‘Christmas Post’ set for Dec. 11-13

Published 12:00 am Saturday, November 28, 2015

: CHRISTMAS POST: Richard Van DanAkker, playing Maxwell, and Kathryn Goss, playing Katie, perform Monday during a dress rehearsal of “The Christmas Post” at Hawkins United Methodist Church.

Hawkins United Methodist Church is gearing up for their upcoming production of the “Christmas Post,” that is set to run at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 and 12 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 13 in the church’s Abundant Life Center, 3736 Halls Ferry Road.

“The production brings to life two of Norman Rockwell’s famous covers of The Saturday Evening Post,” Cheryl Montgomery said, the Hattie McGee’s newsstand (1941) and the exhausted Alice Garfield at the end of a busy Christmas shopping day (1947).

Montgomery is serving as one of three directors for the local production and said the musical is set in the mythical town of Homesboro, Ind., on Christmas Eve 1947.

The storyline is one of familiarity — times are hard and main character Alice Garfield takes on a second job at Herzog’s Department store to help buy her children that one special Christmas present, Montgomery said.

Daughter, Katie, is also trying to make Christmas special for her mother and is posing and working as a newsie at Hattie’s newsstand.

During the musical, calamity ensues for Alice and she looses her job at the department store.

Nevertheless by the end of the production, things turn around for Alice after she is reminded of the true meaning of Christmas from an unlikely source, Hattie McGee — the newsstand lady with angelical powers, Montgomery said.

This will be the sixth year Hawkins has offered the production with free admission, as their gift to the community.

“Over the years we have had the pleasure of sharing this ministry with those in our area and from around the country,” Montgomery said.

This year’s local production, will offer a slight variation, however, from previous shows held in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011 since its creators, Deborah Craig-Clarr and Robert Sterling, have added three new production numbers to the musical — “On Union Square,” “Hit Pay Dirt” and “Brilliant!”

Even though “The Christmas Post” is being presented at Hawkins United Methodist Church, Montgomery said many of its actors, which have numbered in the 60’s and are between the ages of three to 80, represent others from the community.

Planning for the elaborate production begins in May, Montgomery said and rehearsals start up in September.

“A reception is held at the conclusion of each performance where audience and cast are invited to share a cup of apple cider and cookies before their ride home,” Montgomery said.

For more information, call 601-636-2242 or email mshel2us@yahoo.com.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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