Purdue Musical Organizations to present 'Christmas is Believing'

Christmas show rehearsal
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"This year's Christmas Show is a culmination of more than 100 hours of practice and the talent of approximately 150 performers," said Purdue Musical Organizations director Brian Breed. "The performances will offer a little bit of something for everyone, and we hope that the audience members will head home believing in the spirit of Christmas all over again."

Thousands see the Christmas show each year, said Breed, who will be directing for the 18th year. Millions nationwide will watch the 2005 production on PBS throughout the holiday season.

Performers at the show will include the Purdue Varsity Glee Club, the Purduettes, Purdue Bells, the All-Campus and Community Chorale, Heart & Soul, PMO Specialties and the PMO Kids Choir.

"The show will open with an original song titled 'Believe,' which tells the story and truly captures the essence of our theme Christmas is Believing," Breed said. "No two Christmas shows are ever exactly alike: variety is our trademark. The show will feature music ranging from highly staged and choreographed Broadway show tunes like 'We Need a Little Christmas' to holiday favorites such as 'Deck the Halls.'

"Because Elliott Hall is such an enormous space, the theatrical elements are key parts of the production with intricate lighting and towering set pieces."

Breed gives a lot of the music's credit to Carey Deadman, a jazz trumpeter and music arranger with Roosevelt University's The Music Conservatory, who has arranged the orchestrations for the Christmas Show since 1997.

"Carey Deadman helps us put together an amazing show every year," Breed said. "He has worked with stars such as Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett and Stephen Sondheim. He's played with the orchestras for the productions of 'The Producers' and 'Wicked' in Chicago.

Performances are scheduled for Dec. 8 at 8 p.m.; Dec. 9 at noon, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Dec. 10 at noon and 4 p.m. Tickets are $20 for students age 13 through college; $29 for the general public; $26 for seniors; and $17 for children 12 and under. For information, call (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW.

Purdue Musical Organizations also will offer a special children's matinee at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 8 that will feature an entire production of Act I. Children's tickets are $10 for students or $6 for students in a group of 50 or more. For information, call Julie Ricciardi, assistant director of PMO, at (765) 494-3947 or (800) 893-3041.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Sources: Brian Breed, (765) 494-3941, bdbreed@purdue.edu

Steve Schlenk, PMO assistant to the director, (765) 496-6091, sschlenk@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

A publication-quality photo is available at http://news.uns.purdue.edu/images/+2006/PMO-christmas06.jpg

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