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The South’s Grandest Christmas Show at the Alabama Theatre Offers Non-Stop Entertainment

By Terry Massey Nov 10, 2011

The South's Grandest Christmas Show at the Alabama Theatre is a long-running fan favorite on the Grand Strand.

A combination of lighting, scenery, sounds, dance and a touch of humor, the Alabama Theater might as well be at the North Pole rather than Barefoot Landing.

For starters, you’ll want to be on time for this show for two reasons, and they’re both Ricky Mokel. The local yokel emcees before the show and between scenes, so you’ll want to catch every minute, and not be the target of his jokes for arriving late.

The innocently hilarious character played by Grant Turner is a new addition to the Christmas show but a well-known regular of the in-season performance of “One.” It’s a nice fit as his homespun humor gets the audience in a happy mood before the curtain opens.

From there, it’s all music and dance performed by the familiar cast. With a backing band and horn section, the numbers and routines are rock solid. The saxophone and fiddle solos are especially nice.

Music fans of all taste will find something up their alley. Performing a mix of country, gospel, bluegrass and even some rock, the music keeps the crowd swaying to a variety of tunes.

Alabama Theater longtimers Greg Rowles and Katie Casey lead a talented cast that will not be strangers to previous visitors. The continuity of the cast at the Alabama Theater goes a long way toward adding chemistry to the cast members.

In addition to excellent use of lighting, sound and setting, the stage features a large videoboard that adds a new dimesnion to the performance.

Without ruining the show, one performance about being home for the holidays features video highlights of service members saying hello and goodbye to loved ones. Very moving indeed.

Other highlights include a visit from Rudolph, a comical number featuring a lumbering reindeer suit, and a surprise visit from a certain fat guy in a red suit, when children in the crowd are invited on stage for a fireside reading.

The non-stop action and music make the time fly through this performance, and it’s hard to believe the number of Christmas songs that are performed without any repeats.

So take your favorite scrooge to the Alabama Theater for a little Christmas spirit therapy. It can only enhance your holidays.

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