Since Thanksgiving break, 21 fifth-grade students have been
peppering music teacher Michael Grady with questions about
Saturday’s two performances of “Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The
Mystery of the Magi’s Gold.”
The boys and girls make up the “Catholic school choir” in the
next Bradford Creative and Performing Arts Center offering at the
Bromeley Family Theatre on the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
campus.
“The kids are excited – very excited. They come in every day
asking questions,” said Grady.
By the time the one-actress show rolls into town, the singers
from among the School Street Elementary School’s Fifth Grade Chorus
will have had about eight rehearsals of traditional Christmas
carols.
“We have to be really prepared,” said Grady, who will direct the
singers. He explained that neither he nor the singers will meet the
actress until noon Saturday. So the students have to eat their
lunch, practice at noon and be ready for curtain at 2 p.m. After a
dinner break, the chorus will return for the 7:30 p.m.
performance.
While the script by Maripat Donovan specifies some of the carols
to be sung, Grady, who read the script, got to choose others.
Carols include “We Three Kings” and “Hark, the Herald Angels
Sing.”
BCPAC board member Marlene Kijowski has been liaison with Grady
for the event. Though Kijowski is known locally for her costume
design, the chorus will simply be in dress clothes because, Grady
said, there were just too many singers to provide uniform costumes,
though the idea was pursued.
Grady, who has worked with BCPAC projects in the past, said he
is grateful to BCPAC for “the opportunity for the students to have
a nice outlet” for their talent.
Students taking part are Lindsey Bay, Rachel Benson, Savana
Bess, Patricia Bunce, Ryan Bunker, Sierra Campbell, Taryn Couch,
Ashley Crumrine, William DeGolier, Zachery Gueller , Samantha
Hitchcock, Tiffany Holsinger, Ashley Lewis, Erin Mackey, Michael
McLanahan, Danielle O’Neil, Zowe Orczeck, Mandy Tyger, Cole
Vecchio, Casey Warner and Michael Wilber. Grady will accompany them
on piano.
Like the preceding shows in the Sister series, the setting for
the play is a typical Catholic school room with the audience as
students. Sister opens by saying to the students about the
Nativity: “We know what happened to the myrrh and the frankincense
– Mary used them as a sort of potpourri. They were in a barn after
all. But who was the culprit who made off the gold coins and left
Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus in that lousy stable without any
chance to upgrade to a suite?”
Using techniques from her favorite crime show, “Forensic Files,”
Sister enlists audience members to help re-create the crime scene
by portraying the Holy Family, the Wise Men, shepherds and sheep
and, as BCPAC promoters state, “well, an ass!ð … for this loving
and respectful spoof of Catholic school for students of all ages
and faiths.”
Diana Carl, who just appeared Dec. 8-11 in the same play at the
Victoria Theatre in Dayton, Ohio, has appeared in productions of
“Late Night Catechism” throughout the country. Employed at Skylight
Opera Theatre in Milwaukee, she has appeared in several Skylight
productions and various playhouses.
Donovan was the playwright and actor behind “Late Nite
Catechism” (which BCPAC offered to sellout crowds a few years ago)
and “Late Nite Catechism II,” originating the role of Sister,
touring internationally and receiving awards for her work.
Tickets for the event are still available at the office or at
the door, though less than 200 remain for the matinee and less than
100 for the evening show as of Tuesday, according to BCPAC
officials, who also note that Northwest Savings Bank is a
presenting sponsor.
