mini-review - GMCLA's Comfort & Joy

Alex Theatre in Glendale

GMCLA's annual holiday concert, this year entitled Comfort & Joy, was presented Saturday, December 18 and Sunday, December 19 to sold out houses at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, and proved once again to be one of the most innovative and enjoyable holiday concerts around town. With guest director Dr. Timothy Seelig, en route from Dallas, Texas to take over as director of the GMC in San Francisco, firmly in control, the afternoon was a glorious one indeed.
This year saw a return to the famous "The Twelve Days of Christmas" staged by The Foamettes "Black-Light Puppet Spectacular" under the guidance of Phil Hettema: a dazzlingly brilliant display of artistry. It was an annual tradition a few years back. There was also a team of elves performing practically acrobatic feats thanks to choreographer Billy Rugh and ... offering a great Elves' Broadway Christmas, in which they incorporated A Chorus Line, Phantom and other Broadway musical treats in the guise of Christmas madness. LeeAnn Rimes guested on Sunday (when I attended), with Sheryl Lee Ralph the guest star on the 18th. Rimes lifted her gorgeous "Patsy Cline" like vocal instrument to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", "All I Want for Christmas Is You" and Amanda McBroom's beautiful "The Rose" in duet with the chorus singing "Lo How a Rose".

Other highlights included: "Sleigh Ride", a simply gorgeous arrangement by Mark Riese of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen", a medley of "Joy", "Silver Bells", a hilarious tribute to Hannukah "Boogie Woogie Hannukah" and the traditional finale of "Silent Night", both sung and in sign language.
Never a let-down, the concert proved once again this year that GMCLA ranks at the top for originality in entertainment.

Toy elves were given to purchasers of $20 raffle tickets, offering a variety of great giveaways like spectacular Club Med vacations. Showing off his elf is GMCLA singer/ Avenue Q composer Jeff Marx.