This holiday season, Songs Strings and Steps will present Home for Christmas, a performance that involves over 150 actors singers and musicians.
Home for Christmas is directed by Calvin Dyck and staged by Sylvia Friesen, and takes the audience on a memorable journey by steam train. Featured are the sights and sounds of the station, the old-fashioned ticket wicket, the train and its steam, porters, ticket punchers and, of course, a conductor.
The passengers include the strings of the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra, the voices of Vancouver’s Jubilate choir conducted by Larry Nickel, pianist Mel Bowker, the Pilkey Sisters, jazz singer Courteney Rodda, dancers, the popular MEI Drumline – and the audience.
The show will features many traditional and new favourites like White Christmas, Song for a Winter's NIght, Christmas in Killarney, Little Drummer Boy, I Heard the Bells, and the final performance, when all will sing O Holy Night.
The show will also feature audience participation, including several sing-alongs, and Dyck said the performance will also feature a carol contest.
“The audience has three carols to vote on during intermission. Two of the carols are by local Fraser Valley composers Stan Gubiotti and Joyce Janzen, and the last by Gail Poulsen from Ontario. In addition to prize money, the winning carol will be published. A jury selected the top three submissions to be performed at this year’s concert. The winner will be announced during the Saturday evening performance."
The performance will be held at Central Heights Church on McCallum Road on Friday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale at House of James in Abbotsford and King's Music in Chilliwack and Abbotsford.
Wheelchair seating must be booked in advance by calling 604-855-9696.