Christmas show to benefit HIT, Theatre North

IRONWOOD — The Historic Ironwood Theatre and Theatre North are joining forces to offer a Christmas show filled with local singers, dancers and a good helping of Santas.

“We’ll have a whole bunch of dancing Santas,” said the show’s director Bethany Ann Hellen. “In all, there are around 77 performers: singers — youth to adult from all around the area — and many dancers from surrounding local studios.”

Two performances are planned at the Historic Ironwood Theatre — Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Hellen, a member of HIT’s programming committee and an owner of a local dance studio, said she was honored to take the reigns of this year’s holiday show at the theatre, which in years past has been mustered by the Claudettes dance troupe.

“Our students at BAHS have been invited to take part in the Claudettes Christmas show for the past few years and always have so much fun,” said Hellen. “When we (my other instructor, Monica Lindquist, and I) heard the Claudettes were not going to be doing it anymore, we knew we needed to talk to them about continuing some sort of Christmas show.”

Work on the show began in October and there have been many rehearsals bringing the various groups together to join in song and dance, according to Hellen.

“Our idea was to invite anyone in the community to share their talents on stage for the holiday season,” said Hellen. “There are so many talented individuals around and it’s a beautiful thing to see them all come together in the joy of performing. I am looking forward to this first year and many to come.”

Maggie Hill is the show’s musical director and will accompany the performances on the piano.

The show is a benefit for both the Theatre North and the Historic Ironwood Theatre.

—Larry Holcombe