Columbia/Hellam/Wrightsville
townlively.com
DECEMBER 1, 2021
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXII • NO 42
A Canopy Over Columbia BY CATHY MOLITORIS
The cast of “All Is Calm”
“All Is Calm” Highlights Peace On Earth BY CATHY MOLITORIS
hen Susquehanna Stage first performed “All Is Calm” five years ago, the cast wasn’t sure how the audience was reacting to the 80-minute show. “There really isn’t a break in the action, and there’s no intermission, so the audience was very quiet,” recalled Jim Johnson, who is directing the show again this year. “We were wondering what they thought, and then when it ended, they just burst into applause.” The show was so well received, in fact, that all performances sold out from word of mouth after opening night. “All Is Calm” will run at Susquehanna Stage, 133 W. Market St., Marietta, from Friday, Dec. 3 through Sunday, Dec. 12. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 3, Saturday, Dec. 4, Thursday, Dec. 9, Friday, Dec. 10 and
His castmate Clint Burdick agreed, adding, “It’s an honor to tell their stories. There’s laughter and there’s sadness in this show. It’s a show full of emotions.” Performing with a minimal set, the actors are all on stage for the entire show and the musical numbers are performed a capella. This setup presents some challenges, said cast member Alex Flattery. “You can’t rely on the pit orchestra for your pitch,” he said. “You have to rely on the guys to the left and right of you.” Dean Sauder said rehearsing for the show has been a unique experience. “It’s the highlight of my day to come and rehearse and to be able to participate in this show,” he stated. “It’s challenging, but it’s so rewarding to be a part of this.” The emotional pull of performing in “All Is Calm” was so great that nine of the 12 cast members from the previous production have
returned for this year’s performance. Sturgis urges audiences to pay particular attention to the show’s epilogue. “It really pulls everything together,” he noted, adding that the show emphasizes our shared humanity even in the midst of conflict. “It will get you thinking, ‘Why do we do this? Why do we have war? Why do fight with each other?’” Johnson said it’s not common practice for Susquehanna Stage to repeat a show so soon, but this one made such an impact he wanted to do it again. “I just love the theme of this show, the idea of peace,” he remarked. “This is not a typical Christmas show - there’s no Santa. It’s not ‘A Christmas Carol.’ It’s a different kind of Christmas show about a real moment in time when time stood still and there was peace on Earth.” For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.susquehannastage.com.
See Canopy pg 3
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Christmas Magic Light Display . . . . . . . . . . .2 Business Directory . . . . . .2 Covenant Moravian Sets Christmas Bazaar . . . . . . .3 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . .10 House Of Worship . . . . . .12
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Saturday, Dec. 11. Performances will be at 2 p.m. on Dec. 11 and 12, and at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5. Featuring an all-male cast of 12, the show tells the true story of a Christmas truce struck between the German and Allied soldiers at the start of World War I in 1914. “On Christmas Eve, the troops came together, shared stories, played a soccer game and celebrated Christmas,” explained Steve Sturgis, who performs in the show. He added that the peace ended the next day when the war resumed. The conflict continued for another four years. The story of “All Is Calm” is told through actual letters from soldiers, making it an emotional experience, said performer Rob Hein. “There’s a poignancy to this show,” he remarked. “These events actually happened, so to be able to share the stories of these soldiers is very moving.”
Over the past 31 years, the Columbia Borough Shade Tree Commission has planted more than 900 trees in the community, bringing beauty and environmental benefits to the town. The Columbia Tree Society, which is the fundraising auxiliary for the commission, has begun its annual membership drive for 2022. The Columbia Borough Shade Tree Commission strives to encourage street tree plantings as well as the addition of trees in yards, parks and public places, said William Kloidt, Columbia Arbor Day chairperson. “Shade trees are important to Columbia as they supply natural cover from the hot sun in the summer and serve as wind breakers in winter and spring, which provide practical benefits such as lower heating and air-conditioning costs,” he noted. “In the fall they provide an inspirational assortment of colors when the