There are so many people performing in this year’s Holly Jolly Follies, the dress rehearsals are happening in shifts.
Organizer Lorrie Dudzik said 60 performers will take to the stage for this year’s holiday variety show.
“[That’s] including the marching band, the Rusty Fingers band, the Keep the Pool open group, plus singers and dancers and flute players and pianists,” Dudzik said. “It’s going to be a really, really good show.”
Dudzik said often the Lynn Canal Community Players have to try hard to get people to volunteer for shows – but not this 15-year-old Haines tradition.
“Its become a community favorite,” Dudzik said. “Everybody is excited to participate in the follies.”
This year a dance group, the Deishú Dance Team, will perform Jingle Bell Rock. Dudzik said Act I includes a manger scene, and Act II is an indoor Christmas scene. There will be one skit, organized by former CVN publisher Kyle Clayton.
“The rest of it is mostly musical acts,” Dudzik said.
She estimates the show will be about an hour and a half long, including intermission. Head Start will be providing snacks.
Dudzik said it has been a challenge to coordinate rehearsing and space with so many people – but the process has been helped along by stage manager Dena Selby and two stagehands, Audry Smith and Susette Carroll.
“The marching band, bless their hearts, they’re going to march onto the stage and then they’re going to turn around and march right back off again. So we won’t have to accommodate that number of people backstage,” Dudzik said.
Other people helping to produce the show include Michael Marks on sound, and Holly Davis, who helped with costumes and finding people to play Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
Greg Podsiki is orchestrating the finale, which is a production of Twelve Days of Christmas. Dudzik said people should come prepared to sing along.
The Holly Jolly Christmas Follies are on Sunday, Dec. 15, starting at 4 p.m. at the Chilkat Center. Tickets are on sale at the door, $10 for adults, $6 for children.