From left in the front, are cast members Taylor Robinson (Tree), Joyanna Lynn, Esther Entingh, Micah Crain, Chloe Ostrander (Little People), Joshua McClelland (David), Miriam Entingh (Fairie), Leah Frisk (Angel), Caleb Crain (King), and kneeling is Director Ruby Everson; in the middle row, from left, is Colin Bennett (Gypsy), Eileen Bennett (Esperenza), Elise Ostrander (Robin), Anna Everson (Cassie), Caleb McClelland (Narrator), and Sarah Entingh (Hermann Joseph); in the back row, from left, is Nicholas Entingh (Nicholas Bassaraba), Leah Crain (Rosita), Kevin Wilcox (Manuel), Nathaniel Everson (Jose), Issac Everson (Barney), Anne Dabroski (Johanna), Trish Robinson (Mother), Keith Dabroski (Father), Sydney Wilcox (Fritz Grossman), Peter Bennett (Alfredito), MaryBeth Lynn (Madre), and Rebekah Entingh (Trude).
Joshua McClelland, pictured, will be playing the role of David in an upcoming presentation by The Valley LEAH Homeschool Players of ‘This Way to Christmas’.
The Valley LEAH Homeschool Players present This Way to Christmas, based on the 1916 novel by Ruth Sawyer, and written and directed by a LEAH homeschool senior, Ruby Everson.
Aspiring to make a career of the dramatic arts, Everson chose to write and direct a play for her senior project. She is thankful for the Valley Area LEAH homeschool group, whose cooperation, participation and hard work make the goal achievable.
There are 30 cast members portraying 61 characters, a challenging undertaking. Ruby has taken two one-week intensives in drama through the Lamplighter Guild in preparation for this goal.
There will be an evening showing on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m., and a matinee on Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. Both will be at North Waverly Chapel (located on Route 34, one half mile north of the Valley Bowling Center in Waverly, N.Y.
Far from being just another empty yuletide tale, the play is fraught with innocent wisdom and ancient truths. “There’s a heap O’ sense in some nonsense”, as one of our beloved characters, Johanna would say. Marking the path to Christmas, the production is a multicultural plethora of legends, fables and stories of the season. Unique and vibrant, this narrative is sure to warm the hearts of young and old alike.
The performance is free to the public. Proceeds from donations will be given to The Bridge, a non-profit organization of churches in the Penn-York Valley. The aim of The Bridge is to bridge the gaps of life in the name of Jesus Christ and to provide help where others are not able.
