SEQUIM — A free, public “Christmas open house with a twist” will unfold inside the Olympic Theatre Arts gathering room Sunday.
From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the OTA center at 414 N. Sequim Ave., guests will be invited to step onto the stage and join classic characters: Santa Claus, otherwise known as Al Friess of Sequim; Mrs. Claus, portrayed by OTA crusader Elaine Caldwell; and a small cadre of elves including Rosie von Engel, one of the community theater troupe’s set designers.
Fun and entertainment
The festivities also will include free photographs with Santa and family, Christmas treats, music and a performance by the King’s Way Dance Team, a children’s troupe from King’s Way Foursquare Church west of Sequim.
What the “twist” is depends on whom you ask.
Caldwell believes it’s the presence of Mrs. Claus, who doesn’t always get to accompany her portly husband to such events.
She’s needed this time to help Santa in and out of his Victorian sleigh, said Caldwell, who will add light to the stage with a battery-powered string of flashing Christmas bulbs nestled in her silver hair.
At the same time, OTA board member Berta Warden points out another unusual element in Sunday’s party.
“We’re going to let people have a peek at the new main stage,” she promised, referring to OTA’s almost-complete playhouse that has been under construction for more than two years.
Just in time for Sunday’s open house, the Sequim Sunrise Rotary Club is throwing a work party on Saturday to install the 162 seats in the playhouse, Caldwell added.
“We’re opening our doors to the public as a thank-you,” she said.
For much of this decade, she has spearheaded the fundraising for the $1.6 million main stage.
Always as a volunteer, she has helped gather grants and local donations while organizing numerous galas, auctions and other events to benefit OTA.
Main stage debut
At long last, the new theater is slated for its debut early next year, with the opening of the musical “Cabaret” on Feb. 5.
And while the main stage is being finished, OTA is staging productions in its smaller gathering room.
Next up is the Readers Theatre Plus production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at 7 p.m. Dec. 18 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20.
Christmas cookies and caroling will follow each performance.
Tickets are $10 and may be reserved by phoning OTA at 360-683-7326.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
