Miracle on 34th Street–LaComedia

This has been a terrific start of the Christmas season for Young@Heart! On Thursday, December 11, 2014, we enjoyed a very good musical and lunch at LaComedia in Springboro. We thoroughly enjoyed the Miracle on 34th Street. This seems to be a good program for all ages and at the same time never grows old. Perhaps it brings out the “child” in each of us!

The food was as good as always and was perhaps even a step above normal, because of the season.

Of course, we enjoyed good fellowship with each other during the trip down and back and also during the meal. Many of the people weren’t our regular YAH people because we purchased too many tickets and gave some away to staff and friends.

We’re not allowed to take photos during the performance but I was able to get the following of the entire staff during their grand finale.

I think everyone of us would agree that this is a worthwhile musical for any family!

Christmas Program and Luncheon

I may be prejudiced but I think this was the best program of 2014. We used people from our church for singing and playing instruments. Washington Heights has talent! This was planned and managed by Mark and Grace Averitt and Nancy Jensen. They did an outstanding job of putting this program together.

You are invited to follow along with our program via this blog. Just click on the Links to hear the music. Also, you can click on any photo to see it in a larger view.

After our normal opening and introductions, the program began with Mark
Averitt, reading the Christmas Story from Luke 2:1-20.

Next, Christina Comer sang a very nice solo of “I Believe”.

Grace Averitt played a fun piano medley called “Ding, Dong, Merrily on High/Silent Night”.

Following Grace, our Vocal Ensemble sang an “Irving Berlin Christmas”.

Then, Julie Erlandson sang, played piano while her daughter Caitlin Erlandson played the violin. They performed a nice Christmas Medley.

Erica Kwast performed a piece of music that I have been wanting to hear her do since last year. Our 2013 Christmas Program was cancelled due to snow. Fortunately, we were still able to use some of this material for this year. Erica sang a great new Christmas song called, “Where’s the Line for Jesus?”.

Our Brass Trio played a piece called “Lo! How a Rose E’re Blooming”. Since this is an unfamiliar song, we displayed the words for everyone to follow.

Grace Averitt and Nancy Jensen decided that it would be nice to “tickle the ivories” for next number with Grace playing piano and Nancy playing the organ. The music was “Every Valley”. Since this  wasn’t a well known carols, we also put the words on the screen for everyone to follow.

Next, we had our first of several selections by sisters. Sarah Robertson (part of the Britton clan) played her flute, accompanied by her father, Mark Britton, on the piano. Her music choice was “O, Little Town of Bethlehem”.

Mike Krumlauf came back to the platform after playing with the Brass Trio and did a nice rendition of “Every Valley” (from the Messiah) on his Baritone Horn.

Sarah returned to the platform with her sister, Rachel Dudenhofer, that sang a nice duet of “Mary Did You Know?”. Once again, their father, Mark Britton, was able to accompany them on the piano through CD and Thumb Drive technology.

Following the duet with Rachel and Sarah, Rachel Dudenhofer stayed on the platform to finish the program with a beautiful Violin rendition of “Tidings of Great Joy”.

We hope you enjoy listening to this music as much as we enjoyed hearing it live. I believe it was one of our best programs of the year. It was even better because they are all members and friends of our church and many of them have performed for us before.

Following the program, we adjourned to the gymnasium for our luncheon. This was Ham and Noodles, Broccoli, and Sweet Potato Casserole, finished with a Peppermint Brownie. Lisa and the kitchen and dining room staff did their normal outstanding job with this special Christmas meal. Thank each of them.