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Show THE 4 Thursday, November 25, 2004 PYRAMID Festival of Trees gives gift of love From Bah! SALT LAKE CITY- - Brightly festooned trees, welcoming wreathes, magnificently decorated gingerbread houses and glittering decor will welcome and warm the heart of many at this year's Festival of Trees, scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 1 through Saturday, Dec. 4, at South Towne Exposition Center, Sandy, from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., each day. For more information, contact Kathie Giles at (435) : 427-389- 2. Humbug to and energy for too little return; so they searched for one project they could devote all their efforts. The project was inspired Ruth Flint vawhen cationed in Hawaii and attended a Christmas boutique Ho! Ho! Ho! Co-cna- ir featuring small-decorate- d Douglas Baker Christmas trees, centerpieces and Christmas decorations. They expanded the concept decorated to include Christmas trees, a gift boutique and sweet shop. Each of full-size- one-ma- d This four-dathe 15 members was chalevent brings together the lenged to identify those who "Gift of Love" that heralds in would donate and decorate the holiday spirit as families, trees. At that time, Primary Chilcommunity groups, businesses and volunteers decorate dren's Hospital was owned trees and other holiday ob- by the LDS Church and much jects for patients at Primary of the support would come Children's Medical Center. from church members. That Every penny raised has been first year, there were approxused to directly benefit chil- imately 60 trees for display dren in need for the past 34 and sale in the gymnasium of the old Armory off Sunny-sid- e years. Avenue. festival goers make Many Visitors walked from one this event a holiday stop to Gift building to another in order to shop the handview the entire display. To for its known Boutique made items. The Sweet everyone's surprise and deShoppe is also another festi- light, $47,000 was raised that first year. val favorite where The event quickly outgrew tooth will be satisfied by cakes, rich fudge, cookies the Armory and two years g later it was moved to the Salt and other Palace. Over the years, this treats. from 10 a.m. to In addition to the trees, beautiful event has blossomed The annual Festival of Trees will be held December sweets and handcrafted into a forest of more than 700 10 p.m. daily at the Soputh Towne Exposition Cetner, 9575 S State, items, Festival of Trees fea- trees and spans over 220,000 Sandy. Tickets are available at the door or at any Zions Bank. Profits go for needy children at the Primary Children's Medical Center. tures something for children square feet of display space. ofKids' of all ages! Korner fers activities created for the younger ones, such as face j fund-raisin- g y, ever-popul- ar many-a-swe- et mouth-waterin- 4 ice fishpainting, sand ana sculpting. ing The Small Fry Shop is brimming full of sweet treats and surprises; or visit Santa Land ana have a memorable holiday photo taken. Live performances by high school choirs, Dial-An-El- f, professional dance troupes and entertainers provide holiday cheer throughout the event. Discount tickets may be purchased at any Zions First National Bank and family tickets may be purchased at the door only on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Senior citizen tickets may also be purchased at the door throughout the festival. The illusion exists at the Illusion Academy Ray LaFollette THF PYRAMID MT. years emy their PLEASANT- - Two ago, The Illusion Acad(IA) quietly opened office at 180 North Mt Pleasant. Everyone State, may have heard rumors about what they do or what they offer or who they are; now they have put a sign on the building, so lets get aq- tainted and take a look at Se answers to those rumors. Founded in 2002 by renowned illustrator Dean Eleven and partners, the Illusion Academy is a group of History all working together Almost as magical as Santa experts on various projects for comhimself, a cold barren exhibit panies such as Disney, Pixar hall transforms into a warm, and DreamWorks. Saturday, festive holiday haven. Each Nov. 13, the doors were of Festival the magic year, to the public for a opened unfolds and with it the hope and formal introand future of needy children preview duction to the Illusion. at Primary Children's Medical Center. The Festival of Trees was inspired 34 years ago by a group of 15 women from along the Wasatch Front. These women were challenged by Lewis M. Jones, chairman of the hospital's Men's Endowment Board, to identify a way to raise funds for the hospital. Organized as the Women's Endowment Committee and led by Betty Wells, the group sold tickets to the Ice and dabbled in other projects in an attempt to raise funds. They soon determined they had spent too much time Ca-pad- During the open house, vis- itors were treated to free entertainment, fun, games, a tour of the main food, floor and door prizes. At the Jungle Room snack bar, people could eat free hot barbeque sandwiches, chips, drinks, cookies and sample Jungle Smoothies. The room also features a Playstation 2 and Xbox game machines where visitors could play Halo 2 or other games. Two computers were set up where the Internet could be used and a drawing table gave space for budding artists to try their skills with SANPETE COUNTY- - Change your "Bah! Humbug!" to n "Ho! Ho! Ho!" with a adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" at the Sevier Valley Center Wednesday, Dec. 1; Snow College Thursday, Dec. 2; and Gunnison Valley High School on Thursday, Dec. 11. All performances begin at 7 p.m. Tickets maybe purchased at the door. star of the Excalibur Douglas H. Baker, the long-tim- e Hotel's Tournament of Kings, weaves the story of Scrooge's transformation with the skill of a master storyteller. In addition, Baker will give a special performance Wednesday afternoon for Sevier District seventh and illustration. In the IA Theater, some of the latest movies were being shown and visitors were welcome to come in and get comfortable for the viewing. It's not just a multimedia entertainment room; it also contains a ; mall stage which can and will be used for live performances. With portable seating for about a hundred people, the room can also be used for other activities such as dancing. The IA Theater and Jungle Room may be for rented for special events such as family reunions or company events. Part of the facility is the Fitness Academy Gym which contains a complete weight room with several exercise machines, including painting, sculpting, graphic design, web site design, 3D animation, musical instrumental, voice or vocal, dance, drama and acting, weight training aerobics and martial arts. Adult classes for those 18 years and older may include all of the previously men- tioned classes. If any of these potential courses of instruction are of interest, the public is encouraged to come by the Academy and fill out a ques- tionnaire. The Academy is also inter- ested in compiling a list of class instructors. If anyone is qualified to teach any of the mentioned courses or perhaps one that has not been mentioned let the Academy know of your abilities. The Academy sponsored their first Free Family Night Nov. 15. Everyone was invited to come to I A and enjoy some free entertainment in theater and games in the Jun- treadmills and exercise classes. Visitors were welcome to come and try the equipment and consider purchasing a membership for the gym. IA is more than a lounge, gle Room. theater and gym. They will The Jungle snack bar was be offering classes in the open where drinks and edivery near future. During the bles to munch on could be open house attendees could purchased. fill out a questionnaire to let Everyone in attendance the Academy know what classes they would be interested in. Possible classes for children, 12 and under in- had fun and the event is planned to be an ongoing weekly event every Monday night, free of charge. Beclude drawing, painting, clay cause of limited seating in works, acting, dance, musi- the IA Theater those wishing cal instruments, voice or vo- to attend must pick up a thecal and gymnastics. ater ticket in advance or Teen classes, could be hope there is room when drawing, watercolors. oil they arrive. 13-1- eighth-grader- s. He will also present the Snow College Convocation in the Concert Hall of the Eccles Center for the Performing Arts at 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 2. His lecture demonstrates the power of the performing arts to affect the heart and mind. Convocations are free to the public.The performances in central Utah are part of a tour that includes Las Vegas, Phoenix, St. George, Cedar City, and Logan. Baker tackles the popular Christmas classic all by himself in a stunning performance rated four-sta- r by the Las Vegas Review Journal. He plays Scrooge, Marley, Bob Crachit, the three Christmas Ghosts, Tiny Tim and a host of other characters. d As Scrooge completes his metamorphosis from miser to generous celebrant, everyone will see that Christmas has the power to change us all. This play and its message are suitable for the entire family. A member of Actors Equity Association, Baker has a background in professional and educational theater. He has performed in regional, stock, touring companies, film and television ana for six years directed and hosted the Utah Shakespearean Festival's Greenshow and mean-spirite- Feaste. At present, he is Professor of Theatre at Community College of Southern Nevada and recently performed his final show at the Excalibur in the role of Merlin, which he originated when the hotel opened nearly 15 years ago. Proceeds from these presentations benefit the hosting facilities; Gunnison Valley High School Theater Department and Sevier Valley Center. "One Christmas Carol" takes place at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 1, in Richfield; Thursday, Dec. 2, in Ephraim; and Friday, Dec. 3, in Gunnison. Tickets may be purchased at the door for all venues. Douglas Baker e star of the Excalibur HoDouglas II. Baker, tels Tournament of Kings, has adapted and will perform n version of Charles DickOne Christmas Carol, a ens A Christmas Carol during December at various locations in Sanpete and Sevier counties. Baker has an extensive background in professional and educational theatre and has been a member of Actors Equity Association for 23 years. He has performed in regional, stock, touring, film and television. A graduate of Utah State University, Baker earned a BFA in 1976 and MFA in acting and voice from Ohio University. Baker has most recently been seen as Newman Noggs in Nicholas Nickelby, Vmcent and Theo in Vincent, Joe in The Shadow Box and Harold Hill in The Music Man. long-tim- one-ma- Baker directed the Utah Shakespearean Festivals Greenshow and Feaste from 1985 through 1989, returning to the position for the 1987 and 1999 seasons. His recent directing credits include production of Carousel, Inherit the Wind, Blood Brothers and Pippin. He has written two Las Vegas production shows Winds of the Gods and Tournament of Kings and performed for 13 and one half years as Merlin the Master m the Tournament of Kings and King Arthurs Tournament at the Ex- calibur Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. Baker was an Associate Professor of Theatre at Southern Utah University from 1982 to 1989 and currently holds the rank of Professor of Theatre at the Community College of Southern Nevada. He and his wife, Kay, have four sons, a daughter-in-laand four grandchildren. w 8 Douglas Baker Nov 26 - Dec 2 MOVIE GUIDE atnans u 3 Now Playing Now Playing National Treasure pc 6:00 and 9:00 3: 1 5 Fri. & Sat. Matinee Polar Express 6:15 and 8:45 Starts Friday C W 8.45 3:45 Fri. & Sat. Matinee fiasro Stag Now Playing The Incredibles po 7:45 5:00 Matinee Friday & Saturday Matinees before 6 p.m. and Tuesday Nights - All Seats $3,501 Modes are Subject to Change - All Theatres are Hosed on Sundays. t I I . |