Annual Christmas performance to bring holiday spirit to Haugh

As much a holiday tradition in Glendora and surrounding cities as eggnog and gingerbread cookies, the Citrus College Performing Arts Department is preparing to debut their annual holiday spectacular “Christmas Is…”.

The annual show features a performance by the Citrus College Choir where they perform several traditional Christmas carols. That performance is followed by the main show “Christmas Is…” where, at the end, children in the audience get to climb on stage and sit on Santa and Mrs. Claus’ laps.

Each year “Christmas Is…” features a different storyline and moral. This year the story revolves around three elves who feel overworked and wish to find a time when Christmas was less hectic and stressful. They ask Father Time to help them find a time period when the holiday season was less stressful. They get to see what the holidays were like in many different time periods, and at the end of their journey, they learn a lesson that the audience is meant to carry with them after the show is over.

Josh Pecjak and Katie Ransom, who play Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus respectively, are playing their roles for the second and final time. They say their close friendship helps them be the famous couple.

“We are so comfortable on stage together because we have been performing together for the past few years,” Pecjak said. “I think we act more as a couple on stage and that helps us be more believable characters.”

Regarding his own portrayal of jolly ol’ Saint Nick, Pecjak said he strives to make his Santa as close to the imagination of the children in the audience as possible.

“I play this role how I think the kids imagine him to be, more personable and funny,” he said. “I want my portrayal to be as if we are saying, ‘Here is how Santa really is during the holiday season.’”

Ransom said the children who come every year also push her to immerse herself in her portrayal.

“This play really brings out the Christmas spirit in the audience I think,” she said. “It is all about making the children happy because they really think we Mr. and Mrs. Claus.”

Director and music professor Douglas Shrope said Pecjak and Ransom’s chemistry together on stage is perfect as the Claus couple.

“They are both very skilled actors and have great chemistry together,” Shrope said. “They play the characters as fun, energetic and kind.”

“What is more is they are very good at thinking on their feet, and you have to when you work with children,” he said.

Shrope said this year’s show will feature costume and scenery that will especially amaze the audience.

“The sets are just beautiful,” he said. “The elves travel back to the 1950s, the Victorian Era and the Medieval Period. So we are going to have a very in-depth wardrobe and set.”

“We also did a lot of research on the vocabulary of each time period and the different terms they used, specifically the different names they gave Santa Claus,” he said. “Our time traveling elves see different hairstyles, which gives the cosmetology department a chance to shine.”

Because of the different time periods the elves visit, the play features different types of music.

“We get to go back to the ‘50s and do Christmas classics like ‘Rockin Around the Christmas Tree’ and then for the Medieval Period we have a drum line,” he said.

Last year, more than 14,000 people came to see the show during its run.

“I am expecting it to continue to grow,” he said. “I have done this show since I started back in 1988, and I still love every aspect of it.”

“Christmas Is…” will be playing Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 2 p.m. and Dec. 11 and 12 at 8 p.m.  General tickets are $20, student/seniors tickets are $18 and 16 and under are $15