'Elgin Celebrates the Holidays' with variety show at Hemmens
Whether your house is decorated and your gifts are bought and wrapped, or your list is as long as Santa's beard, "Elgin Celebrates the Holidays" is a good starting point for Christmas spirit.
The show, which takes place at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, at the Hemmens, saw its inaugural production last year and the reaction of the community cemented the idea of a second year of good cheer.
"It's going to be the same type of show; a variety," said Hemmens Cultural Center creative director, Butch Wilhelmi. "Each act that's performing is going to have a short piece that's going to highlight their skills."
Many of the acts that performed at last year's production will return this year, according to Wilhelmi, including Integrity School of Dance Performance in Elgin, co-owned by Elisabeth McCoy and Kelly Hill.
"We are doing two dances," McCoy said. "We have a competitive company and a performance company, both will be doing creative Christmas dances for the show, which they created especially for the show."
McCoy said that the organization was happy to return when asked by Wilhelmi.
"We love the community support, anytime Butch wants us," she said. "We're big Elgin supporters."
Along with Integrity School of Dance Performance, a variety of local acts will entertain, according to Wilhelmi. "EYSO is providing a quartet that will be playing in the lobby (The Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra's Maud Powell String Quartet) before the show and at intermission," he began. "Ballet Folklorico Is always amazing to watch, not only the talent but the costumes. Magic Corral and Kid's Chorus, traditional holiday music, are great this time of the year."
"Soiree Lyrique is opera based and they'll be doing traditional Christmas music of a different kind than most people would be used to, and Eastern Groove Studio (a belly dancing group) is not a sort of act you usually equate with music, but they have Christmas Material," Wilhelmi added.
This year's production will include a master of ceremonies for the first time.
"Dave Newton who is a local entertainer, guitar player, musician, magician, and all kinds of stuff is anchoring the show for us this year," said Wilhelmi.
"I think he's going to be able to tie it together in a way that will tie in the crowd so that they can feel the spirit of Christmas that much more and be ready for Christmas," added McCoy.
Newton, who participated in last year's show as a tap dancing Santa, is not new to the job of emcee.
"Typically, entertainment-wise, I'm an actor or a music performer, but I've emceed a couple of times," he said.
"The main job is to keep everybody entertained," said Elginite Newton, who owns a consulting, engineering and programming firm for automated micro-controllers. "So this year I'll be doing some singalongs and doing a little magic, telling a few jokes and telling them about the jokes and informing them about the acts that are coming up."
"I'm excited Dave Newton's going to be stepping up as emcee because he brings a wide array of talent," Wilhelmi said.
The production is suited for all-ages, according to Wilhelmi. The only thing to think about is the live performance will go on for a couple of hours," he said.
"I think it's something that any age can enjoy."
"It's that time to sit back and enjoy and appreciate the arts," said McCoy, who is from Elgin. "The audience will be able to do that with all the acts and an emcee that can tie it all together."
If you go
What: "Elgin Celebrates the Holidays," a variety show featuring local performing groups
When: 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18
Where: The Hemmens, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin
Tickets: $10. Visit <a href="http://www.cityofelgin.org/index.aspx?NID=1570">Hemmens.org</a> or call (847) 931-5900.