A Christmas Card from the Barrow

Director Shawn Clerkin has a motto about turning lemons into lemonade, but based on the rehearsal Thursday night it might be better summed as "when auditions hand you a smaller-than-needed cast, create your own variety show."

He is leading the charge for the original holiday show "A Barrow Christmas Card" which will be performed Saturday and Sunday. 

The Franklin Civic Operetta Association originally planned to do the classic "Holiday Inn" as its Christmas show this year but had to change course this fall. "We just didn't have enough (people) audition to pull off the show," Clerkin said. 

Unable to do a full-scale musical options were limited, yet limitless. "Let's do, essentially, a Christmas variety show like you used to see on TV," Clerkin said. "We built the show around who was there and what their talent is."    

There will be singing, dancing, skits and featured performers. ​

As far as the music in the show, it was a team effort to choose traditional and modern hits. "They all picked their favorites," Clerkin said. "We only had one overlap."

Online the show is described as follows: "People in Franklin love the Christmas holiday! We love the season and have many ways that we celebrate with friends and family. Different carols, songs, delicious food, inspiring tales, and cultural traditions all celebrate this joyous season. Join your Franklin Civic Operetta and Barrow-Civic Theatre friends, along with local Taste of Talent participants, as we share in story and song the many ways the lovely Oil Region celebrates Christmas."

Making up the core cast is Libby Best, Bellina Devine, Kevin Fox, Jenny Jack, Cole Devine, Dawn Polito, Liam Webster. Jenalee Schenk and Kaitlynn Moore. Featured Taste of Talent performers will be Kevin Downey with duet partner Brianna Erdman, Nathaniel Licht, Joni Zacherl and Ashleigh Bennett. Snowflake performers are Alaina Kuhaneck, Isbel McNulty, Lily Black and Addison Moore. 

Knightettes are Baylee Cutchall, Savan Steigerwald, McKenna Bordell, Brooklyn Burchanowski, Quinlyn Karns, Stephanie Anderson, Angelina Wofford, Ella Bodien, Eden Criado, Mikahla Ho, Isabelle Baker, Ella Marbich and Marley Plowman. Silks members are Haley Bell, Andi Coast, Jade Owens, Karis Heckathorne, Allie Miller, Brooklyn Culver and Sophia Schwab.

Show, which has a run time of just under two hours, will be done at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets can be purchased from the box office before each show or online at ​https://barrowtheatre.org/event/a-barrow-christmas-card/2022-12-03/.