Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Given the fact the cast of the Newburgh Community Christmas Concert is essentially one big family, getting together in the same room doesn’t violate any Public Health recommendations.
For that reason the 42nd annual show will go on-albeit virtually. It will however be more like the first 40 installments with all new material and the same loveable cast of characters. The only difference will be it will be recorded in advance and debut on YouTube on Dec. 4 starting at 7 p.m. The video link, which can be found at www.WoodCreativeGroup.com/ccc-2021, will remain active throughout the month of December.
“We were hoping that we’d be back this year,” said Mae Whalen, who returns to direct the comedy holiday variety show for a 42nd year. “Because of the way the protocols are right now, up until recently at Limestone District School Board, no community groups were able to use the facility. That was a major stepping-stone. But we felt comfortable because we’re all family and friends, we’re all fully vaccinated, we felt comfortable as a cast getting back together. That kind of drove our decision to remain virtual for another year, but this year will be a whole new concert like all the other years.”
The previous 40 editions were all held inside the gym of Newburgh Public School. Last year the pandemic forced the show to go virtual which resulted in a stitched together retrospective video featuring repeat versions of some of their classic skits.
This year it will be all new material as the cast can once again be in the same room. The plan is to record the show on Nov. 27 and have it ready to go for Dec. 4.
A section of the cast of the Newburgh Community Christmas Concert practice a dance number ahead of their Dec. 4 virtual show. Submitted photo.
“It’s going to have all those things that everybody loves,” said Whalen. “There will be songs re-worked into crazy lyrics. There will be dance numbers. The gentleman will show up as par for the course. We’re going to keep it under wraps because it’s always fun for people to get the visual. We like to keep the anticipation rolling on that. That’s going to be super fun. There’s a lot of laughter in the concert this year. A lot of really funny, light hearted skits. We think it’ll be a lovely thing for people to view and hopefully get some Christmas spirit.”
Though it does break from the tradition of gathering as a community to watch some holiday hijinks, there are some silver linings to going virtual.
“On a normal year we’d have around 700 people that could fit into the two shows at the gym,” said Whalen. “Last year our concert was viewed almost 3,400 times. When you think about that, that’s not just one person viewing it, probably groups of people or families.”
Last year’s format also saw them set a new record for money raised, topping $30,000. The cast will once again welcome donations, 100 per cent of which will again be used to brighten the Christmas of families in need this holiday season.
Cash donations can be made at McCormick’s Store in Camden East, Gray’s IDA in Napanee and Devon’s Café in Tamworth. E-transfers can also be made at to thecommunityChristmasconcert@