Christmas Magic Filled the Theater during the Children's Show

Chris Hill ’01, Theater Assistant and Children’s Show Director
December 12, 2018

Cretin-Derham Hall decked out the theater for this year’s children’s show, Merry Christmas, Strega Nona.

Based upon the beloved book by author/illustrator Tommie DePaola, Merry Christmas, Strega Nona was set in the small town of Calabria, Italy as it prepares for Christmas. The play begins on the first night of Advent and follows those four weeks in preparation for the Christmas holiday. It is no small task to get everything ready! And, without Strega Nona’s magic, they had to figure out that  “Christmas has a magic all it’s own.”

Christmas magic was certainly present in the Lillian Theater as CDH students spent the weekend delighting both young children and the young at heart with their play. The cast danced and sang Christmas songs together in the aisles. They even had the audiences join in for rousing versions of “Oh, Come All Ye Faithful!”

Everyone involved in the production thank all who attended, especially our youngest fans from the area Catholic grade schools. These special guests filled the entire theater on the morning of December 6!

Personally, the Christmas magic was truly present for me as I watched CDH Theater alumni bring their own children back to the Lillian Theater. Seeing those future Raiders watching current students perform was the best. I saw theater magic and Christmas magic come together and highlight what is most important during the holiday season.