Harold Wright, Artistic Director
Welcome to today’s performance of “Merry Everything: The Gayest Time of the Year!” featuring the Orlando Gay Chorus! We are truly thankful you made our performance part of your holiday season. As Artistic Director, it is my honor to conduct this group of amazing singers and dancers, as well as work alongside the artistic staff: Sue Glerum, pianist, and Jenny Cate Hodil, Associate Artistic Director. Special thanks to the volunteers of the chorus that work as support, our guest instrumentalists, and also our ASL friends led by Professor Debbie Drobney from Valencia College!
With at least 17 holidays that happen this time of the year, there are many reasons to be joyous! I invite you to surround yourself with as many celebrations as possible! The more the merrier! We have secular songs and sacred songs that celebrate the season of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and just the idea of friends and/or family sharing time together. With so many celebrations, we kindly share a salutation by saying, “Merry Everything!”
Finally, we cannot thank you enough for your patronage and support of the Orlando Gay Chorus. We are one of the largest mixed-voice LGBTQIA+ choruses in the United Stated and because of you, we will continue to grow and continue to make a difference not only in Orlando, but around Florida and beyond. Thank you for coming today and Happy Holiday Season to you and your family!Enjoy our show, “Merry Everything: The Gayest Time of the Year!”
Meet the Chorus
ACT ONE
It’s Our Christmas Cheer
Words & Music by Eric Lane Barnes (ASCAP)
Carol of the Bells
Music by Mykolaiv Leontovich
Words & Arrangement by Peter J. Wilhousky
Santa’s Coming for Us
Words & Music by Sia Furler and Greg Kurstin
Arranged by Mark Brymer
Habari Gani
Words & Music by William Schermerhorn and Wesley Whatley
Arranged by Larry Hochman
Soloists: Nolan Croce and Adam Mayo
Crowded Table
Soloist: Sarah Milowic (Melody Negron)
Violin solo: Harold Padilla
What Christmas Means to Me
Words & Music by George Gordy, Allen Story, and Anna Gaye
Arranged by Mac Huf
Words & Music by Natalie Hemby, Lori McKenna, and Brandi Carlile
ACT TWO
Breath of Heaven
Words & Music by Chris Eaton and Amy Grant
Arranged by Craig Courtney
Soloist: Jess Rigsby (Mimi Batista)
I Saw Mommy Kissing Mrs. Claus!
Original Words & Music by Tommie Connor
Alternate Lyrics by Robin Koman
Arranged by Mac Huf
Christmas Time is Here Ménage
Words by Lee Mendelson
Music by Vince Guaraldi
Arranged by Robert Sterling
Holiday Tango
OUTLOUD!
Words & Music by Greg Gilpin
White Winter Hymnal
Nothin’ But Treble
Words & Music by Robin Pecknold
Arranged by Alan Billingsley
What Was I Made For Spectrum
Words & Music by Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas O’Connell
Arranged by Jennifer Lucy Cook
Esta Noche
SOLO
Traditional Spanish Carol
Arranged by Andy Beck
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Arranged by Alex Rybek
Boogie Woogie Hanukkah
Words & Music by Eric Lane Barnes
ACT THREE
On with the Snow!
Arranged by Douglas E. Wagner
Feliz Navidad
Words & Music by José Feliciano
Hava Nagila
Traditional Chassidic Melody & Text
Arranged by Tina Harrington
Clarinet solo: April Abbot
Hallelujah Chorus
No. 44 Chorus from MESSIAH
George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759)
Merry Everything
Words & Music by Ernie Lijoi
Sparklejollytwinklejingley
Lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Music by Matthew Sklar
Soloists: Melody Negron and Bea Brownell (Josh Soto and Sarah Jackson)
Arranged by Andy Beck
Creative Team, Staf, Volunteers and Behind the Scenes
Artistic Team
Artistic Director
Harold Wright
Associate Artistic Director
Jenny Cate Hodil
Principal Accompanist
Sue Glerum
ASL Interpreters
Debbie Drobney
Derek Smith
Musicians
Piano
Sue Glerum
Synthesizer
Darren Bartolo
Percussion
Matthew Black
Production Crew
Production Committee Chair
Marty Manuel
Production Manager & Tech Director
Frank Arcidiacono
PJ Finster
Back Of House Manager
Stephanie Grady
Audio Coordinator
Chip Reif
Choreographers
Dion Johnson
Dwight Shropshire
OGC Team
Ofce Manager
Steven Miller
Program/Poster Design
Paul Driver
Social Media Team
Miraylee Batista
Emma Bramer
Sean Mundyschein
Ryan Linsky
Volunteers
Robert Mundyschein
Katie Murphy
Bill Parker
Chip Reif
Jenn Stoyell
Mario Boza
The Orlando Gay Chorus and the Footnote Dancers would like to thank the First Congregational Church of Winter Park for the use of their space for the Footnote Dancers’ rehearsals.
SONG SPONSORS
Act 1
• Carol of the Bells - Sponsored by Marc Zurich “Dedicated to my parter Jon Michael Wampler.I can’t wait to continue our world travels in 2025. Merry Christmas my love”
• Santa’s Coming for Us - Sponsored by John Payne-Rios
• Crowded Table - Sponsored by Sandra Lee “To my wonderful wife Kat, and our chosen family, both near and far, may you always feel welcome at my table. I will always be a source of support for you during challenging times.”
Act 2
• Breath of Heaven - Sponsored by Doreen "Doe" Ratigan “This song is a message of faith under pressure, and the hope that even in darkness, light will prevail.”
• What Was I Made For - Sponsored by Carol Studer “wishing you all the happiest of holidays.”
• Boogie Woogie Hanukkah - Sponsored by Sammy Goldstein “In honor of my husband, Bill Yahner, singing with OGC for 27 years!”
Act 3
• On With The Snow - Sponsored by Frank Arcidiacono & Marty Manuel “Wishing you a Merry Everything and a Happy New Year!”
• Feliz Navidad - Sponsored by Janie Drummond
• Hava Nagila - Sponsored by Linda Fessel “Come let us be glad and rejoice.”
• Hallelujah Chorus - Sponsored by Marc Zurich “Dedicated to my parter Jon Michael Wampler. I can’t wait to continue our world travels in 2025. Merry Christmas my love”
• Merry Everything - Sponsored by Sheri Kettula and the Music committee “This was our inspiration for this show!”
Our Mission
To create a community that afrms diversity through the performing arts.
Our Vision
To create impactful change in the community as a proactive force for equity, inclusion, and authenticity.
Our Values
The chorus is committed to:
• Providing high quality, skilled performances in an environment that maintains an atmosphere of integrity, honesty and mutual respect.
• Ofering educational, cultural, and social enrichment for our members and our audience through excellence in the arts.
• Making our performances accessible to all people.
About OGC
The Orlando Gay Chorus(OGC)is one of the largest mixed LGBTQIA+ choruses in the country. Founded on Valentine's Day in 1990, OGC has been a fxture in the Central Florida area for over 30 years. In addition to the full chorus, OGC has four small ensembles that perform at the annual concerts and cabarets, as well as at community and private events.
Comprised of LGBTQ+ individuals and many allies from all walks of life, all ages, and all backgrounds, OGC warmly welcomes all who would like to join them in their goal of changing hearts and minds in Central Florida and throughout the world.
The members of the chorus, now 100+ strong, are thankful to be able to carry on the mission and vision. The musical artistry speaks directly to the pride in the LGBTQ+ community and ofers the world a chance to see beyond headlines and contentious social issues to build bridges of understanding and love.
As part of the Central Florida Arts Community, the Orlando Gay Chorus often performs at Central Florida pride events, sporting events, and various other community engagements. In addition to our two main stage concerts in December and May, we present smaller cabarets and take our show on the road at least once a year to cities outside of Orlando, like Sanford, Ormond Beach, Cocoa, Winter Haven, and more.
The Orlando Gay Chorus has performed in many GALA(Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses) Festivals, most memorably during the 2016 Denver festival... shortly after the Pulse tragedy. It was immensely impactful to perform in front of an audience of 3000 GALA Chorus members and supporters from around the world.
In the years since the Pulse tragedy, OGC and its ensembles continue to be ambassadors of hope and healing to the victims' families, survivors, and those afected by the Pulse tragedy, performing in over 150 Pulserelated community engagements in the frst year alone.
Due to its 30+ years of service to the community, OGC was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2020 Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast & Center Awards by the LGBT+ Center in Orlando.
Despite the challenges of singing during a pandemic, OGC continues life-saving and community afrming work, following strict protocols to ensure the safety of our performers, volunteers, and staf. Following a brief hiatus of virtual workshops, rehearsals, and online performances, OGC was able to resume in-person performances and delight audiences once again.
The Orlando Gay Chorus is a 501(c)(3)not-for-proft arts and humanitarian organization.
United Arts is deeply grateful to its donors and community partners for their investment in and support of Central Florida's creative community and the enormous impact it has on our lives every day.