"The Promise" captivates holiday audiences
Contemporary Christmas musical staged for 15th time
Led by the indomitable spirit and musical
talent of director/singer Patty Parsons, a community group staged
"The Promise" contemporary Christmas musical for the 15th time
in Ketchum Dec. 21-23.
Holiday audiences at the Presbyterian
Church of the Big Wood were captivated for three evenings by the 60-minute
production entitled "The Wonder of Christmas," featuring
singers, dancers and guests.
The highlights included:
A thrilling musical duet "More than
Wonderful" sung by Patty Parsons and Paul Stoops; a traditional Irish
carol called "The Wexford Carol," starring soloist Evelyn Lee;
The Amy Grant rendition of "Breath of
Heaven" sung, in another beautiful duet, by Patty Parsons and her
lovely daughter Kodi Parsons; along with solos featuring the wonderful
voices of Cheryl Morrell and Austin Amaya.
Among the songs of the season in the
program were "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," "Go Tell
it on the Mountain," "We Three Kings," and "O’ Come
All Ye Faithful."
Doing a great job setting the scene were
Footlight Dance Centre performers. They danced an overture and "I
Wonder As I Wonder," plus a carol medley and the finale.
The dancers were McKenna Peterson, Casey
Colesworthy, Addy Mason, Kaley Pruitt, Alyse Stark, Lainey Smith, Mandy
Alexander, Gretchen Heath, Coco Knudson, Kelsey Lidstrom and Adiana
Maniere.
Choreographers were Hilarie Neely and Mitra
Boloix.
In the children’s choir were Sloan
Brandon, Riley Brandon, Kelly Chapman, Ryan Chapman, Sofia Drougas, Alex
Haupt, Hannah Haupt, Nikki Kennedy, Megan Morrell, Reid Selisch, Caitlin
Sholtis, Colton Sholtis, Kelly Nelson and Amanda Stelling.
Children’s director and rehearsal pianist
was Dorinda Rendahl.
In the main choir were sopranos Jean
Mickelson, Gloria and Anna Wieand, Evelyn Lee, Sherry Thorson, Ellen
Campion, Estelle Rudolph, Andrea Rule, Kodi Parsons, Susie Lloyd, Deb
Santa, Sue Noel, Kathy Fortuin, Natalia Ferris and Amanda Greer;
Also, altos Bunny Manus, Debbie Bouiss,
Cheryl Morrell, Patti Ahrens, Jima Rice, Christy McPherson, Collett and
Gariety Pruitt, Melody Mattson, Julia Augustus, Dee Street, Karen Chase,
Dee Hadley, Cheryl Stoops, Janet Parry and Amy Harrison;
Also, tenors Paul Stoops, Austin Amaya,
Steve Pruitt, Layne Stoops and Nancy Auseklis;
And, bass voices George Wieand, Pat Carter,
Max Thompson, Carl Manus, Christopher Black, Lee Stoops, Phil Bouiss and
Mike Ostrom.