The Fremont Drama Club will present “Close Encounters of the Christmas Kind” at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, at the school.
“Close Encounters of the Christmas Kind” is a musical that takes Santa on a journey into alien territory. While taking his sled on a test drive, he is beamed up into a space ship and abducted by aliens.
As everything the aliens do is controlled by science and void of emotion, they want to study Santa to find out why he gives things away every year. Try as they might, they cannot understand the concepts of kindness and love.
The aliens want to know: “Why does it feel good to give things to others?” Santa takes them back with him to the North Pole, and eventually, with the help of Mrs. Claus and the elves, the aliens learn the true meaning of the holiday spirit.
The drama club began practicing for its winter play in September. In all, there will be 13 practices and one dress rehearsal before their two performances on Dec. 16.
A total of 24 students in third, fourth and fifth grade are in the drama club.
Elizabeth Roenz, Kathy Timm and Paula Groher are the directors and coordinators of the play. In addition, there are two student directors – Kaitlyn Hickey and Kim Gilbert – who are former Fremont Drama Club participants.
Hickey and Gilbert choreographed the song “Just Be Claus” and helped directed the students.
Timm did all of the work on the scenery and props and also made some of the costumes. Drama club parents also helped with the costumes.