Stage Door News
Stage Door News
This year, as we have for more than 80 years, we invite you to start your December with the true spirit of the holiday season: joy, open hearts, kindness, and hope — and a reminder of our shared humanity, as we present THE CHRISTMAS STORY, playing December 7-23 at the historic Church Of the Holy Trinity. Reservations or Advance Bookings are recommended via www.thechristmasstory.ca (or 416-598-4521;301.
Each autumn we wonder what adventures this season of the presentation will bring. Over the years, the pageant has encountered more than its share of both challenges and small miracles!
Big challenges included figuring out what to do in 1977 when a fire spread from the neighbouring Eaton’s warehouses and destroyed the roof of the church. That Christmas, the pageant was performed in the Toronto Eaton Centre while extensive repairs were taking place.
Comic folklore handed down in the cast includes the time the elastic snapped on Joseph’s boxer shorts during the “walk to Bethlehem”. A former assistant director was legendary for her ability to persuade families shopping in the Eaton Centre to lend their baby for an hour when the scheduled performer failed to show up.
On the opening weekend of the pageant, our director, Susan Watson, received an email that the baby scheduled for that night had come down with a cold. With regret, Watson had to resign herself to using the back-up doll for the performance. That's when the head usher rushed over to tell her there was a family at the doorstep with a baby girl who could play Jesus – and the parents were from Nazareth!
Reem and Anan Mazzawi — who have been living in Canada for five years — had arrived early for the show with their daughters Noor and baby Tala (pictured at right). On their way to the pageant they had been joking that maybe their younger daughter could play Jesus – but probably not – because she was a girl!
Tala did a star turn as Jesus, not fussing once and interacting on cue with all the performers, as if she had been rehearsing for weeks! As one audience member later commented, “It was a perfect Toronto moment.”
The Mazzawi’s connection with The Christmas Story continues this year. Tala’s older sister Noor is joining one of the Casts as an angel.
THE CHRISTMAS STORY shares the magic of the first Christmas aided by masterful musicians, the genuine excitement of its 100+ volunteer cast members (including a real baby in the role of Jesus!), beautiful costumes, and professional sound and lighting. THE CHRISTMAS STORY is one of Toronto's most beloved holiday traditions and is guaranteed to help you connect with the spirit of the season.
Tradition, community, innocence, trembling nerves, miracles and soaring choral music: this not-to-be-missed nativity play is a calming antidote to a hectic season and a troubled world. It is a beautiful reminder that this is a season of blessings and new beginnings that we should all share with each other.
In that spirit, we have arranged for sign language interpretation (ASL) for two performances: Sunday, December 16th at 4:30 pm, and Saturday, December 22nd at 7:30 pm. The church is Wheelchair Accessible.
THE CHRISTMAS STORY
VENUE: The Church of The Holy Trinity
19 Trinity Square, Toronto (beside the Eaton Centre - MAP)
DATES: December 7 - 23, 2018
3 Weekends of Performances!
(**ASL sign language interpretation indicated beside the performance)
•Sat, December 8 at 4:30pm (matinee only)
•Sun, December 9 at 4:30pm (matinee only)
•Sun, December 16 at 4:30pm (**ASL Interpretation, matinee only)
•Sat, December 22 at 7:30pm (**ASL Interpretation)
•Sun, December 23 at 7:30pm (final performance)
ADMISSION & RESERVATIONS:
Suggested Donation is $25 adults / $5 children 17 & under
(a collection will be taken). Seating is general admission.
Reservations are recommended via www.thechristmasstory.ca
or call 416-598-4521 Ext. 301 to book
Doors open half an hour before performances.
2018-11-15
Toronto: A tradition for more than 80 years, "The Christmas Story" runs December 7-23