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Show The Heritage Choir performs seasonal songs at the St. George Tabernacle dixiesunlink. com TuacaSm perfect venue for canyon Christmas MICHAEL CHRISTENSEN JV StaffWriter the commu-j,t- y for an annual dress up scene at the nativity j,e outdoor amphitheater or families to enjoy and ,pread Christmas cheer. Tuacahns Christmas in ie Canyon is an inviting atmosphere for all families. In Toacahns Smoot Plaza here is a Festival of Lights for visitors to gaze at while they sit by a fire pit to keep narm. The concession stand also open and serves treats and hot cocoa. Santa Claus shows up every night to sit on his chair by a fireplace in the plaza to hear wish lists from children. The gift shop is open for visitors as well. There are many unique gifts and Christmas decor items sale at the shop. Ti Visitors to the Festival of Lights can ride the Old Salty Train for just $1 per Volunteers in Tu-jca- v . 4 t Tr ain Rides 31.0 0 is 1 . I ri for courtesy of Ruby's The train will take for an excursion around the Tuacahn facility, vomplete with a backstage our behind Tuacahn's scene lop. According to Tuac-Jin- s website at www.tuac-u- n org, In 2004, over 5,000 isitors rode the Tuacahn d holiday Train. The ride was person, vis-lo- Inn. rs L A train ride is being is being offered for $i for children and adults who want to experience the Christmas spirit. Tuacahn is hosting Christmas in the Canyon which includes the train ride, Santa Claus, Christmas lights and a live Nativity. considered by many to be one of the favorite activities of their visit. Chanae Ransom, an employee at the Tuacahn Box Office, said Wednesday and Saturday nights are popular nights for the Christmas in the Canyon. If youre planning on at tending the live nativity, remember to bring a jacket and blankets. The nativity starts out with a soothing hymn that creates a scene and sets the mood. During the play you will see angels rising from behind the red V N V z f - !: : V - . . . - H 1 . i Sommerfeld, a freshman in concurrent enrollment from St. George; Taylor a sophomore communication major from Las Vegas; and Lindsay Quilter, a freshman undecided major from Hurricane, practice for the Christmas Concert. s years concert will be on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Hailey Savage, Associate music professor Ken Peterson will be conducting the Concert Choir. The first of two concerts Briggs said, We all get toweekend is the Christgether (he, Peterson and as Choral concert Webb) and pick our own featuring different choirs, and the music and make sure were 'ecnd concert will be the not doing the same songs. xie State Anyone who appreciates Symphony with Utah dedicated and talented perHeritage Choir. The formers will surely enjoy Christmas Choral con-en weekend's performthis be will Friday night ances. array of traditional ChristCellist Mattison Warren, a as songs perfonned by State students. junior music major from FalThe five different choirs lon, Nev., said: Its always will be scary (Playing live), but you performing on feel good afterwards. It rejhay night will be the jhamber Choir, the Local leases endorphins. Performers tend to practice Project, the South West Morale, the or two hours per day on one Choir Womens the Concert Choir. their own time on top of the Assistant music required class time. With the professor hert Briggs will be performance coming soon three of the five the performers seemed loose irs. Assistant music and exuberant about the upMerrilee Webb will coming show. induct the Womens Choir. Sara Giron, a sophomore BY rock, shepherds in the distance against the red mountain, and Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus in a manger with the three wise men at their side. We really enjoy the live nativity scene, said Gabe Hernandez from Cedar City. concerts a seasonal staple DSC MARK SCHURR StaffWriter 5 rt LXle jj con-Ucti- pro-ess- or that must be filled include Mary and Joseph, the Three Wise Men, townspeople, angels and shepherds. There is a different cast each night, said Ransom. Family groups, church groups and many more participate. Most call in and request a night to volunteer because the waiting list fills up. The Festival of Lights, Christmas in the Canyon and seeing Santa are free to the public. The live nativity scene is $2 per person and $10 per family. On Wednesday and Thursday, members of youth groups only pay $ per ticket. Christmas in the Canyon and the nativity scene take place Wednesday through Saturday. Christmas in the Canyon is from 6:30-- 9 p.m., and there are two live nativity scenes that take place each night; one at 7 p.m. and one at 8 p.m. More information is available online at Tuacahns website at www.tuacahn.org or by calling the Tuacahn Box Office at (435)652-320- 0 music education major from Murrieta, Calif., said: As soon as I start to sing live it (nerves) all goes away. The staff here is awesome. We love our music teachers. They really are the best. Briggs said theres going to be one sing along with the audience. Almost everybody will know the words, Briggs said. To play in the orchestra or be in the choir you do not have to be a music major, said assistant music professor Paul Abegg. All that is required is talent and some experience performing. Perhaps nerves of steel would also help. Freshman Jacob Pohlsander. a music major from Mesa, Ariz., said: I get nervous before a show and like to pace back and forth. Once you start performing, the nerves go away. Abegg will be conducting the Dixie State Symphony Orchestra in the Cox Auditorium on Saturday and Sunday night. This years annual Christmas symphony will feature the Southern Utah Heritage Choir. "Joy to the World", "Sleigh Ride" and "Gesu Bambino" are among the songs that will be played. The first lady of DSC, Margaret Nadauld, will return as the narrator of the "The Night Before Christmas." The Christmas concert will also feature a sing along involving the audience members. This is the first year the Dixie State Orchestra will be joined by a choir. The Orchestra sounds really good and we're looking forward to the choir, Abegg said. The musicians as well as the vocalists for the Choral concert were very relaxed and seemed poised for pressure. If you like the Christmas season and want to experience some fine holiday fun, the Dixie campus is the place to be this weekend. The camaraderie among the music students and staff was a very relaxing and pleasant environment to be in. The students seem eager to play live in front of a large crowd. Abegg said: The challenge playing live is that you have one shot at it. At the same time, there is an energy see CONCERTS page 3 I bring my family down here every year to see it and get into the Christmas spirit. All of the characters in the nativity are volunteers. Volunteers can participate for one night or many nights, its their choice. The roles Christmas is becoming more and more commercial, said Carrie Dotson from St. George. Seeing the live nativity reminds you of the true meaning of Christmas. Broadway hopeful Lindsay Cordell graces Dixie State BY AMANDA JACOBS . StaffWriter One Dixie State College student's diverse identity as playing many different characters in DSC productions has everyone curious to know more about the real girl behind the curtain. Lindsay Cordell, a senior integrated studies major from Aztec, N.M., has been involved in acting since her elementary school days. But Cordell said her earliest role was quite some time before that. When I was 3 I played an angel in a Christmas production," Cordell said. "But all I had to do was walk on the stage, so I'm not even sure if that counts." Cordell said she has always loved acting, even though there was a brief phase in her life when she didn't pursue any roles. "When I was in middle school I didn't act for awhile," Cordell said. "I went through a time when I thought that acting was for people who couldn't do anything else." It wasn't until her family moved to Hurricane in her high school years that someone had the opportunity to change her mind. She credits one of her teachers, Richard Hill, as the one who taught her that acting was more than just standing around and saying lines. After he began teaching her and the other students, she began learning about the different layers of emotion and personality one must put into a role to make it both realistic and interesting. She decided to attend DSC in the fall of 2007 and began taking classes not only in theater, but also in English. She sees the two going hand in hand, and, for her, the two make an interesting comparison between both the literature and theater aspect of stories. "I love seeing the literature side of these stories, which is the analysis and study of the work," Cordell said. "Then in the theater side the story comes to life, and we get to see what we read in a whole different realm." As soon as Cordell heard about the integrated studies major when the program was introduced in 2008, she knew it was the perfect degree for her. "I love being able to do both of the things that I love." Cordell said. So along with working hard in all of her English classes, Cordell has acted in a number of productions since her start as a freshman. She has appeared in "Dancing at Lugh-nasa- ," "Pirates of Penzance," "The Crucible," and "Blithe Spirit." She said she enjoys acting in straight plays above musicals for one main reason. see CORDELL page 3 |