Photos and article by Chanae Nielson
In his college days, Carson Saline always dreamed of performing with the group of hand selected members of the drama department and the orchestra to be in the Christmas program. Alas, there were no auditions and an invitation was never extended to him. Because of this, Saline was inspired to create his own Christmas production in 2008 and with only a week’s preparation and the permission of the Taylor Heritage Foundation, he presented the first program at the Old Shumway School House that year.
The seats of the school house were packed again this month for six performances of the free show which Saline spends all year working on as a labor of love. This year’s program, Let It Be Christmas, is the second full book musical, a story from beginning to end, he’s produced and directed, following the success of 2013’s On This Christmas Eve, which warranted a second performance in 2015.
The story follows a musical cast of characters, all played by local talents, as they prepare for the holiday, reminisce about Christmas past and fall in love. Chris and Cindy Kringle were played by Keith Jones and Leah Staley. Staley’s jealousy tinged performance of Santa Baby brought laughter as she accidently reads a letter from the “naughty pile.” Elf schoolteacher Daisy (K.J. Palmer) laments that “even Santa found love” until she meets dreamy, but slightly awkward, Hans from the dark forest, played by Keagan Bjornn. Meanwhile Santa’s other elves, played by Carson Saline as Gustav and Teresa Abbott as his wife, Candy, scheme to bring Hans and Daisy together while helping Santa scramble to get everything done in time. Adorable children elves, Blue played by Mikell Abbott and Rayni Flake as Pippa, day-dreamed about what they wanted for Christmas.
