4 Tickets to Christmas

This Christmas, Fairmount will present our 6th Broadway-style musical since I became Worship/Music Minister back in 2002. When we present these shows, it is typically a 2-year endeavor. Shortly after our presentation of Scrooge: The Musical back in December of 2011, Meg Switzer (drama director), Kenny Holley (choreographer) and I (music director) began meeting regularly to develop a detailed and extensive plan for Four Tickets to Christmas.

In May, auditions were held for all roles. Leading roles went to Bob Weirup, Meg Switzer, Rhonda Holley, Mason Ellenberger, Ray Butler, Kathy Evans, Kenny Holley, Doug Gross, and Janie Thomas. Thirteen additional people round out our cast. In early June, we assembled the cast for the first time for a “read-through” of the script, and in mid-June began music rehearsals. In July we added choreography rehearsals to our schedule, and in August began working scenes on the stage.

Bob Weirup and Kenny Holley worked for several months designing our set and then built a model of it. Jack Raybourne and Scott Compston already have the majority of the set built. It is stored down in our storage building and they will assemble it on our stage sometime in November. Props are being secured, costumes are in process, lights have been re-configured, publicity is being planned, and the list goes on and on.

Why do we go to all this effort? Why do we spend all this money? The reasons are many and varied. Simply put, it’s fun! We are being good stewards of God-given abilities, being part of a church that is blessed with such abundant musical and dramatic talent. Working so intensely on something draws a variety of people together who are working toward a common goal. Those are just a few reasons.

However, the overriding reason we do these productions is for their “outreach potential.” The two events that expose Fairmount Christian Church and Jesus Christ to our community the most are our block parties and our dramatic musicals. In 2011, Scrooge: The Musical was presented to 4,695 people! While many of those in attendance were Fairmount attenders, many walked through the doors of Fairmount for the first time. And for some of those, it was their first time of many! It is a reality that some people will much more easily accept an invitation to attend a show at a church before they’ll ever accept an invitation to attend a worship service. We have developed a reputation in our community of offering high-quality shows, and that reputation is serving Fairmount and Christ well.

Last week I received an email from one of our cast members, which read: “I spoke with one of my local business customers yesterday that is not an FCC member. He told me he was looking forward to seeing FCC’s next Christmas production and inquired as to when that may happen. To clarify, two years ago I invited him and his wife to come see Scrooge. They had an amazing time. When I told him about 4T2C he was really excited and said he will be there again but this time with his grown kids and their families! I hope that one day they will decide to visit FCC on a regular basis. Just one story of how this ministry has touched at least one family! I’m so blessed to be a part of such a great ministry and outreach! Thank you for giving me the opportunity!”

Friends, THAT is why we do these shows! We will have 8 free presentations of Four Tickets to Christmas. Please be thinking and praying NOW about who you can invite to one of our shows that needs a church or needs Jesus!

Show Times*

• No Tickets Necessary!
• Friday, December 6th - 7pm
• Saturday, December 7th - 2pm & 7pm
• *Sunday, December 8th - 3pm
• Friday, December 13th - 7pm
• Saturday, December 14th - 2pm & 7pm
• *Sunday, December 15th - 3pm

*A nursery will be offered only at the Sunday afternoon presentations.