Dear Foothills Community:

          The Foothills Community Foundation wants to thank everyone who volunteered to create or participate in the 54th Annual Desert Foothills Christmas Pageant. Unfortunately, the Pageant was cancelled due to bad weather on Saturday and damage to the set and equipment on Sunday. We would like to acknowledge those people who would have made the event a great success! Meribeth & Matt Reeves and there sizable crew of luminaria workers planned to put out a spectacular display around the five-mile trail to Spur Cross. Steve Norris prepared the impressive choir. Toby Payne was once again in charge of providing and installing the lighting and sound system that would of transformed the desert into a beautiful performance space. Meribeth Reeves provided the poster design, Doug Foley provided the printing and Vickilyn Hussey did all publicity for the event, hoping to bring even more people in to enjoy the annual event.

          The pageant crew that worked tirelessly to make this event a success are to thank. They are Ed Steinlee, Sven Jensen, Danny Dupont, Ned Dobak, George Hofer, Bob Herrmann, Manny Gonzales, Jim Walborn, John Abram, Ralph Pipp, David Shirey, Dale & Athena Jensen, Debbie Payne, Bill Boyton, Jessica Bezley, Ron McGee, Lorne Peat, and Ron Ireland.

          The pageant would have been made possible by the following cast of people who would of created the Christmas scene at Spur Cross. Narrator Rev. Bob Hutson volunteered to set the scene, Lindsey Anderson would have played Mary, Jackson Welch would have played Joseph and Aubreigh Reisener would have been Baby Jesus. The little angel would have been played by Sarah Warren and the big angel would have been played by Laura Mannino. The Innkeeper would have been played by Paul Rusch, the Innkeeper’s wife would have been played by Kate Gerston and the Innkeeper’s daughter would have been played by Ally Yost. The shepherds would have been played by Allie Hill, Holly MacDonald, China Allen, Alexis Matt, Emily Anderson and Nicole Brennan. The townspeople would have been played by Kea Warren, Falynne Knight, Alyssa Lee, Kelsey Nigbur, Mary Lou Snyder and Elizabeth Erion. The beggar was played by Scott Warren. The pages were played by Kristi Frederiksen. The three kings would have been played by Shawna Caswell, Paige Frederiksen, and Ally Caswell. We want to thank them all for participating.

          The beautiful Christmas music that would have been heard was directed by Steve Norris. We want to thank the following choir members for volunteering to perform; Nancy Hales, Deanie Reh, Karen Franevsky, Diana Ellis, Merry Austin, Ron Brockman, Dave Neumann, Don Basta, Betty Desler, Rose Fields, Jacquie Goodspeed, Nancy Molder, Marlene Crane and Carolyn McInnes.

          We want to make a special thanks to the Town of Cave Creek for usage of the Spur Cross site. We also want to thank RSC Equipment Rental for donating the use of a generator for the pageant. A thank you goes to our local businesses El Encanto, Satisfied Frog, the Horney Toad, Uncle Louie’s, Barro’s Pizza and the Bad Donkey for agreeing to provide food for the Christmas Pageant Cast and Crew party. And lastly, we thank the Foothills Community Foundation for continuing on the holiday tradition.

          We estimate that close to 100 people help every year to make this community-wide event a success. The camaraderie of this wonderful group of volunteers truly brings the holiday season to the Foothills. Please join us next year for the 55th Annual Desert Foothills Christmas Pageant. Thank you community, and a happy holiday season to all!


Breanne Ulewicz
Executive Director, Foothills Community Foundation
On behalf of the Christmas Pageant Committee
480.488.1090
bre@azfcf.org




        

E-Brief Monthly, December 2007