Update from Heidi Dallin
The Cape Ann YMCA presents Holiday Delights on December 15 at 7pm, December 16 at 2pm, and December 17 at 2pm at the Annisquam Village Hall, 34 Leonard Street, Gloucester, MA. Â
Set in Gloucester, Holiday Delights is a festive mix of stories, songs and dance celebrating the special traditions of other cultures and families as seen through a young child’s magical journey on Christmas Eve to discover what is really important during the holiday season. The 2023 edition of Holiday Delights features the journey of a young girl who discovers the spirit and the joys of the holiday season as she faces the unhappy prospect of leaving her beloved hometown of Gloucester and moving with her family to a new home in Michigan. Her special Christmas Eve journey helps her to realize and appreciate the importance of her family and friends as well as her own special holiday traditions. During her Christmas Eve travels with Mrs. Claus and the elves, she celebrates Hanukkah, travels back in time to turn of the century Gloucester to see her Italian-Irish ancestors celebrate the holidays, and meets famous characters including Young Ebenezer Scrooge and his little sister Fan from Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol.
The 2023 production has a cast of over 40 actors age 5 to 15 from throughout the North Shore including Gloucester, Rockport, Beverly, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Beverly, Essex and Marblehead. Holiday Delights 2023 features MERMS student and Manchester resident Maya Khan as Mrs. Claus and Rockport’s Lyla O’Malley as the young girl she takes on the Christmas Eve journey. Gloucester’s Evalyn Copp and Lily Comeau are Peppermint and Mistletoe, Mrs. Claus’ loyal elf assistants. Essex 5th grader Sam Walsh and Gloucester 5th grader Quinn O’Neil are also featured in the production as the supervisors of Santa’s Workshop.
A Cape Ann holiday tradition Holiday Delights is conceived and directed by Gloucester native, award winning actress and Harvard University graduate Heidi Dallin, the YMCA of the North Shore Theatre Specialist. Since the production’s premiere in 2007 over 675 young people from Cape Ann and beyond have appeared in Holiday Delights through the years. The production staff includes: Music Director: Rin Wolter; Set, Costume and Prop Design: Sarah Vandewalle; Choreographer (and former cast member) TS Burnham; Lighting and Sound Design: True Sayess; and Stage Manager: Jenny Hersey. Holiday Delights Performances are December 15 at 7pm; December 16 at 2pm and December 17 at 2pm at the Annisquam Village Hall, 34 Leonard Street, Gloucester, MA. For tickets, go to HolidayDelights2023
Holiday Delights 2023 Update Dec. 2023
2022 production
2023
The Holiday Delights Cast performed at the grand finale of Sen Bruce Tarr’s annual Toy Drive on Dec 7th at Cape Ann Savings Bank. Cape Ann YMCA Executive Director Erina McWilliam -Lopez spoke about all the holiday happenings at the CAY. “The cast sang (wearing our just delivered Holiday Delights 2023 T-Shirts) and were wonderful!” adds Heidi Dallin.
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Good Morning Gloucester 