Christmas Music down through the ages
The 16th Annual CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR
“A Celebration of Life in Our Community over the Holidays”
with the year’s’ focus upon
Make-A-Wish of Alaska and Washington
and in particular
Monty Huesca
The Everett Civic Auditorium
December 18, 2016 6-8:30pm
The Moore Theater
December 21, 2016 7-9:30pm
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Joe Marine – Mayor of Mukilteo 2005 – 2013; Master of Ceremonies for the Christmas Spectacular 2015; with a special interest in fundraising for charities.
COMMUNITY GUESTS
Ray Stephanson –Mayor of Everett 2003-2016 (present)
Many year participant in the Christmas Spectacular
(Everett Performance)
Virginia McKenzie – Rotarian of the Year for KING County (50 rotary clubs)
(Seattle Performance)
Gil Saparto – Past legendary CEO Volunteers of America in Everett for over 3o years; facilitated the association of the VOA Food Bank with the Christmas Spectacular in 9-11
Eleanor Leight – is renown creator of the “Leight Fantastics” and tap dance teacher in Snohomish, Washington, for over 40 years. During WWII, Eleanor was a tap dancing New York Radio City Music Hall Rockette. In 1945 she traveled to Europe with her dance troupe to entertain General George Patton’s Army. It was there that she personally witnessed lonely GI’s, who were comforted by what became the most famous of all Christmas songs in the world – White Christmas. She was later impressed that the G-I who played White Christmas and other tunes for them on the piano turned out to be Dave Brubeck!
Karlin Lissa – Born in the South Sudan in Africa; Experienced hunger, danger and many hardships; immigrated to America with her husband; staff member of Providence Regional Medical Center Everett and our Spokesperson for Food Donations
Tim Key -Assistant Chief of the Everett Fire Department
Suzanne Eviston – Everett Police Department
Commander Richard Gile Ret. – Leader of the Everett High School Navy Jr.ROTC – voted one of the top educators amongst the 50,000 teachers in the State of Washington; a navy helicopter pilot and recipient of the inspirational award of the Pacific Fleet.
CAST
SINGERS and INSTRUMENTALISTS
Long standing and recent Cast Members
Jack Klitzman – Associate Producer and musical Director of the Christmas Spectacular; Music Director of the Seattle Theater Group – the Paramount and Moore Theater; leader and Orchestrator for the much acclaimed “Nearly Dan” Band; saxophone player extraordinaire and band leader of the Christmas Spectacular for 13 years.
Megan Chenovick – is a very talented and beautiful vocalist well known for her leading roles in many great performances of regional operatic and musical venues. Megan has also been part of the Christmas Spectacular Cast for almost a decade.
Victor Benedetti – American opera singer, living in France with his wife (also an opera singer) and 2 children; member of the Christmas Spectacular cast for 12 years.
Carl Kelly – As a member of “IMPACT”, he won the Los Angeles Music Awards; Many years Cast member of the Christmas Spectacular
Artem Savchenko – violinist; Tchaikovsky Conservatoire of music; principal violin in the chamber orchestra of conservatoire; now soloist of the “MusicAeterna” Orchestra in the Perm Opera Theatre; also a Professor of music theory; composer of “The Last Waltz” for the World Cup ballroom dance held in the Kremlin Palace; original Christmas Spectacular music for Jocelin Meadows, a child with special needs.
Kyran Adams – Competition/Award winning classical pianist, who first appeared in last years show. Kyran is also an outstanding scholar placing in the upper 1% in the nation.
New Cast members
Monty with Jose, Robin and Brennan – A very special family – one that has experienced victory over huge, unpredictable life challenges. This evening the Monty and the Huesca family will both “Tell you” and “Share with you” these experiences.
Rachel Reyes – very accomplished flutist, who is looking forward to joining Kyran in the show this year.
The ERIAM SISTERS – Semifinalists in America’s Got talent. Given Keys to the City of Renton; Recognized as “Very talented” individuals by The Seattle Theater Group
COMMON GROUND CHOIR
Director, Dan Hegelund – Well known Choir director in Sweden , where his Choirs and students appeared in European TV. Now, a relatively recent immigrant from Sweden, who has established new Choirs in Issaquah and Tacoma
DOROTHY JAYNE STUDIO ASSOCIATED DANCERS
Olga Foraponova Wright –
Two time US American Style Ballroom Champion;
World Finalist; currently top coach in American Style Dance throughout the
US and the World; Director of Oly’s Dance at the Dorothy Jayne Studio;
Overall Director of Dance Program for Children with Special Needs and Co-Originator with Joyce Stewart, Associate Superintendent of the Everett School District, of the Dance Wellness Program in the School District (2015)
Co-owner of the Autumn Dance Classic in San Francisco.
Umario Diallo – Well known regional ballroom dancer in the greater Seattle Bellevue area; Instructor at the Dorothy Jayne Studio – among others; Choreographer for the “So You Think You Can Dance” TV Show
Danylo Yanchyshyn & Dascha Wright – A new, champion ballroom dance couple who have recently won championships in Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles & finalists in the Ohio Star Ball
THE NORTH CITY BREAKERS
David Narvaez or “Pablo D” & Company – A pioneer B-Boy or break dancer in the 1980’s; was contemporary with the “Shutdown” of the Champion New York City Breakers by the “High Performance Breakers” in that era; currently a frequent contributor for Break Dancing events at the Seattle Center; and extraordinary teacher and exceptional role model for young people.
PACIFIC BALLROOM DANCE FORMATION TEAM
US Ballroom Champions
Heather Longhurst – Executive Director
John Graham – Artistic Director and Youth Premier Team Director
Formation Dance Team
Monique Hirada (Consultant)
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE RECOGNITIONS
Dehner Franks – Gifted pianist, composer and inspirational figure in the Christmas Spectacular from conception 9-11-2001 through 2012; composer of nearly 70 songs for this show over the years.
Jocelin Meadows – A young girl with special needs who has been accorded a decorated status with the Christmas Spectacular for her many inspirational performances. Jocelin truly earned the phrase – the “Power of One”.
Justin Glanville – A distinguished firefighter with Snohomish County Fire District 21 in the Arlington Washington area. Justin voluntarily and willingly spent many hours learning dance steps, rehearsing routines and dancing with Jocelin in our show.
And Many other wonderful performers/Groups that include Gretchen Hewitt, Ivann Schwan, Aubrey Logan, Chris Clay, Jimmy Scheider, Yegore Novikoff, Konstantin Yakunin, Alexey Gavrilov, Mark Mendonca, Eleanor Leight, Catherine Gallo; Shelly Logan’s Snohomish County Children’s Choir and Lee Mathews Everett Chorale; and many others.
Brian Tracey – Long time TV Anchor of “Evening Magazine” on KING TV Channel 5; The Discovery Channel out of New York; Owner of Ride-The-Ducks of Seattle; and Master of Ceremonies of the Christmas Spectacular for over a Decade
Robert “Bob” Drewel – Past President of the Everett Community College; Past Snohomish County Executive; Member of the Rapid Transit Board; Chancellor of Washington State University in Everett; Master of Ceremonies of the Christmas Spectacular 2014.
Gary Cohn PhD – Superintendent of the Everett School District; Master of Ceremonies of the Christmas Spectacular 2014
Joyce Stewart – Assistant Superintendent of the Everett School District; Co-founder with Olga Foranpova of the Dance Wellness Classes in the Everett School District (2015)
Richard Eaks – Founder of Puget Sound Video; video coverage of almost all of the Christmas Spectaculars between 2001 and 2015; close personal friend and supporter of the Cast and Producer of the Christmas Spectacular; an unusually talented, creative, hard working and much loved friend to all who knew him. His son, David Eaks, now carries on the tradition of Puget Sound Video this evening.