OHHS to present Christmas musical this week

Dec. 7—OAK HILL — A Christmas classic will be revived on the local stage this week.

The Oak Hill High School Theater Department, under the direction of Dr. Joseph Dangerfield, will perform the Broadway musical version of Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" at the Oak Hill High School Auditorium on Friday, Dec. 8 and Saturday, Dec. 9 at 6 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $10 each and available at the door.

Dangerfield, director of choirs and theater at the high school, invites community members to come out and see a show expected to feature some high-quality performances. The show has been in rehearsals since August.

"They work very hard," Dangerfield said of the cast and crew members. "It's a really big show (2 hours, 15 minutes intermission-inclusive).

"They work their tails off."

Last Thursday and Friday, the troupe attended the West Virginia Theater Association's annual exhibition, during which schools from around the state can display their skills.

The Oak Hill group performed a section of Act 1 of "White Christmas" and got a good deal of positive feedback, said Dangerfield. Two of the OHHS students — senior Amelia Bennett and freshman Maraeya Stewart — received all-star cast awards, according to their director.

"I told my kids this the other day after we did that performance at Concord how well they did and how proud I was of them," said Dangerfield, in his first year at OHHS. "And I told them that there are times in this show when I forget that they're high school students, because they did so well. It's professional-level (at times).

"I think it's going to be a really good show."

The production will feature Heath Gilliam, Joy Carver, Lily Harman and Amelia Bennett. Dangerfield will provide music and direction, Alexander Richardson is supplying choreography and serving as assistant director, Thorson Schrader is stage manager, and Regina Royal is lighting director.

The complete cast is as follows (actor's name listed first):

—Heath Gilliam — Bob Wallace

—Joy Carver — Phil Davis

—Lily Harman — Betty Haynes

—Amelia Bennett — Judy Haynes

—Maraeya Stewart — Martha Watson

—Andrew Goodwin — Gen. Henry Waverly

—Angelina Scarbrough — Susan Waverly

—Addison Coleman — Ralph Sheldrake

—Julia Marty — Rita

—Lilyann Lilly — Rhoda

—Megan Derringer — Ezekiel Foster

—Alyssa Broyles — Mike

—Ashlynn Hagerman — Tessie

—Ariyah Walton — Candy Girl

—Thorson Schrader — Mr. Snoring Man

—Trista Marion — Mrs. Snoring Man

Ensemble members/extras include Steven Crites, Danica Curl, Anna-Rose Gearhart, Lauren Kelly, Baylee Nichols, Leah Taylor, Brooke Tredway and Bayleigh Whitlow.

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