Santa Claus will make an appearance at the Granada Theatre on Tuesday night as students from the Emporia State University music department and members of the Community Theatre of Emporia perform the musical revue, “A Christmas Survival Guide.”
The musical features a mix of traditional Christmas songs as well as original songs, and follows eight characters as they search for the true meaning of Christmas.
The Granada’s doors will open at 6 p.m. Tuesday, and the show will begin at 7:30.
The group has performed the show in Cottonwood Falls and Burlington, and a few numbers were performed for students at Village Elementary School. Tuesday night is the final performance.
So far, public response has been strong.
“We sold out in Burlington,” said Jeremy Devine, who performs in the show as well as directing and choreographing it.
The revue is designed to appeal to adults and children.
“The off-Broadway production of it was geared to be a family show,” Devine said. “It was made to be something families could see together when they got together for the holidays.”
“One of the things people at the other performances have said is that all of the musical numbers take them through all of their emotions,” Devine said. “We have those dream moments when we remember childhood. We dream of white Christmases, and there’s comedy and silliness.”
Devine said there are many contrasts in the show that will appeal to different types of people.
The cast comprises five characters, three doo-wop girls, a narrator and a five-piece band that performs on stage with the players.
“We try to make it high-energy,” Devine said. “And those moments where it’s all about the music, we try to keep it that way. People are listening to those words and hearing those harmonies, and getting really involved emotionally.”
Tickets cost $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $8 for students, and are available at the Town Crier, Sweet Granada, the Granada Coffee Co., the ESU Memorial Union and the Granada Theatre.