The true meaning of Christmas will be on display at Swamp Donkey Musical Theatre Society's upcoming holiday production in Bragg Creek.
From Dec. 15 to 18, the Bragg Creek-based musical theatre company will be presenting its annual Christmastime production. This year's musical is titled Christmas in the Creek.
According to Trisha Gizen, Swamp Donkey's founder and president, the show's story line is inspired by the cheesy Hallmark movies that are popular at this time of year.
“It’s a Christmas musical, as the name would suggest,” she said. “It’s an original musical production that Melanie Baux, our assistant director, and myself have written.
“It’s a feel-good, holiday show that is for everyone of all ages. It’s really just about the true meaning of Christmas.”
According to Gizen, the story is set in the fictional community of Cookie Creek – the same setting as Swamp Donkey's 2021 holiday production. She described the plot as “a musical within a musical,” as residents of the mythical town prepare to put on their annual Christmastime musical production. However, a big-city director has been brought in to jazz up the musical this year, by turning it into the biggest, brightest, and best performance ever – much to the chagrin of Cookie Creek's residents, who want their beloved show to maintain its small-town feel.
“She’s forgotten about the simple roots and how it’s about the true meaning of Christmas,” Gizen said. “The two local sisters decide they’re going to need to bring it back to its roots, so they’re up to all sorts of hi-jinks as they try to bring the musical back to its humble beginnings.”
Christmas in the Creek stars Gizen and Baux, who are from Bragg Creek and Cochrane, respectively, as well as Calgary actors Meaghan Schulz and Melissa Wang-Jackson.
Apart from the four adult actors, Christmas in the Creek also features a seven-member ensemble from Swamp Donkey's youth theatre programs. The ensemble includes kids from Bragg Creek, Cochrane, Water Valley, and Olds.
“We have people from all over coming to our productions, which is great,” Gizen said.
“Our youth course we just had was probably one-third from Bragg Creek, one-third Cochrane, and one-third Calgary. We’re proud we have people coming from all over to our little hamlet because of what we’re offering in terms of workshops and productions.”
Adding to the cast will be accompanying music from members of the Bragg Creek Performing Arts Society, who Gizen said will be playing their instruments throughout the production.
Christmas in the Creek will be Swamp Donkey's third and final production of the 2021-22 season, following their recent youth-led production Frozen Jr. in late November.
Tickets to the upcoming musical are $28 each, and are available for purchase at Showpass.ca or via swampdonkey.ca. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. on Dec. 15, 16, and 17, 2 p.m. on Dec. 17 and 18, and 5 p.m. on Dec. 17.
According to Gizen, the 5 p.m. show in Dec. 17 costs $44 a ticket, as it includes a prime rib dinner beforehand at Creeker's Bistro, which is adjacent to Swamp Donkey's facility at 16 White Avenue in Bragg Creek.
