Students at Ashley Hall are making final adjustments to their costumes, committing their lines to memories, and shaking out nerves before the school hosts its 100th Christmas Play. The first performance was back in 1924 under the direction of the school founder, Mary Vardrine McBee.
For a little perspective, in 1924, Calvin Coolidge was president, a gallon of gas was around 20 cents, and the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in New York City.
On Friday, Dec. 13, nearly 120 students will gather in the historic St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church to play a part in the pageant + Ashley Hall Red Choir will provide music. The production has been performed in locations across the city, including the Gaillard Auditorium in the 1970s.
The play is a retelling of the Nativity Cycle of the medieval Mystery Plays of Chester, England. Mystery Plays were a type of drama performed in England from the 1370s until the latter half of the 16th century.
