December 4, The Glory of Christmas

It was a glorious evening to get in the spirit of Christmas. The Glory of Christmas production, which lasts 1 1/2 hours, is not your run of the mill christmas show. It began in 1981 and is put on by volunteer cast and staff. It captures a small fragment of the time and emotions that may have been experienced that night in Bethlehem.

We were not allowed to take pictures during the performance, so the few I have were taken around that performance time. On our tour I took the pictures of the set, and when we first arrived here a performance was ending, so we were able to get the shots of the 3 magi. The afternoon performance was for the children. During the season they will give free shows to 12,000 children. Then we walked over to where the animals are kept and got the shots of the camels.

The production was really outstanding, from the opening notes to the finale. The orchestrations for the evening were performed by members of the London Symphony and Seattle Symphony orchestras. The costumes from the plain and simple villagers to the beautifully regal, colorful sparkling Magi. The Roman Centurians riding horseback down the center aisle, the Magi's camel caravan/entourage passing through twice. The bleating sheep and goats with the shepherds. The special effects from the thunder storm (complete with clouds), to the Bethlehem star, to the flying angels (sometimes 7 of them)

To the right side of the stage is a stone tower where the trumpeters played at the beginning and also King Herod and his court did their part from here. The balcony on the right and there is one on the other side was where the angels flew from(from the top of the balcony) and flew over the audience down on the main floor.
The center stage shows Bethlehem up top, on the left is the Inn and on the right is the cave where Jesus was born. Most of the action takes place in this area. You can see the raised center aisle where actors, dancers and the horses came onto the main stage.
This is the Inn and to the left are the hills where the shepherds were. They even had a bonfire. The Roman guards had lit torches.

You can see how elaborate the costumes are.

The magi rode in on these camels, the camels knelt during the presentation of the gifts. One of these decided he had knelt long enough and got up during the performance. You should have seen the people scatter. They soon had him down again.

Towards the end of the show this little shepherd boy came running down the center aisle, he wasn't very old, maybe 6 or 7. and he sang the song "What Can I Give Him". Oh my, did that bring down the house. It was all in all a magnificent performance.

As we left the performance we were greeted by this huge lit christmas tree. Their Christmas prayer is that this year you may discover the meaning of true joy. Joy in the midst of troubles, Joy in the face of disappointment. Joy in the wake of a troubled world, Then you will truly experience The Glory of Christmas. We add our prayers to theirs.