By Christina Carrick
The Magic of Christmas at the Oakland Temple auditorium in Oakland, California captures the joy, charm, and spirit of the Christmas season. The production previews the upcoming month of incredible music and dance productions available free of charge throughout the month of December. The performances are non-denominational and focus on the spirit and fun of this magical time of year.
The Magic of Christmas features special guest performer, America’s Got Talent contestant Evie Clair. Clair’s performances are pure and authentic. Her voice is angelic and lends itself well to both worshipful and energetic Christmas arrangements. She is especially impactful in “Here in My Arms”, a Rob Gardner song which she sings with raw, heart-felt emotion.
The Temple Hill Choir is celebrating its twentieth anniversary with performances both at Temple Hill and throughout the Bay Area all month long. They are a volunteer choir with a professional sound. They are accompanied live by the very talented Temple Hill Orchestra. Conductor Alan Chipman leads a show that is both engaging and thoughtfully arranged. The set list ranges from sincere and heart-felt to upbeat and, at times, flat out comedic. One highlight for me is their beautiful and nostalgic rendition of “Somewhere in my Memory” by John Williams from Home Alone. My children’s favorite part of the show is when three of the choir’s members (Greg Casper, Robert Elliot, and David Hansen) do a hilarious, helium-infused rendition of Alvin and the Chipmunks’ “Hula Hoop” Christmas song, accompanied by ballet dancers with colorful balloons in the audience aisles. It is a great moment of comedic relief that keeps the show entertaining for people of all ages.
Rachel Tang’s Dance Studio performs a sentimental and
touching dance to David Archuleta’s
“Glorious”, recorded by One Voice Children’s Choir. Their movement and
demeanors evoke Christmas innocence and the simple joy and heart of the season.
The costumes are simply angelic and emphasize the grace of movement throughout
the piece. The group will be performing The Nutcracker at Temple Hill on
Friday December 6 and Saturday December 7. Though the event is “sold out”,
interested persons should consider trying the “stand-by” line for a great shot
at tickets. These incredible young dancers shouldn’t be missed!
Two stand-out soloists of the evening are father/son pair Greg Casper and Nathan Casper. Greg performs a timely and relevant rendition of Michael McClean’s “Homeless”. His authentic performance causes the audience to seriously reflect on who Christ was and how His birth can teach us “it’s how we live, not where”. Greg’s solo is powerful in sincerity and stunning vocals. Nathan sings a showstopping rendition of “Mary Did you Know?”. He has a rich and powerful voice, but the intention and emotion behind his talent is what carries the song to the heart and soul of the audience.
The month of December is full of amazing opportunities to come to Temple Hill and experience the arts this Christmas season. Though The Magic of Christmas is a one-day event, the real magic of Christmas can be found in each performance all month long. For a calendar and more information, please visit TempleHillEvents.com
Temple Hill Events presents The Magic of Christmas
Oakland Temple Hill Auditorium, 4780 Lincoln Ave., Oakland, CA 94602
The Magic of Christmas November 30, 2:00 PM, 6:00 PM
Other events all month long- see calendar on website
Tickets: FREE
Contact: 510-531-1475
Temple Hill Events Facebook Page
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