Christmas is Sharing not to be missed

OXFORD HILLS – The Christmas for Teens concert will be held on Friday night and promises to fill the Hills of Oxford with the sounds of Christmas once again.

The concert is a major fundraiser for the RightStart program which helps provide a Christmas for teens, ages 13 to 18 and living in the area of Oxford Hills. All proceeds go directly to gifts for these young people, who otherwise may not experience the spirit of the holidays.

The concert will be held in the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 3; snow date, Sunday, December 5 at 2 p.m. 

According to Cynthia Wescott, director, the evening will be another “can’t miss event.”

“This year’s theme is Christmas is Sharing,” said the director. “The show will be fun, upbeat, expressive, moving and sure to put everyone in the spirit of the season. It will once again depict the Story of Christmas.”

The show picks up where the Teen and Animal Show leaves off; with “Lily,” a TV personality on location at the Teen Benefit Show.

“The opening is fun and frolics with a new, rousing arrangement of It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas and Sleigh Ride. And we are featuring two angels this year instead of just one.”

One moving number will be A Christmas Wish by the Treble Chorus.

“It is one of our message pieces,” explains Wescott. “The lyrics talk about wishing for no hunger or disease, no homelessness, no war and most of all…to have peace.”

Another astounding piece, The Bethlehem Carol will be a duet, sung by Tom McFarlane and Jo Ellen Carter.

Outstanding country singer, Diane Maddix will woo the crowd with Hear the Bells and featured guests are the nationally-acclaimed Downeast Barbershop Chorus.

“The staging and programming was worked out with the Downeasters' director, Jack Baggs,” said Westcott. “We decided to mix the groups and selections rather than having an all Barbershop portion and then the Benefit portion. The Downeasters will include two quartet groups: The Four Baris and the Back Bay Four. One of their selections is Diddly Squat, which is absolutely hilarious.”

“It will be very interesting for the audience to see and hear the differences,” she added.

The Oxford Hills Drama Class and Chamber Choir are participating as well, along with dancers, quartets, duets and soloists. With all the groups that are on the program, there is hardly a favorite song that won't be on the program.

“We are pleased that the Drama Class has come up with another teen creation for Christmas and the Oxford Hills Chamber Singers will add their wonderful harmonies.”

There are approximately 140 participants, including three lighting, four backstage workers, one sound and one projectionist.

“One of the outstanding features of our Benefit production is the creative lighting designed each year by Al Wescott,” she said. “This takes many hours to accomplish and a great deal of running up and down the lift to get the best lighting effects.”

Other directors are Jenna Iggulden with the Drama Class and Dennis Boyd for the Chamber Choir. Virginia Noble is the production accompanist. Aranka Matolcsy will accompany the show with the flute and the percussion instruments will be led by assistant director, Sally Riman.

“I am very proud of the Benefit Chorus and our guests,” beamed Westcott. “We have worked many hours to make this an enjoyable evening for everyone who attends. We hope everyone leaves with a smile on their face and a song in their heart. And, of course, the smiles that will happen later when teens in need have something under the tree and a feeling that their community cares.”

Tickets are available from Books-N-Things on Maine Street in Norway. Adult tickets are $10, and student/senior tickets are $7.

Sharing Photo: Jackie Rybeck

SINGING FOR TEENS – The Christmas is Sharing Concert, which benefits RightStart’s Christmas for Teens, recently held one of their final rehearsals at the high school auditorium. The concert will be held on Friday night (December 3) at 7:30 p.m. Front: John Mansfield, Patricia Jillson, Warren Hazelton and Tommy McFarlane. Middle: Pat Cook, Shania Presby and Ashley O’Neil. Back: The angels, Alissa Mann and Amy Peet.