Hollywood, Broadway and local actors are coming together for a musical benefiting charity under the guidance of a collaboration between an award-winning producer and Baptist minister.
"The Forgotten Carols" is coming to the Auburn Performing Arts Center Sunday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.
The performance is presented by the Community Foundation of East Alabama and the East Alabama Youth for Christ.
Members of the Theos Theatricals Touring Company from New York and Los Angeles are cast members for the production.
Michael Young, a well-known television producer, and Greg Smith, a local minister, are co-producing the production. Young obtained the permission from the show's composer, Michael McLean, to start a Southeastern tour of "The Forgotten Carols" after he saw the performance on the West Coast.
Smith is a pastoral counselor and Baptist minister in Auburn who wrote a Bible study to accompany the performance.
"This is a funny yet touching story with beautiful, memorable songs," said Stephanie Gardner, volunteer board member of the Theos Theatricals Production Company. "It's a meaningful family tradition for us, a wonderful Christmas gift; you'll leave thinking about the greatest gift of Christmas."
Young said he is bringing in actors he has worked with in the past from Hollywood and Broadway and incorporating local choral talent, which is a key part of the production.
"The cast saw last year how each performance impacted people's lives," Gardner said. "The songs opened up dialogue about the true meaning of Christmas, the story uplifted people from the drudgery of the secular holiday messages, and people's lives were changed spiritually and literally."
Ticket sales will benefit the Community Foundation of East Alabama. General admission is $15 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the Auburn Performing Arts Center at Auburn High School or online at Auburn.BrownPaperTickets.com.
"So when you buy a ticket, you're not going to just see a really nice evening of theatre, you are actually going to help the Community Foundation of East Alabama," Young said.
After Smith and Young re-acquainted at an Auburn function about two years ago, Smith read the story and wanted Young to bring the production to the Southeast.
Young was apprehensive about bringing a new play to the South because of the economy.
"(Smith) said that's exactly the time to do it; people are hurting, people need to hear this message of hope and redemption at a time when people are losing jobs and all that stuff," Young said. "So we sort of felt the economic climate, and what was going on in our country just begged for this to be done."
This is the second year of the production in the Southeast.
Young plans to begin producing a movie version of the musical in the South next year.
The tour will make stops in Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama
"For me personally, it's a chance to give back," Young said. "I've had a really wonderful career in Hollywood and New York."
Young is a network television producer in Los Angeles and produces fashion television for media such Vogue, Glamour and Better Homes and Gardens. He was the host for "Kids are People, Too," which appeared on ABC.
He was the first primetime anchor for CNBC, original host of the Disney Channel and was the first host of Miss Teen USA pageants for CBS.
He was an actor in the 1980s television shows "Love Boat," "Silver Spoons" and "Remington Steele."
"At this point, I like the idea that I can give back to people in this community -- the talents gained over the years; and do it for a good cause," Young said. "It's not just coming back and showing people what I've learned and what my talents are. It's to use those talents to raise money for charity and help people with their spiritual motivation at this time of year."
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