happy new year!

Despite the foreboding nature of this picture, we really do hope you all have a fantastic New Year!  Here's to 2014!

measure for measure | the elizabethans are coming!

Ring the bell!  The Elizabethans are coming!  And they're taking over Pacific Theatre, as they prepare for MEASURE FOR MEASURE, opening January 17th.

christmas presence | set lists

A standard feature of Christmas Presence performances is people wanting to track down their favourite pieces after the show, or to follow up with the musicians they've heard. Because we make up our set list new every night, there's no program listing or anything like that, so unless you catch somebody after the show, these remarkable pieces and artists can easily slip by.

So we've taken to posting our set lists after the show. Here are links to the specific posts for various dates right here (between Garrison Keillor and Annie Dillard, below).  There's also an index to various of the pieces we've actually posted online over the years, right here.

sun, dec 8

wed, dec 11
thu, dec 12
fri, dec 13
sat, dec 14 | all-request matinee
sat, dec 14 | eve
sun, dec 15 | north shore


wed, dec 18
thu, dec 19
fri, dec 20
sat, dec 21 | matinee
sat, dec 21 | eve
sun, dec 22 - valley

"And you ought to have seen all the things that was in that wagon. Apples 'n' real oranges y'know, and stripe-itty candy, and nuts. And mama, she was holdin' the baby in her arms and she peeked over in there an she just caught her breath. And we all started talkin at the same time, askin momma what this was and what that was..."

 John Henry Faulk, "Christmas Story" (or, "A Child's Christmas In Texas")

1991 | dec 13, 14, 20, 21 | premiere of christmas presence | set lists

In preparation for last night's performance of Christmas Presence In The Valley, wanting to keep things fresh, I was searching for the 2012 Valley set list, to avoid repeats. Instead I found the set lists for the very first Christmas Presence events, hosted by Bill Reimer and the Regent College Book Store. It was four or five months after we had cancelled our mainstage season (Book Of The Dragon, Billy Budd, Mass Appeal) and laid ourselves off - all except one employee, who kept the Dragons Project on the road for one last year.

So it turns out there were four nights, plus an evening on a carol ship where I read a bunch of pieces - I don't yet have a date for that event. I had only remembered that there were one or two performances that first year. The notes aren't completely clear, but it looks like maybe there wasn't music until the second night, when Michael Hart did at least one song (Mary Did You Know) and some singalongs? I would have thought that if he was there, he would have done more than just the one tune, but maybe not: the show grew out of some evenings of readings I had done previously at the Regent Bookstore (Ron Reads, and, later, during the baseball strike, Ron Reed Strikes Again. The Top Ten Thousand Of All Time premiered at one of those evenings, in summer 1992), and they hadn't featured music, so it was all still in transition, even over the course of these few nights.  

The second weekend I was joined by Dirk Van Stralen, Allen Desnoyers and Lucia Frangione. I have a memory of Dirk losing his composure while reading a Joseph piece, being a fairly new dad - seems to me it was Joseph's Lullaby, by Ron Klug - though that's not clear from these notes.  Could have been the next year, or just as likely we swapped that piece in during the night - even in these first set lists it's apparent that we hadn't settled on the exact readings, or the order, before the show began. So that tradition goes right back to the start.

I notice how many of the readings are still in the rotation today - the Royko and the Buechner from that first night both made appearances last night, and over the 14-show run of Christmas Presence in 2013, the only pieces that weren't read at one point or another were Remnant, the Nemerov Santa Claus, A Time to Be Born (Loren's piece about Simeon), Political Necessity and Rachel.  Also the longer pieces, which no longer fit in the show, with so many more musicians; short stories by Mike Mason, G.K. Chesterton and Tom Bodett.  On the closing night I see "Tape" after mention of Ferlinghetti's poem Christ Climbed Down - I remember discovering that Teacup's Jazzy Blues Tune, from the Taj Mahal album "Ooh So Good 'n' Blues," fit perfectly behind the beat poem.  

I don't see mention of Evelyn Loewen here, though I have a distinct memory of her playing her harp. Maybe she didn't figure in until the next year?  Or maybe she was a late add, and wasn't mentioned in the set lists? I also think Garth Bowen joined us in early days, but now I'm thinking it wasn't until at least 1992. I also see that Nancy Iremonger was there on the final Saturday, reading a story. 

"That was a long, long time ago. And a long, long way away...." Frederick Buechner 

*

CHRISTMAS READINGS

Friday 13

A Christmas Carol / Charles Dickens

Pretty Well Picked Over / Mike Royko

God In The Doorway / Annie Dillard

Emmanuel / Frederic Buechner & Madeleine L'Engle

Christ Climbed Down / Lawrence Ferlinghetti

A Child's Christmas In Texas / John Henry Falk      6:30

---

The Ghost Of Christmas / Mike Mason

CHRISTMAS PRESENCE

Saturday 14

Remnant / Ron Reed 2:00

Cotton Patch Nativity / Clarence Jordan, Tom Key 4:00

   Christ Climbed Down / Lawrence Ferlinghetti 4:00

   Santa Claus / Howard Nemerov

   Driving To Midnight Mass / John F. Dean

   Reverie / John Howison

Shem or Seth / David Kossoff 8:00

Mary Did You Know? (Michael) 5:00

Joseph's Lullbye / Ron Klug 2:00

A Child's Christmas In Texas / John Henry Falk 6:30

---

Singalong carol

The Innocence Of Father Brown / G.K. Chesterton

Singalong carol

CHRISTMAS PRESENCE

Friday 20

A Time To Be Born I / Loren Wilkinson

 The Town Tree / Tom Bodett

  Music

Christ Climbed Down / Lawrence Ferlinghetti

A Child's Christmas In Texas / John Henry Falk 6:30

---

A Time To Be Born II / Loren Wilkinson (Ron)

  First Coming / Victor Sanchez de Fuentes (Dirk, or company)

  Seth / a shepherd (Dirk?)

  Herod (Dirk?)

  The Innkeeper (Dirk?)

  A Man of Duty (Dirk?)

Sandals & Starlight (Allen)

Political Necessity / Ron Reed (Dirk)

Rachel / Loren Wilkinson (Lucia)

A Time To Be Born / Loren Wilkinson (Ron)

Joseph's Lullabye / Ron Klug (Allen)

CHRISTMAS PRESENCE

Saturday 21

Charlie Brown "O Christmas Tree" (Tape)

Christ Climbed Down / Lawrence Ferlinghetti (Ron & Tape)

  Not in order:

   Juggler of Notre Dame (Nancy)

   God In The Doorway / Annie Dillard (Lucia)

   A Child's Christmas in Texas / John Henry Falk (Ron)     

Charlie Brown medley (Allen)

Christmas Time Is Here (Singalong)

The Gospel According To St. Luke (Dirk)

---

The Secret Of The Gifts / Paul Flucke (The Company)

Little Town (Allen)

For The Time Being / W.H. Auden (Ron)

 ???

CRUISE

A Christmas Carol / Charles Dickens 1:15

God In The Doorway / Annie Dillard 5:00

Christ Climbed Down / Lawrence Ferlinghetti 4:20

The Secret Of The Gifts / Paul Flucke 12:00

A Child's Christmas In Texas / John Henry Falk 6:30

Shem / David Kossoff 

First Coming / Victor Sanchez de Fuentes 

Pretty Well Picked Over / Mike Royko 

Joseph's Lullbye / Ron Klug 

Emanuel 

dec 22 | christmas presence in the valley | set list

ACT ONE

O Come Emmanuel | Nelson & Co

Every Man Heart Lay Down

O Come All Ye Faithful | Kevin Boese

Will Not Let Go | Jeremy Eisenhauer

Pretty Well Picked Over | KEN HILDEBRANDT

Maybe This Christmas | Zaac Pick

Seven Principles of Christmas | Garrison Keillor

Best Of Me | | Sheree Plett

The Innkeeper | Frederick Buechner

Jesus Inside | Kevin Boese

Finding Christmas | Zaac Pick

ACT TWO

God Rest Ye / We Three Kings | Kevin Boese

Santa's Little Helper | David Sedaris | SCOTT CAMPBELL

Christmas Is Coming | Nelson & Co

It Was A Night Like This | KEN HILDEBRANDT

River | Zaac Pick

Three Fools | Mike Mason

Cold Grey Winter | Jeremy Eisenhauer

Cotton Patch Nativity | Tom Key | KEN HILDEBRANDT

Oh What A Night | Zaac Pick

Emmanuel | Frederick Buechner

O Emmanuel | Sheree Plett

Christmas Prayer | Robert Louis Stevenson

aslan is on the move | tales from the tour

Today THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE has its last matinee at Western Canada Theatre in Kamloops. This past year the show was performed 68 times to almost 10 000 people in 8 cities throughout BC. Here's a look back at all the places we visited:

The Evergreen Theatre, Coquitlam 

Presentation House Theatre, North Vancouver

Kay Meek Centre, West Vancouver

Chilliwack Cultural Centre, Chilliwack

Clarke Foundation Theatre, Mission

Creekside Theatre, Kelowna

Western Canada Theatre, Kamloops

Everywhere they traveled, the show was welcomed with generosity and kindness. The cast and crew would like the thank the staff and audiences at each venue they visited. It was a very special year indeed. 

dec 21 evening | christmas presence | set list

ACT ONE

O Tannenbaum | Nelson Boschman, Becca Birkner, Kenton Wiens

Every Man Heart Lay Down | Lorenz Graham

Polish Carol | Michael Hart

Seven Principles of a Successful Christmas | Garrison Keillor

We Three Kings | Spencer Capier

Journey of the Magi | T.S. Eliot

Is Bethlehem Too Far Away? | Carolyn Arends

Man of Duty | Tim Anderson

Lulay / Holly and the Ivy | Michael Hart

Christ Climbed Down | Lawrence Ferlinghetti

My First Christmas | Carolyn Arends

A Child's Christmas in Texas | John Henry Faulke

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem | Michael Hart

ACT TWO

Wassailing

Advent | Robert Farrar Capon

Long Way To Go | Carolyn Arends

Presents | Luci Shaw

O Holy Night

Father Christmas | C.S. Lewis

Christmas Blessing

I Wish

Santa's Little Helper | David Sedaris

Christmas Time Is Here | Nelson Boschman

Seth: A Shepherd | David Kossoff

Do Not Be Afraid / Angels We Have Heard 

texts for many readings can be found here

dec 21 matinee | christmas presence | set list

ACT ONE

Wassailing | Spencer Capier

Scrooge & his Nephew | Charles Dickens

Emmanuel | Frederick Buechner

I Wish | Michael Hart

Santa's Little Helper | Davis Sedaris

Christmas Time is Here | Nelson Boschman

Long Way to Go | Carolyn Arends

Polish Carol | Michael Hart

Herod | W.H. Auden

Lulay / Holly and the Ivy | Michael Hart

Seth: A Shepherd | David Kossoff

Do Not Be Afraid / Angels We Have Heard On High | Carolyn Arends

ACT TWO

We Three Kings | Spencer Capier

Three Fools | Mike Mason

Is Bethlehem Too Far Away | Carolyn Arends

Seven Principles of a Successful Christmas | Keillor

Joy To The World | Nelson Boschman, Kenton Wiens, Becca Birkner

Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem | Michael Hart

Snow Angel

My First Christmas | Carolyn Arends

Creche | Nicola Colhoun

O Holy Night | Michael Hart

Emmanuel reprise | Frederick Buechner 

A Christmas Blessing | Carolyn Arends

texts for many readings can be found here

dec 20 | christmas presence | set list

ACT ONE

Christmas Time Is Here | Nelson Boschman, James Danderfer, Kenton Wiens, Becca Birkner

Charlie & Linus | Charles Schultz

Finding Christmas | Zaac Pick

The Xmas Files | Frank Cammuso & Hart Seely

Jingle Bells | Laurell

ron talk

Cave | Jeremy Eisenhauer

Tube Sox 1 | Sufjan Stevens

Maybe This Christmas | Zaac Pick

Tube Sox 2 | Sufjan Stevens

Better Watch Out | Robert Farrar Capon

Mary's Song | Crystal Arnold & Peter La Grand

Dreams: Birth | Ron Reed 

Cloak Room | Jeremy Eisenhauer & Sheree Plett

Wrapped Up In You | Laurell

ACT TWO

Three Ships | Nelson, James & Co

Christmas At Sea | Charles Dickens

Lighthouse | Laurell

A Child's Christmas In Texas | John Henry Faulk

Light At The Stable | Sheree Plett

Shem: A Carpenter | David Kossoff

King Of Kings | Peter La Grand

Joy To The World | Nelson, James & Co

There Is No Santa Claus, Mommy, You Big Fat Liar! | Lucia Frangione

Lights Used To Shine | Sheree Plett

Rudi Krause | One Way

Oh What A Night | Zaac Pick

Luke 2:8-14

Angels We Have Heard | Peter La Grand

Christmas Prayer | Robert Louis Stevenson

Rebecca deBoer joined Ron Reed for "The Xmas Files" 

the texts of several of these readings can be found here 

dec 19 | christmas presence set list

ACT ONE

Christmas Is Coming | Nelson Boschman, Becca Birkner, Kenton Wiens

Charlie & Linus | Charles Schulz

Huron Carol | Garth Bowen

Seth: A Shepherd | David Kossoff

Angels We Have Heard | Peter La Grand

Screed | Ron Reed

Christmas Time Is Here | Nelson Boschman

A Child's Christmas In Texas | John Henry Faulk

Lo How A Rose Ere Blooming | Garth Bowen, Nelson Boschman

Half-Spent | Sheila Rosen

Seven Principles of Christmas | Garrison Keillor

Mary's Song | Crystal Arnold & Peter La Grand

Mary Considers Her Situation / Too Much To Ask | Luci Shaw

Joseph's Suspicion | Rainer Maria Rilke

O Sapientia | Madeleine L'Engle

Go Tell It | Garth Bowen

ACT TWO

I Heard The Bells | Nelson, Becca, Kenton

Southern Magi

Alleluiah | Garth Bowen with Lesley Hagen

The Secret of the Gifts | Paul Flucke

King Of Kings | Peter LaGrand

Joy To The World | Nelson, Becca, Kenton

Three Fools | Mike Mason

White Christmas | Garth Bowen

He Knew How To Keep Christmas Well | Charles Dickens

Allelua, Christ Is Born | Peter La Grand

dec 18 | christmas presence | set list

ACT ONE

O Tannenbaum | Nelson Boschman, James Danderfer, Becca Birkner, Kenton Wiens

Christmas Time's A' Comin' | Kathleen Nisbet

Cotton Patch Nativity | Tom Key

Come on o'er to Bethlehem | Zoe Thiessen

I Wonder As I Wander | Sheree Plett

Snow Angel | Tom Carson

Ghost Of Christmas Past | Jordan Klassen & Jocelyn Price

Journey of the Magi | T.S. Eliot

The Magi's Page | Zoe Thiessen

Santa's Little Helper | David Sedaris

Breaking Up Christmas | Kathleen Nisbet

Annunciation | Frederick Buechner

Do You Hear What I Hear | Jordan Klassen & Jocelyn Price

ACT TWO

Three Ships | Boschman / Danderfer / Birkner / Wiens

Scrooge & His Nephew | Charles Dickens

Lights Used To Shine | Sheree Plett

Tube Sox 1 | Sufjan Stevens

That Was The Worst Christmas Ever | Jordan Klassen & Jocelyn Price

Tube Sox 2 | Sufjan Stevens

Of the Father's Love Begotten | Zoe Thiessen

No Santa Claus | Lucia Frangione

Blue Christmas | Kathleen Nisbet

God In The Doorway | Annie Dillard

O Come Emmanuel | Jordan Klassen & Jocelyn Price

Emmanuel | Frederick Buechner

Light At The Stable | Sheree Plett

He Knew How To Keep Christmas Well | Charles Dickens

"artists of british columbia" book release | rose-marie goodwin

Rose-Marie Goodwin, an artist friend of PT, has just been published in a new book. Here is a sample of her work as well as a message from her! 

In Our Midst III

I am honoured to be included in the just-published and released "ARTISTS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA" book (pg 21-24). Copies may be purchased in retail bookstores, or directly from us at a reduced price of $15 (plus shipping).

This time of Advent, in the Christmas season, is even more special for me as "Unveiled" was selected to be included in the Advent Reader published by the Canadian Baptists of Canada. Just before the entry for December 14. This is freely available as a download.

Watch in the coming weeks as we release each painting in our new series "In Our Midst" on the website, Facebook and the like (for those who are really interested, please request a link for a premier viewing of the complete series). This includes the Award-winning "In Our Midst I" of the 2013 American Art Awards (4th place "Abstract Expressionism"). This wonderful new painting series is inspired by the beauty of Mackay Creek in our midst in North Vancouver. Since finishing the series, the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation announced their Mackay Creek Estuary Restoration Project with Seaspan Shipyards for this area. Exciting.

As a full-time artist, I have enjoyed my studio at 195 Pemberton in North Vancouver, but will shortly be moving to a new space as the building is going through an estate sale. Stay tuned, then come visit!

Watch for these upcoming 2014 solo shows:
1. Kay Meek Centre, West Vancouver starting April 29 2014. Exhibiting and several talks about art and my experiences, reflecting on being an "abstract expressionist".
2. Silk Purse Art Gallery in West Vancouver beginning August 26 2014 of the full new series "In Our Midst".

Merry Christmas and the very best wishes for an enriching New Year!

Rose-Marie Goodwin
rose-marie@rose-marie-paintings.com
www.rose-marie-paintings.com
604.729.4696

january 8 | the hiding place auditions | gallery 7 theatre & performing arts

Our close friends in Abbotsford at Gallery 7 Theatre are holding auditions for The Hiding Place, the powerful story of Corrie ten Boom. 

Gallery 7 Theatre & Performing Arts presents

OPEN AUDITIONS -
The Hiding Place

Wednesday, January 8, 2014
6:30 PM

MEI Auditorium
4081 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford

Gallery 7 Theatre is holding open auditions for all male and female performers ages 16 to 65 for its March production of Corrie ten Boom's powerful story of faith, survival and forgiveness as adapted by Timothy Gregory. Our production will be the Canadian premier of this work. Those interested in working behind the scenes are also invited to attend the audition.

For full details, please see below!

The Story:

Corrie ten Boom's post-war mission to bring healing and forgiveness to victims of the holocaust reaches a crisis when she comes face to face with the man who turned her and her family in to the German police during the war. What follows is an incredible recounting of the ten Boone's work with the Dutch underground to hide Jews in a hidden room above the family's watch repair shop and their subsequent internment in a concentration camp. Wrestling with her own emotional scars, Corrie must come to terms with her need to forgive in this grim yet beautiful story of faith and survival.

Production Run:

March 14 & 15, 20 - 22, 27 - 29, 2014 @ 7:30 PM
Matinees: March 15, 22 & 29 @ 2:00 PM

Rehearsal & Performance Location:

MEI Auditorium
4081 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford

Rehearsal Schedule:

Monday, Wednesday & Thursdays, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM plus Saturday rehearsals on February 22, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM and March 8, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

To Register:

Online:
Please click here.

By Phone:
Please call 604-504-5940.

By Email:
info@gallery7theatre.com

christmas presence | responses

"The unpolished nature of Christmas Presence is arguably its greatest strength. Each performer takes his or her turn around a large carpet, respectfully watching – or perhaps strumming or providing backup vocals – while their cast-mates perform. The intimate nature of the show and surrounding audience makes it feel as if you are a guest in one’s living room, enjoying a casual holiday evening with new friends." | Melissa Cornwell, Vancouver Vantage

"By my count, Pacific Theatre produces some of the most provoking, intriguing theatre in the city. This festive show is a reminder of what the company does so well: make you more kindhearted, more contemplative. It’s a fine way to spend this stretch to Christmas." | Zoe Grams, Vancouverscape

"All in all this was a night of discovery, reflection and cozy Christmas fun. A great way to get your Christmas spirit going and feel Christmas Presence." | Alyssa Kostello, GVPTA Blogger

"Bring a community, feel the community spirit. The Christmas Presence, if you will." | Andrew Wade, GVPTA Blogger

christmas presence | artist profile | carolyn arends

Carolyn Arends is a busy lady, so we're thrilled we get her back at CHRISTMAS PRESENCE this year for two performances!  She is a touring singer, songwriter, author, and speaker, and has a huge repertoire of Christmas music to share with us.  We can't wait!

Carolyn plays CHRISTMAS PRESENCE on December 21st (matinee and evening performances)!

christmas campaign | behind the scenes video

A little behind-the-scenes video of the shenanigans that go on at our annual Christmas card photoshoot.


To Donate:
Go to our website now: www.pacifictheatre.org/donate
Call 604.731.5483 (ask for Alison!)
Mail 1440 W 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC, V6H 1M8

aslan is on the move | tales from the tour

THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE arrived in Kamloops last Monday and has now been at Western Canada Theatre for a week. The show has been going great! It's been playing to sold out school matinees every day along with very full public performances in the evenings. Today the gang had a day off, but stage manager Laura Mclean took the time to share a few thoughts from her time in Kamloops so far:

Narnia is a pretty magical place, and my favourite part of this production of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is that in order to bring that magic onto our little stage we use classic theatre magic. A stunning soundscape created by Jeff and Corina and beautiful lighting by Lauchlin. And I feel pretty lucky that every night I get to make that magic happen. 

Laura and Kaitlin posing with the Witch's coat.

There are 257 called cues in this show. That’s not really that many for a large show, but when you consider that this is a pretty small show that runs about 75 min and that there is constant sound playing throughout that entire time, the sound and light cues quickly become a very present and integral part of the show.

I haven’t counted how many times I’ve called the show at this point; suffice it to say it’s been enough for me to memorize all of the cues. So I just sit, watch, and react to the actors and I really feel like I’m the third performer. I’m Maugrim growling, and the White Witch’s whip cracking, I’m Peter drawing his sword and Aslan breathing on the stone statues.

a scene from the show via Laura's perspective.

 The best is when we get to explain how we create all of this magic to the kids. We’ve been doing school shows in the mornings here in Kamloops and afterwards the kids have a chance to ask Mack and Kaitlin questions. More often than not one of the kids asks “How did you get the light to glow out of the Wardrobe at the end?” or “Where did all the sounds come from?” 

Laura peers down from her booth.

And so we explain, I lean out of the booth and wave to them and they all excitedly look up and wave back. And I just love how excited they are by what they’re seen, and how even more excited they are to understand how we can do such cool things in theatre.

It’s nice to be part of something so magical, and to be reminded of just how magical theatre can be. 

The show runs for one more week at Western Canada Theatre in Kamloops. All ticket info can be found here.  

christmas presence | mini-documentary

Ever wonder how everything comes together for CHRISTMAS PRESENCE every night?  Here's a little mini-documentary about the show, created by our own Peter Carlone.


CHRISTMAS PRESENCE plays until Dec. 21 at Pacific Theatre and Dec. 22 at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium in Abbotsford.

Tickets and info here.

dec 15 | christmas presence north shore | set list

ACT ONE

Go Tell It On The Mountain | Bart van der Linde 

Emanuel | Frederick Buechner

O What A Wonderful Child | Lois Carter

Death Might Be Your Santa Claus | Rev. J.M. Gates

Hear Now House Of David | Peter La Grand

Keen Sense of Occasion | John Lekich

I'll Be Home For Christmas | Bart van der Linde 

Snow Angel | Tom Carson

Jesu Bambino | Robyn Driedger Klassen

Seth | David Kossoff

Angels We Have Heard | Peter La Grand

ACT TWO

Joyful Joyful | Bart van der Linde

Carol of the Bells | Mark Woodyard

Driving To Midnight Mass In Dublin on Christmas Eve | John F. Deane

Face In The Sky | Frederick Buechner

I Wonder As I Wander | Robyn Driedger Klassen 

Joseph's Suspicion | Rainer Maria Rilke

Mary Considers Her Situation | Luci Shaw

The Irrational Season | Madeleine L'Engle

Mary's Song | Peter La Grand & Crystal Arnold

Annunciation | Frederick Buechner

Come To Us, Emanuel | Peter La Grand

Emanuel | Frederick Buechner

O Holy Night | Robyn Driedger Klassen

the texts for several of these readings can be found here 

Also featured...

Crystal Arnold

Lois Carter | cello

Spencer Capier | violin

Paul Woodyard | piano

Becca Birkner | bass

Brett Ziegler | keyboards

Kenton Wiens | drums

Rick Colhoun | drums

christmas presence | artist profile | jordan klassen

Jordan Klassen is definitely a growing presence in the local music scene.  Last year he placed second in The Peak Performance Project, and he's joining CHRISTMAS PRESENCE for the first time ever, accompanied by singer Jocelyn Price. Check out the music video for his first single "Go To Me" here.


Jordan Klassen and Jocelyn Price will be performing at CHRISTMAS PRESENCE on December 18th only!

dec 14 eve | christmas presence | set list

ACT ONE

Skating | Allen Desnoyers

Advent | Robert Farrar Capon

Little Town | Allen Desnoyers

Face In The Sky | Frederick Buechner

I Wonder As I Wander | Sheree Plett

Engineer |

What Would Jesus Buy | Allen Desnoyers

Thaddeus Bristol | David Sedaris

Snow Angel | Tom Carson

Mary's Song | Peter La Grand

Reverie | John Howison

Light At The Stable | Sheree

Feast Days | Annie Dillard

King Of Kings

ACT TWO

Silent Night | Sheree Plett

Christmas Greeting | George Carlin

Joy To The World | Allen Desnoyers

reading

Come To Us Immanuel | Peter La Grand

Driving To Midnight Mass In Dublin on Christmas Eve | John F. Deane

Ron talk or read something

Bethlehem Light | Allen Desnoyers

God In The Doorway | Dillard

Angels We Have Heard | Peter La Grand

Seth: A Shepherd | David Kossoff

What Child Is This | Sheree Plett

Child's Christmas In Wales | Dylan Thomas

dec 14 aft | christmas presence all-request matinee | set list

That was fun!  Before the show in the lobby we handed out a list of pretty much all the readings in the Big Green File Box Of Christmas, and let the audience pick the set lists. I didn't keep a record of the order of the pieces - after all, it was never written down - but here are the titles that were chosen.

The Face In The Sky | Frederick Buechner
God In The Doorway | Annie Dillard
Secret of the Gifts | Paul Flucke
Frail Humanity | Rory Holland
Seven Principles of a Successful Christmas | Garrison Keillor
Irrational Season | Madeleine L'Engle
No Safe Place | Sheila Rosen
Santa's Little Helper | David Sedaris
Too Much To Ask | Luci Shaw
Christmas Prayer | Robert Louis Stevenson
A Child's Christmas In Wales | Dylan Thomas

The musicians were Allen Desnoyers, Sheree Plett and Peter La Grand - check the evening set list for a list of the tunes they played in the afternoon, more or less.

dec 13 | christmas presence | set list

Allen Desnoyers
Andy Frew
Kelita
Becca Birkner | bass
Rick Colhoun | drums

ACT ONE

Bethelehem Light | Allen Desnoyers

Emmanuel | Frederick Buechner

Have Yourself  A Merry Little Christmas | Kelita

Thaddeus Brisol | David Sedaris

Love Has Come | Andy Frew

Snow Angel | Tom Carson

Heavenly Night | Kelita

The Innkeeper | Frederick Buechner

The King (Oh My Love) | Andy Frew

Creche | Nicola Colhoun

Joy to the World | Allen Desnoyers

ACT TWO

What Would Jesus Buy | Allen Desnoyers

Santa Instrumental

Death Might Be Your Santa Claus | The Rev. J.M. Gates

Let's Make A Baby King | Kelita

Shem | David Kossoff

Silent Night | Kelita

Joseph's Lullabye | Ron Klug

Gifts of the Magi | Allen Desnoyers

Emmanuel Coda | Frederick Buechner

King Of Heaven | Andy Frew

texts of specific readings may be available through this link

christmas presence | artist profile | laurell

Laurell has been a PT regular for the past few years, and so we're excited to have her back at CHRISTMAS PRESENCE this year! Here's one of our favourites - her Christmas single "All Wrapped Up in You". Listen for it on the radio as people start switching over to their Christmas playlists, but in the meantime you might also hear her latest single "Unbreakable" that's been climbing the charts.


Laurell plays CHRISTMAS PRESENCE on December 19th only!

dec 12 | christmas presence | set list

Garth Bowen
Kathleen Nisbet
Robyn Driedger Klassen
Karen Lee Morlang | piano
Jonathan Perkins | bass
Rick Colhoun | drums

ACT ONE

Breaking Up Christmas | Kathleen Nisbett

Cotton Patch Gospel | Tom Key

Joy To The World | all

Engineer's Santa Claus | unknown

Jesu Bambino  | Robyn Driedger Klassen

Christmas Dream | Eugene Petersen

Go Tell It | Garth Bowen

Little Towns of Bethlehem | John Terpstra

Quartet | Tim Anderson

Angels We Have Heard On High | all

ACT TWO

Ebenezer & Fred | Charles Dickens

Hark The Herald Angels Sing | all

A Keen Sense Of Occasion | John Lekich

White Christmas | Garth Bowen

The Three Fools | Mike Mason 

Huron Carol | Robyn Driedger Klassen

Reverie | John Howison

Silent Night | Garth Bowen

Feast Days | Annie Dillard

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear | all

For The Time Being | W.H. Auden

O Holy Night | Robyn Driedger Klassen

texts of specific readings may be available through this link