Northern Michigan University Theatre and Dance will present its Holiday Soirée celebration and fundraiser for student scholarships on Wednesday, Dec. 11. The festive event kicks off with a holiday buffet and live auction from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Panowski Black Box Theatre, followed by student and guest-star performances from 7:30-9. There will also be a special visit from Santa Claus.
Director Kristen Beth Ludwig said last year's inaugural Holiday Soirée was such a success that a 2.0 version was planned to close out this semester. Marquette natives and NMU seniors Michael Ahlstrom and John Thomson will return as hosts before they pass the torch to other students, but the musical numbers and set will be new.
“We take whatever set remains in the Black Box Theatre from the last play and use that in the soiree,” Ludwig said. “Last year, we were fortunate that the play was Clybourne Park, so the set was a house and easy to use in the context of opening the doors and inviting everyone to join in a holiday party at our home. But this year's was Frankenstein, with movable platforms. So we're working with those for a fun new concept this year.
“We've got some fun new songs that we've throw in; some you've probably heard before and others you maybe haven't. A lot of work goes into a one-night-only performance like this, but such events are actually quite common in the entertainment industry.”
The soirée will help NMU Theatre and Dance students defray travel and other costs associated with opportunities to advance their craft. These include auditioning for work they will embark on after graduation, attending the All-in-One Conference (A1 Conference) in New York, and participating in a regional festival in Madison that is part of the national Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
“The KCACTF is a wonderful opportunity for our students to meet other students from all over the region and compete with them for scholarships,” Ludwig added. “They also participate in workshops with different industry professionals from all over the country, and some based internationally. But all of these activities cost extra money on top of the financial commitments required for college itself. We just want to create access to these valuable experiences.”
Tickets for the Holiday Soirée are $100 per individual, or $700 for a table of eight. They are available at nmu.universitytickets.com. For more on the cast and production crew, visit nmu.edu/theatreanddance/holiday-soiree-2024.