Finding it harder to get into the spirit of the season nowadays? One bright spot I can heartily recommend you look into is getting the kids together, or any loved ones or friends within reach, and head over to Paramount Theatre to see Elf the Musical. While current events may get me down, how could I forget the pure happiness alive and well, all singing and dancing right in my own backyard in Downtown Aurora?
Balancing personal and professional life with preparing for our two upcoming shows next year, Cabaret and Once (and oh yes, our next season, Season Eight!), I’m dutifully reading emails and performance reports yesterday. Suddenly pops up an anecdote of a moment during Sunday evening’s performance that seems to literally light up the screen! At a turning point in the show’s plot, we learn that Santa’s sleigh is powered by children’s belief in him. Santa becomes aware that there is not enough Christmas spirit in the world believing in him, and now he will never be able to fly above the rooftops and deliver to everyone their Christmas presents. Bereft Santa just doesn’t know what to do and says, “I hate to disappoint all those kids.”
Then, out of nowhere, with perfect timing, a little child’s voice rings out, “I BELIEVE IN YOU, SANTA!” Well, the whole place, almost 1700 folks, gives up this collective “AWWWWWW!”
Conductor Tom Vendafreddo goes on in his email to say one of the musicians in the pit got “all teary eyed!” Jamie Gronwick, Director of Marketing, received an email from a patron asking if that kid was “part of the performance.” It was spontaneous, pure and innocent. Come to the theatre for a heart-warming reminder of what children can teach us. Remember when you believed!
Love & thanks,
Jim
