Holiday Gala
12.11–12.25 | Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre
2025 Holiday Gala
PRODUCED, WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY
John Bonanni & Stephanie Higgins Marshall
SCENIC DESIGNER
Bethany Kasperek
VIDEO/TV DIRECTOR
Andrew Carson
VIDEO PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Anthony Brunner
PROJECTION DESIGNER
Emily Smith
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Terry Jorgensen
COSTUME DESIGNER
Laura Whittenton
SOUND DESIGNER
Emmalee Stapleton
TECHNICAL DIRECTORS
Matthew Hapeman
David Steinmetz
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
Katherine Neff
Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 7:30p.m.
Friday, December 12, 2025 at 8:00 p.m.
Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre
Shenandoah University
Program
FANFARE
“We Need a Little Christmas” from Mame
Jerry Herman (1931–2019)
Arranged by Jay Bocook
SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY MARCHING BAND
Shaun Evans, director
Holiday Medley
Arranged by Craig Fraedrich
PRECISION DANCE
Emily Adams, Rylie Barr, Clara Chenault, Abby Davis, Paige DeFrees, Avery Eisenhauer, Kaliyah Fridia, Ariana Gaub, Brandon Goldman, Sophia Kenworthey, Kaitlyn Kiefer, Olivia Kouletsis, Layla Kurtz, Kate Mark, Addison Payne, Emma Potter, Bailey Sadler, Lauren Scott, Jill Taylor, dancers
Tiffanie Carson, choreographer
Welcome
SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
Hugh Martin (1914–2011)
Ralph Blane (1914–1995)
MUSICAL THEATRE SOLOIST
Payton Gonzalez
“Believe” from The Polar Express
“Hot Chocolate” from The Polar Express
Alan Silvestri (b. 1950)
Glen Ballard (b. 1953)
Aidan Espinosa, soloist
SURreal CHOREOGRAPHY TROUPE
Emily Adams, Stephen Newton, Philly Kang, MJ Cossel, Aviv Haroz, Jacob Kim, Reagan Kern, Evan Smith, Olivia Zenetzis, Mia Nelson, Jasper Moore
“Jingle Bells”
Duke Ellington (1899–1974)
LITTLE BIG BAND
Craig Fraedrich, director
“Evening Prayer” from Hänsel und Gretel
Music by Engelbert Humperdinck (1854–1921)
Libretto by Adelheid Wette (1858–1916)
OPERA TRIO
Shannon Fowler, voice
Grace Ashby, voice
Berri Garver, piano
“O Holy Night”
Sha Wu, voice
Berri Garver, piano
“The Man with the Bag”
THE LOOSE SCREWS
Ella-Jo Reinhart, singer
Addison Payne, Amanda Poling, Ava James, Avery Whitacre, Connor Richmond, Hannah Brack, Kendall Heeter, Lance Lemon, Linnea McKinney, Madi Redicker, Rachel Langborgh, Reagan Kern, Serena Hepner, Tatum Legault, Dylan Stukenberg, dancers
“Shenandoah Christmas”
Eliahna Heimann, vocals
Myles Hairston, vocals
Colin Davin, guitar
Jon Toomer, violin
“African Noel”
Liberian Carol
Arranged by André J. Thomas
COMBINED CHORAL ENSEMBLES
Richard W. Robbins, conductor
Taryn Marks, percussion
Ethan Richardson, percussion
Singalong
“Deck the Hall”
“Let It Snow!”
“Winter Wonderland”
“Jingle Bells”
“Hark, the Herald Angels Sing”
“Go Tell It on the Mountain”
“We Wish You a Merry Christmas”
Adaptations for the Little Big Band by Craig Fraedrich
Personnel
In Memoriam
As we celebrate this holiday season with loved ones, our thoughts turn to members of our Shenandoah family who passed away in 2025.
Mrs. Nancy G. Albert, Faculty
Mr. Frank Armstrong III, Trustee Emeriti
Dr. John P. Balcer, Faculty
Dr. Brandon H. Beck, Faculty
Mr. Roy L. Callahan, Former Trustee
Mr. William H. Clement, Trustee Emeriti
Dr. Verne E. Collins, Faculty
Dr. Steven L. Cooksey, Faculty
Mr. David M. Darsch, Faculty
Dr. James A. Davis, President Emeritus
Mr. William W. Endorf, Faculty
Dr. James H. Laster, Faculty
Dr. Ann Lesman, Faculty
Dr. M. Yaqub Mirza, Trustee
Mrs. Anne B. Mitchell, Staff
Dr. Paul B. Noble, Faculty
Mrs. Sherlyn B. Shaughnessy, Faculty
Ms. Zoe Ann Vaughan, Staff
Mrs. Elaina B. Wheelock, Staff
Mrs. Irene Wurtzel, Trustee Emeriti
Mrs. Mary Lou Zickefoose, Faculty
Shine
The Shenandoah University Sesquicentennial Campaign
A transformative movement 150 years in the making to ignite future leaders and creators.
We are investing in transformative learning, student success, inspired spaces and a bold future.
Help build the new Concert Hall & Center for the Arts.
Discover the full vision for Shenandoah’s bold future.
Visit su.edu/shine to explore the official campaign website and join us!
Learn More about the Shine Campaign >
