Tag Archives: Holiday Delights

Shout Out to the Fabulous Cast and Crew of “Holiday Delights!”

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Thank you to Heidi Dallin, the Cape Ann YMCA, and the Annisquam Village Hall Association for the 2024 production of Holiday Delights, a wonderful story written by Heidi and performed entirely by Cape Ann youth actors.

In my official role as backstage “Elf Wrangler,” I got to witness first hand the dedication and courage it took these young actors to perform on stage, some for the very first time. The kids have been practicing since September under the talented direction of Heidi at the Cape Ann Y theatre program. Heidi strives to make every single player feel valued. The kids love her and Heidi’s positive, team work vibe carries over to the cast. The young actors all look after each other onstage and off.

The actors play multiple roles including elves, dreidel dancers, Cratchit family members, Peanuts characters, and Little Women, to name only some. Our Charlotte was adorable as a Christmas tree, even when she was nodding off during a performance on the final day of the show’s run 🙂

The Annisquam Village Hall provides the perfect backdrop for a play set in Gloucester. We were marveling at the fact that the permanent backdrop on the stage, which was painted 20 years ago by my husband, Tom Hauck, is still holding up. Tom painted it for for another play set in Gloucester, Brigadoon. With artistic license, AVP Director Terry Sands turned the mythical Scottish Highlands location into the “moors of Annisquam.”If any parent would like a copy of the cast photo above, please email me at kimsmithdesigns@homtail.com and I can send you a high res file.

Cape Ann YMCA Presents Holiday Delights at the Annisquam Village Hall: The Cape Ann Tradition Returns!

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The Cape Ann YMCA presents Holiday Delights on December 13 at 7pm; December 14 at 2pm and December 15 at 2pm at the Annisquam Village Hall, 34 Leonard Street, Gloucester, MA. Set in Gloucester, Holiday Delights is a festive mix of stories, songs and dance celebrating the special traditions of other cultures and families as seen through a young child’s magical journey on Christmas Eve to discover what is really important during the holiday season. A Cape Ann holiday tradition, Holiday Delights is conceived and directed by Gloucester native, award winning professional actress and Harvard University graduate Heidi Dallin, the YMCA of the North Shore Theatre Specialist. Since the production’s premiere in 2007 over 750 young people from Cape Ann and beyond have appeared in Holiday Delights through the years. “It is so exciting each year to see these wonderful young actors tell the story of Holiday Delights! I am so fortunate to work with all of them! They are all working so hard and now they are part of this Cape Ann tradition entering its 14th year! ” says Holiday Delights creator and director Heidi Dallin. “This year 10-year-old Carolyn Andrews plays Mistletoe, Mrs. Claus’ Elf Assistant”, continues Dallin, ” Young Carolyn is excited to play the coveted role especially since her big sister Malia played the role in 2016. Malia is now a freshman at BU School for the Arts studying Acting. Holiday Delights is a family tradition on Cape Ann!”

The 2024 edition of Holiday Delights features the journey of a young girl who discovers the spirit and the joys of the holiday season as she faces the unhappy prospect of leaving her beloved hometown of Gloucester and moving with her family to a new home in Michigan. Her special Christmas Eve journey helps her to realize and appreciate the importance of her family and friends as well as her own special holiday traditions. During her Christmas Eve travels with Mrs. Claus and the elves, she celebrates Hanukkah, travels back in time to turn of the century Gloucester to see her Italian-Irish ancestors celebrate the holidays, and meets famous characters including The Crachit Family from Charles Dickens’ holiday masterpiece, A Christmas Carol and The March Sisters from Louisa MayAlcott’s heartwarming classic novel, Little Women.

The 2024 production has a cast of over 35 actors age 5 to 15 from through out the North Shore including Gloucester, Rockport, Beverly, and Essex. Holiday Delights 2024 features Gloucester’s Brae Gavin as Mrs. Claus and Gloucester’s Aubrey Hamm as the young girl she takes on the life changing Christmas Eve journey. Gloucester’s Carolyn Andrews and Beverly’s Evie Swallom are Mistletoe and Peppermint, Mrs. Claus’ loyal elf assistants. Beverly’s Madelyn Swallom and Gloucester’s Lillian Jamieson are also featured in the production as the supervisors of Santa ‘s Workshop.

The Holiday Delights production staff includes: Music Director: Anthony Prestigiovanni; Set, Costume and Prop Design: Sarah Vandewalle and Lia Sophia Numerosi; Stage Manager: Jenny Hersey and Production Assistants: Sophia Drost, Naia Gibson, Harry Larabell, Damian Etna, Kit Carpenter, Claire Dullea and Merina Earle. Holiday Delights Performances are December 13 at 7pm; December 14 at 2pm and December 15 at 2pm at the Annisquam Village Hall, 34 Leonard Street, Gloucester, MA. For tickets call the Cape Ann YMCA at 978-283-0470 or go to HolidayDelightsTickets

 

HOLIDAY DELIGHTS IS BACK IN GLOUCESTER AND LOOKING TO CAST!

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Director Heidi Dallin shares –

JOIN THE CAST!!

A Cape Ann Holiday Tradition Returns!

Holiday Delights

Back on Stage in Gloucester

The Cape Ann YMCA presents Holiday Delights, the beloved holiday production. Registration is now open for young people age 6 to 17 to perform in Holiday Delights. Set in Gloucester, Holiday Delights is a festive evening of stories, music and dance recounting the special traditions that other cultures and families experience as seen through a young child’s magical journey on Christmas Eve to discover what is really important during the holiday season. Young people can learn the basics of professional theatre as well as be a part of a Cape Ann Holiday tradition. “There are terrific roles for young actors of all ages! All actors that register will be cast in the production,” says YMCA of the North Shore Theatre Specialist and Holiday Delights Director Heidi Dallin. Rehearsals will be at the Cape Ann YMCA and the schedule is flexible. Dallin has assembled a YMCA Theatre Team that includes West Parish Elementary School Music teacher Rin Wolter as Music Director, Manchester native Jenny Hersey as Stage Manager, and former Holiday Delights cast member and recent college graduate TS Burnham as Choreographer/Costume Designer. Performances are December 9 at 7pm; December 10 at 2pm and December 11 at 2pm at the American Legion, 8 Washington Street, Gloucester , MA. To join the cast, go to Register For Programs at www.northshoreymca.org and search for Holiday Delights. For further information and questions, contact Heidi Dallin at dallinh@northshoreymca.org or 978-729-1094.

Photo: Holiday Delights 2021 Performance Workshop in rehearsal