Holiday Harmony Spectacular continues 'Holiday Traditions'

Type of post: Chorus news item
Sub-type: No sub-type
Posted By: John Braden
Status: Archived
Date Posted: Mon, Dec 12 2022
Eighty-four chorus singers, led by 2017 International quartet champion Main Street, performed the 24th year of the Holiday Harmony Spectacular -- aptly named "Holiday Traditions."

The Heart of America Barbershop Chorus and the Kansas City Chorus of Sweet Adelines took the stage Dec. 3, 2022, at the Unity Village Auditorium performing for an audience of about 645.

Audience members welcomed the annual kickoff to their Christmas season, complimenting the singing and general holiday fun. Cast members said they had a great time too, happy to perform again after too much pandemic isolation.

The show opened with singers in holiday garb representing holiday hustle, bustle and mishaps in a script by Sweet Adeline Kimi Ruder. The first act included traditional tunes "We Need a Little Christmas," "Home for the Holidays," It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas/Pinecones and Holly Berries" and "Joy to the World," directed by Carter Combs, Michelle Hunget, Heather Schouten, Bob Velazquez, Kris DeWeese and Mike Schumacher.

Each chorus also performed their own separate holiday song sets. The program also was salted with songs by Sweet Adeline quartets Sassaphras, Ransom Notes, EarBuds and 4's Company and Barbershopper quartets KC Common, Homeward Bound and Swing Shift.

The highlight of the night was headliner quartet Main Street, an international quartet champion whose members hold a total of 13 international competition medals. The foursome sports a traditional style of soft shoe dance, slapstick and nostalgic songs, evocative of the Dapper Dans of Disney World. All four members have sung at Disney with the Dans and/or the Voices of Liberty.

The show's second act opened with a children's chorus singing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. They were then joined by HOA and KCC in formal tuxes and gowns in black and red, singing "Away in a Manger," "Silent Night/Angels from Heaven," "This is My Wish" and "Oh Holy Night."

At intermission, a U.S. Marine representative received a stage-full of Toys for Tots collected by cast and audience members.

The show was followed by a cast party, or Afterglow. in which quartets sang and Main Street performed nearly a second entire show. That was followed by an after-party, a Glimmer, at the home of Carter and Jeffi Combs, where Main Street did it again.