SOUTHWICK – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and Southwick On Stage wants to spread holiday cheer at its second annual Celebrate the Season event tomorrow.
The event takes place at Town Hall at 1:30 p.m., where the newly renovated stage will be dedicated to kick-off the celebration.
“The Cultural Council has done a lot of work bringing the stage back,” said Patricia McMahon of the Southwick Cultural Council. “We used some community preservation funds and added a handicap lift so the stage is completely accessible, theater lights, drapes, new stairs and we refinished the floors.”
McMahon said total cost of the renovation was $150,000. Former state Rep. Rosemary Sandlin helped start the effort by securing some state funds. Sandlin was invited to the celebration along with Rep. Nichola Boldyga, State Sen. Michael Knapik and town officials.
McMahon said the refurbishment was the first time any work was done to the stage since the building was built in 1928.
The dedication will be immediately followed by a solo performance of “We Need A Little Christmas” by Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional High School junior Jordan Reed.
‘The main event is a staged reading of ‘A Christmas Carol’,” said McMahon.
The reading stars Knapik as Ebenezer Scrooge. This is the second time Knapik has taken on the role of the famously stingy and grumpy Scrooge. Knapik said he has been working on his role and the change from grouch to Christmas benefactor.
“Scrooge starts out ‘Bah-Humbugy’ but the great lesson is the rebirth of Ebenezer and the joy of the season.”
Knapik said there is fun in playing both faces of Scrooge.
“It’s fun to be the curmudgeon, but it’s good to open up the window sash on Christmas morning and call out Merry Christmas,” said Knapik. “It’s a good lesson.”
McMahon said other readers include local citizens as well as actors. She added that it is a shortened version of the story.
After the reading of “A Christmas Carol,” refreshments will be served, as a roving magician performs tricks. Children can gather together for a reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” and the celebration ends with a community carol sing.
“It’s a family oriented event for all ages,” said McMahon. “Our goal was to have a nice, relaxing afternoon.”
Celebrate the Season is a free event, however, Southwick On Stage will accept donations of non-perishable food items for the Southwick Food Pantry.
