Friends of the Theater board member Amy Studabaker sings a four-part harmony Christmas tune as an example of the types of acts that could be submitted for this year’s Christmas at the Ricks variety show. This year’s show has taken on a new spin, with 19 acts being submitted virtually this year. The public can vote for their favorites for $1 per vote.
GREENFIELD — Since its resurrection in 2017, the Christmas at the Ricks variety show has been lighting up the H.J. Ricks Centre for the Arts stage with a wide variety of homegrown talent each year.
This year, however, the talent won’t be taking the stage, but will be streaming right into audience members’ living rooms.
The Friends of the Theater nonprofit group, which puts on the annual variety show, opted to go with a virtual format this year in light of the ongoing pandemic.
A variety of singers, dancers, actors and other performers submitted 19 holiday-themed acts on video this year.
The variety show will still raise funds for the historic Ricks theater, as it does each year, but will do so online this year by letting the public cast $1 votes for their favorite acts.
The online videos went live Dec. 3, when viewers got the chance to start casting votes. Voting continues through Dec. 17, and the People’s Choice winners will be announced the next day.
The top winners will win cash prizes of $500 for first place, $250 second and $100 for third.
Members of Friends of the Theater hope to raise $5,000 to go toward the purchase of a wheelchair lift to make the Ricks stage fully accessible.
“What better way to honor the Ricks than making sure it’s welcoming to performers of all abilities,” said Friends board member Noelle Russell.
Stephani McDole, one of the singers taking part in this year’s variety show, thinks the virtual format was a great choice given the unpredictable nature of ongoing public health concerns.
“I think virtual was the best option they could have gone with given the times we’re still in,” said McDole, 24, who sang a rendition of “I Believe” for her entry this year.
“I chose that one because I didn’t think anyone else would do it. It’s not a super popular song, but it also shines the light on the reason for the season, which is the birth of Jesus,” she said.
Two other soloists and two quartets also recorded vocal performances for this year’s show, while one young woman played “Hallelujah” on the violin.
The Dulcimer Connection submitted a video of them performing a “Christmas Medley,” while the Hancock County Children’s Choir performed “Up on the Rooftop.”
The local Hearts Ablaze cloggers submitted three different performances, while Wilkerson Dance Studio submitted two entries of its young dancers — one for jazz and one for tap.
Local students also got into the act. A choir from Harris Elementary sang and bell ringers from New Palestine Intermediate School rang their bells.
Students from Greenfield-Central High School’s drama club and the Kids Play children’s theater group performed holiday-themed skits.
Among the year’s most unique entries is mentalist Kelly Andrews, who submitted a video of him seemingly reading the mind of a person who appeared on screen with him, as the two worked to create a musical tune on a hand-cranked music box.
Another unique entry is from Jade Frost, a local nail technician who submitted a video of her transforming a woman’s nails into holiday-themed works of art to the soundtrack of a popular Christmas song.
“I entered the Christmas at the Ricks talent show because I wanted my artwork and passion to speak for itself,” Frost said. “Talent doesn’t have to fit into a specific box. and I wanted to show my talent as something unique and unexpected.”
Russell said the online format of this year’s Christmas at the Ricks show seemed to open up the opportunity to a more diverse set of acts this year.
“We knew a talent show format would attract singers and dancers, and we certainly welcome them, but we were pleasantly surprised to see a nail artist, a mentalist, a violinist and other offbeat submissions in the mix.,” she said.
“People in this county are creative. That’s all there is to it.”
McDole said the virtual format was also helpful for performers who might otherwise have a little stage fright to perform in front of a live audience.
“This format might get more people involved, because some people have a little more courage when it’s just the camera and not just them performing up on the stage,” she said.
McDole was mostly prompted to participate in this year’s show to help the Friends of the Theater spread the word on the annual holiday variety show, but most important the group’s efforts to promote and enhance the historic Ricks theater.
“I know Friends of the Theater does a really good job of raising money and bringing awareness to the local theater community. I knew if I participated, I’d reach some people they might not otherwise reach because of the community I live in,” said the singer, who is from Fortville, lives in Lapel and attends church in Pendleton.
No matter who they vote for, McDole hopes plenty of people log on to view the diverse mix of talent in this year’s Christmas at the Ricks program.
“I”m all about supporting the Friends with Theater and all the awesome things they’re doing to help the Ricks and to keep the local theater world thriving,” she said.
“I hope that they can continue promoting and making improvements to the building. The more people who know about it and the nicer the theater looks, the more people are going to come out and support it,” she said.
Russell said it’s too early to say whether next year’s Christmas at the Ricks will return to the stage or the screen. “We’ve been so pleased with the turnout (online this year) that there’s a chance a virtual talent show might become something we revisit in the future,” she said.
About the show
Voting is now underway for the Christmas at the Ricks variety show, which is taking place virtually this year.
The show is hosted by the Friends of the Theater, a nonprofit that supports the H.J. Ricks Centre for the Arts in Greenfield.
Nineteen different acts including singing, dancing, acting — even nail painting — are viewable online.
The top winners will win $500 for first place, $250 for second and $100 for third.
The public is invited to view them all and cast $1 votes for their favorites. Votes of $25 or more include a Friends of the Theater membership.
Proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Theater, which hopes to raise $5,000 to purchase a wheelchair lift to make the theater stage fully accessible.
To view this year’s Christmas at the Ricks performances online, go to hctheaterfriends.org/catr2021videos and vote for your favorites through Dec. 17.
Winners will be announced Dec. 18.
This year’s performances include:
Ali Boice
“Run, Run, Rudolph”
Bell Family Singers
“Silent Night”
The Dulcimer Connection
“Christmas Medley”
Finnley Greene
“Hallelujah”
G-CHS Drama
“A Christmas Skit”
Hancock County Children’s Choir
“Up On the Housetop”
Harris Elementary Choir
“Winter Medley”
Hearts Ablaze
“Christmas This Year”
Hearts Ablaze
“Light of Christmas”
Hearts Ablaze
“This Day”
Jade Frost
“Holiday Nails”
Kelly Andrews
Mentalist
KidsPlay
“A Visit from St. Nicholas”
New Pal Intermediate School ringers
“Holiday Etudes and Songs”
Sang Together Twice Quartet
“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent”
Sara Cains
“Christmas Without You
Stephani McDole
“I Believe”
Wilkerson Advanced Jazz
“Snow Medley”
Wilkerson Intermediate Tap 3
“All I Want for Christmas Is You”
