Nov. 27-Dec. 20 Sanders Family Christmas at Murfreesboro Center for the Arts

October 25, 2009

They’re back! The Sanctified Sanders Family Singers return to the Center for the Arts to celebrate the holidays with faith, family and old-fashioned fun. This heavenly evening of laughter and music begins public previews on November 27th and continues through December 20.
It’s Christmas Eve in 1941. The Depression is coming to a close, but 18 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the threat of war has just begun. World War II provides the dramatic underpinning to the story of a family living in the rural town of Mount Pleasant, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. They are about to say a bittersweet goodbye to their only son, who is shipping out with the Marine Corps. But before he goes, the Sanders Family Singers are heading up the annual Christmas celebration at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church.
Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe (who works part-time at the local pickle plant) and the Sanders family attempt to raise the spirits of their faithful flock (the audience) in a rousing and energetic Christmas gospel sing-along of cherished holiday hymns and carols. There’s Uncle Stanley; the family’s patriarch, Burl, and his Scripture-quoting wife, Vera; the twins Dennis and Denise and their sister June (she doesn’t sing, she signs).
Conceived and directed by Alan Bailey and written by Connie Ray, A SANDERS FAMILY CHRISTMAS is a nostalgic comedy set to music and the second of three installments of the Sanders family’s life. The original Smoke on the Mountain was produced at the Center for the Arts in 2007.
Returning to this season’s production are several SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN veterans including David Cummings, who portrays Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe, John Blankenship, who is also directing, will return as Burl Sanders , Fran Gebuhr returns as Vera Sanders, David Winton as Dennis Sanders and Kristen Linton as Denise Sanders. New to the Center’s cast are Rachael Parker, playing the role of June Sanders, and David Blankenship as Stanley Sanders.
Prices for A SANDERS FAMILY CHRISTMAS are $14 for Adults, $12 for Seniors (65+), Active Military (with ID) and Students (12-18 or with valid ID), and $10 for Children under 12. The Center will hold performances Nov. 27, 28, 29,; Dec. 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20. Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, then at 2 p.m. on Sundays.
Tickets to A SANDERS FAMILY CHRISTMAS are on sale now. For more information, call the Center for the Arts box office at 615.904.2787 or visit www.boroarts.org/theater/tickets.
The Center for the Arts is located at 110 W. College St., one block off the historic Murfreesboro Square. For more information, visit our website at www.boroarts.org or call us at 615-904-2787.