washington. The event features Christmas music through the ages performed by both new talent and long standing cast members, framed by the American spirit that reminds us to share food and the essentials of life with others over the holidays.
The “Christmas Spectacular” arose from 9-11 when the food banks were in need of support in the Everett Community – and across America. Everett Performing Arts Center board members Sanford Wright M.D. (President) and Frank McCord, (then Chairman of the Cascade Bank Corporation) decided to spearhead the creation of the “Christmas Spectacular” as a means of highlighting the need to support the local food banks. The show, named by Frank McCord, was a success. The next year, it continued to be produced and directed by former board member Sanford Wright. It evolved to offer “A Celebration of Life in Our Community” in support of food banks and other worthy causes – that included Children with Special Needs for the last 4 years – and this year Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington.
This year the Christmas Spectacular will not only celebrate the honor and privilege of being an American, and highlight the gift of food and the musical experience of “Christmas Music down through the Ages’ but also the opportunity to put the community in touch with the feelings and emotions that are shared between parents and children that together face life’s greatest challenges.
This year’s focus upon Make-A-Wish arose from a chance encounter between our Producer/Director, Sanford Wright M.D. and Monty and his mom, Robin – who is an Occupational Therapist at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. Wright learned that Monty and his family prevailed over life’s challenges and Monty was granted his wish – to meet a Master Builder at LEGOLAND in Florida.
The show will feature “Christmas Music down through the Ages” from the time of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria. There will be lots of instrumental music, singing and dancing. Plus a storyline to tie things all together.
Featured performers will include Master of Ceremonies and past Mayor of Mukilteo, Joe Marine; Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson; members of the Everett Police and Firefighters; Jack Klitzman, Musical Director of the Seattle Theater Group, founder of the acclaimed “Nearly Dan” and saxophonist extraordinaire; the EriAm Sisters, semifinalists in America’s Got Talent; the US Champion Pacific Ballroom Dance Formation Team; wonderfully talented vocalists and long time cast members Victor Benedetti, Megan Chenovick and Carl Kelly; Olga Foraponova Wright, world wide top coach in American style ballroom dance; champion ballroom dancers Yegore Novikov, Umario Diallo, Dascha Wright, Danylo Yanchyshyn and Champion Ballroom dancers from the Ukraine, Andrii Mykhailov and Anna; classical violinist from Russia, Artem Savchenko; Award winning classical pianist, Kyran Adams; the Common Ground Gospel Choir of Issaquah and Tacoma, directed by Dan Hegelund; and last – but certainly not least – the Everett High School Jr ROTC directed by Commander Rick Giles USNR, one of the top teachers in Washington State (50,000 teachers) .
VENUE and TICKET DETAILS
The show will be at The Everett Civic Auditorium in Everett, Sunday December 18, 2016 6-8:30pm and the Moore Theater in Seattle December 21, 2016.7-9:30pm. Tickets will be $20 + 5 cans of food (optional).
The Show will be WebCast Live by Puget Sound Video – and also put on the Christmas Spectacular Website for viewing all year long www.achristmaspectacular.com. Every year the show is viewed World Wide.
Tickets may be purchased through Brown Paper Tickets http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2712969 or at 5:30 pm at the door the night of the performance.