Nativity to open this Friday
The real reason for the Christmas season will be dramatized at two live performances of the Robert Nail play Albany Nativity offered free of charge at the Aztec Theater this Friday and Saturday, December 14 and 15, starting at 7:30 p.m. each evening.
Albany thespians traditionally present the play every second year during December as a gift for their fellow citizens, neighbors, families, and friends.
“The tickets are free and will be available at the Aztec box office starting at 7:00 p.m. before each performance,” said director Lorna Ayers. “We are only using the tickets to keep track of audience numbers.”
The Aztec seats around 275 people.
The doors close each night when either the tickets are sold out or when the play begins, whichever occurs first.
Once the doors are shut, no one else is allowed to enter so that a worshipful atmosphere can be maintained during the performance, and attendees are asked to do their part as well.
“Out of traditional reverence for the Nativity and respect for fellow audience members, please silence all phones and technological devices and remove any young children that are unable to quietly observe the performance,” said Ayers.
Nail’s Albany Nativity tells the well-known story of the birth of the Christ child, but rather than jumping in somewhere shortly before Christmas Eve, Nail starts his play where the Bible begins the narration, in Genesis.
The promise of a Savoir, passed down through the patriarchs, kings, and prophets of the Old Testament, and fulfilled centuries later by the Son of God arriving as a baby in a stable near Bethlehem is presented by the use of narration, Biblical tableau, and music.
There will be only one performance on each of the two nights, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the downtown Aztec Theater.
Nativity Crew
Working behind the scenes with Ayers are assistant director Ragan Riley, music director Sandy Abel, choir director Kyle Viertel, and backstage manager/costume manager Myra Hise.
Russel Caney is in charge of sound and Wade Jones will run the lights.
Arch mangers are John Ayers, Martha Lee, Ragan Riley, Cathy Rupp, and Matthew Rupp.
Children’s choir directors are Chanel Hayner, Leigh Lowe, Lillian Wheeler, Stephanie Gleitz, and Robbin Guinn.
“Volunteers from the Christian Church put up the massive set,” said Ayers. “And I want to thank Don Taggart for his tireless work to make everything come together.”
Nativity Cast
Cast members include:
Voice – Pam Davis, Primitive Man – Charles Holson, Patriarch – Art Viertel, First Son – Chris Beard, First Wife – Susie Beard, Daughter – Abbi Beard, Son – Gregori Mikeska, Boy King David – Connor Smith, Moses – John Tate, Isaiah – Jeff Turner, Micah – Paul Johnston, Daniel – Tom Chandler, and Zechariah – Brad McBee.
Also Mary – Lauren Willen, Gabriel – Jonathon Leverton, Elizabeth – Gaye Davis, Joseph – Jeff Davis, Salah – Donnie Lucas, Herod – Alan Jones, Elpis – Patti Jones, Guard – Matthew Rupp, Lehabim – Kyle Viertel, Balthasar – Robert Dacus, Melchior – Sonny McCauley, Caspar – Bob Skelton, Esrom – Gregori Mikeska, Jorim – Braden Davis, Abiram – John Vier-tel, and Paseah – Chris Beard.
Nativity Music
The 30-member Children’s Choir will again be made up of local students in the second through fifth grades.
Members of the Adult Choir include Kayla McCauley, Keren Liming, Annette Snyder, Mary Rose, Melinda Lucas, Don Fitzgibbons, Lanham Martin, Jon Rex Jones, and Alan Jones.
Carli Edgar, Hannah Trail, Presley Green, Briley Tabor, Chloe Broadus, Leddie Leech, Robin Lucas, Robyn Trail, Brooklyn Abbate, Braylyn Abbate, Kiana Roberson, and Callan Edgar will portray the Angel Choir.
“The Nativity is always a great way to get into the Christmas spirit,” said Ayers. “And we have quite a few new cast members and old cast members in different roles, so if you haven’t seen it in awhile, you should consider going.”
Financial Support
In order for the Nativity to be presented as a free production, it is financially supported by the Albany Nativity Association through the Marge Bray Memorial Fund. Contributions are tax deductible and may be mailed to the association at PO Box 2530, Albany TX 76430.
Nativity Origins
The Albany Nativity was first performed in 1939 at the Mat-thews Memorial Presbyterian Church.
The drama, which is taken from scripture, was written by the late Robert Nail the year after the Fort Griffin Fandangle was established. It was produced by the people of Albany, just as the Fandangle was, until the Fandangle Association was organized several years later. The Nativity continued to be sponsored and financed by the Fandangle until 1994, when a separate board was set up.
The biennial production is now funded by the Marge Bray Memorial Fund.
Bray directed the Nativity after Nail died suddenly in 1968. She continued as director until her own death in early 1994.
Other directors since that time have been Bill Overton, Alan Jones, Betsy Parsons, Reilly Nail, and Jeanine Hill.
The Albany Nativity has had three different homes over the past 65 years. It began in the Presbyterian Church, although people from all denominations participated then, as they do now.
In 1952, the drama was moved into the auditorium at Nancy Smith Elementary School, which had been completed a year or two before. It continued to be presented in the small intimate auditorium every third year for the next 30 years, until 1982, when the auditorium was remodeled into classrooms.
There seemed to be no good location for the production to go, until 1991, when the Aztec Theater underwent the first stage of a complete renovation. The play was presented again in 1992, and since then has been produced every other year with the exception of 2010.
