NATCHITOCHES – The Mrs. H.D. Dear Sr. and Alice E. Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts at Northwestern State University will present the 31st annual Christmas Gala at the Strand Theatre in Shreveport on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

 

Tickets are $20 and are available at https://thestrandtheatre.com/shows/nsu-christmas-gala/ and https://capa.nsula.edu.  Service fees will be added to the price of the ticket.

 

More than 300 Northwestern State students, faculty and staff in the School of Creative and Performing Arts combine their talents to present the Gala as a kickoff to the Natchitoches Christmas Festival. Large crowds attend the Gala each year which is based on the long-running Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular.

 

“The Christmas Gala is something both our students and the community look forward to each year,” said Gala Artistic Director Michael Rorex. “We prepare for the Gala throughout the year and enjoy presenting an event that has become a tradition for many area families. The overall experience is something our students never forget.”

 

According to Rorex, the program will incorporate popular pieces from years past along with several new elements such as a newly choreographed “Hip Hop” group by Theatre and Dance faculty member Jared Doster and a new Nativity this accompanied by the NSU Men’s chorus singing an arrangement of “O Holy Night.” Musical theatre students will perform a very entertaining rendition of “Mele Kalikimaka” from the popular Christmas show “White Christmas.” The Toy Soldiers and the Rockettes will appear, performing to new numbers.

 

The Grand opening of the Gala is a new arrangement of “Carol of the Bells” using lots of singers, the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra and handbells from the First United Methodist Church of Natchitoches.

 

This is the third time the Gala has gone on the road to the Strand.  In previous years, the cast and crew of the Christmas Gala wowed audiences in sold out performances at the historic theatre that drew viewers from throughout north Louisiana and east Texas.

 

Information on NSU’s School of Creative and Performing Arts is available at https://capa.nsula.edu/.