Canora Junior Elementary School students helped spread Christmas cheer with the performance of a mini-musical.
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas was performed on December 15 in the Canora Composite School auditorium. The stage was specially decorated with Christmas lights and props to depict the house described in the poem of the same name attributed to Clement Clarke Moore.
Rod Steciuk, principal of Canora Junior Elementary School, welcomed the audience before the play began. Scenes from the poem were re-enacted and narrated by students. These scenes were interspersed between songs and poems from other students.
Performers included Noah Prychak as Dad, Gabrielle Marcischuk-Butler as Mom, Rhett Ludba and Callie Berehula as children, Briel Beblow as Santa Claus, and Michael Desrosiers, Cash Mitten, Kyel Stankewich-Littlechief, Hayden Starecki, Tia Bushell-Erickson, Chase Hembling, Connor Kraynick and Adam Kaytor as reindeer. Narrators were Chase Fountain, Emilie Hvidston, Jessee Kopelchuk, Ava Love, Matthew Makowsky and Annika Neratini.
Kindergarten groups one and two performed Christmas is Coming! led by Darla Zayshley.
Grade 2 students from Lesley Miles’ class sang and danced along to The Sugar Plums.
St. Nick at Night was performed by Grade 1 students from Jennifer Prychak and Lisa Strozen’s classes.
Reindeer on the Roof was a song performed by Grade 3 students, who were led by Alexandria Blatter and Lindsey Ostafie.
Eugene Chorneyko’s Grade 2 students performed When I Look at Santa.
To All a Good Night was performed by Grade 4 students from Scott Vaughan and Arlene Lozinski’s classes.
Students from the Canora Junior Elementary School choir, led by Rhonda Exner and accompanied by Chorneyko, performed Jingle Bell Rock and Silver Bells.
The play was directed by Lozinski and the backstage director was Vaughan. The sound and lighting technician was Prychak.
Patti-Jo Donovan ran a table for the Christmas raffle and winners of the raffle were announced by Steciuk. Proceeds were to be used for improvement of the school playground.
Following the performance, guests were allowed to visit with Santa Claus, who was assisted by honourary elves Emma Mykytyshyn, Bella Mykytyshyn and Lexi Beletski.
