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Arts & Entertainment

"Christmas at Tucker" Plays to a Packed House

The show, dubbed TFUMC's "gift to the community," was an evening of music and drama depicting the Christmas story.

gave what they billed a “gift to the Tucker community” on Sunday night. “Christmas at Tucker,” a music and drama production telling the Christmas story, was presented to a packed sanctuary both at 5 p.m. and again at 8 p.m. 

The production, which included over 120 actors, singers, musicians, and dancers, was directed by Tom Moore, Minister of Music and Arts at TFUMC. The show, in its second year with plans for it to continue annually, is considered a “community production,” and included participants from the church’s congregation, but also from the surrounding area.

To further the "gift" and "community" themes, church members were encouraged to “tithe” a tenth of their allotted tickets, offering them to community members at large rather than exclusively to friends and family. It seemed to work, as tickets were gone within a week of becoming available, and the audience was packed for both performances on Sunday, and Thursday night's dress rehearsal was opened to the public.

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“No one is here by accident. Everyone is here with divine purpose,” Moore said before Sunday evening's performance, speaking of all the actors and singers, as well as the many people who worked behind the scenes and even those in the audience that night.

Prior to the start of the Christmas story, Randall Romig set the mood with a Christmas concert on the organ, followed by a performance of “Christmas Eve Sarajevo” (made popular by the Trans Siberian Orchestra) by the church’s Sanctuary Bells, one of six handbell choirs at TFUMC. 

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Senior Pastor Jimmy Moor then stood to welcome those in attendance, stating that “we’re just getting started and I believe it’s already been worth the price of admission.” (There was no charge for tickets.)  He went on to say that “this really is Tom [Moore]’s brainchild, and is the second of what I hope will be many more productions like this.”

“Christmas at Tucker” was told as a frame story, with the main speaking parts given to an adult Zebulun (Joel Williams) and Justus (Brian Heck). Justus tells Zebulun that he is going to see “the teacher,” “the prophet,” and invites him to join him on his journey. Zebulun is hesitant, and the two go on to retell their memories of the story of Jesus’ birth many years prior. The story was told in short scenes with music by TFUMC’s Chancel Choir, soloists, and the accompanying orchestra between each one.

The show, which was the culmination of months of work beginning with script writing last spring and rehearsals in September, was very well received, with feedback ranging from comments on the music and acting to the props and costumes, as well as the experience as a whole. Kathy Patterson, choreographer and lead dancer whose home church is , said "Tucker First has become my second home. I feel very comfortable here and enjoy working with some amazing dancers in Christmas at Tucker.  I feel much honored that [they] asked me to lead the liturgical dance."

 Other feedback, taken from the Christmas at Tucker web site, includes "Thank you for the beautiful gift of hope and love," "Last night's program was a feast for the eyes, ears and heart! I will carry the memory of the performance with me for a long time," and "This was an incredible gift to our community and to our congregation. We will never be the same!"

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