New Christmas production a fun way to enjoy holidays at Schoolhouse Arts Center

A new winter production debuts at Schoolhouse Arts Center
in Standish on Friday, Dec. 3 and is called 'Laughing All the
Way.' Playwright Brian Daly composed four original songs 
for the production and also appears in the play.
PHOTOI BY EMMA BENNETT  

By Emma Bennett

Special to The Windham Eagle

The new winter production being staged at Schoolhouse Arts in Standish is called Laughing All the Way!” and it’s a musical for the whole family to see. In this one, Santa takes us back in time to Christmas Eve, the night he almost had a close call with the Christmas-crazy Wassail family, an unexpected run-in with a greedy pickpocket, and a bound Christmas Angel who was just trying to do her job.

“Laughing All the Way'' is an original play by playwright Brian Daly, an actor in the show, who plays Baby Rudolph, the youngest of the Wassails. This is the first time this play has been brought to the stage! The play consists of around sixteen musical numbers, twelve of which are old favorites such as “Jingle Bells” and “Here Comes Santa Claus”, and four of which are original songs written by Brian Daly, himself.

“Laughing All The Way!” debuts at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3 at the Schoolhouse Arts Center, 16 Richville Road in Standish, with performances continuing at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4; 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec, 5; 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10; 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11; and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12. Tickets can be purchased online at www.schoolhousearts.org

“I love Christmas music, so I thought it would be fun to write a show that had Christmas music as the score,” Daly said.

Greg Pomeroy who plays the role of Santa Claus said, “It's fun having the playwright in the cast and watching his reaction as we bring his words to live theater,” said Greg Pomeroy who plays the role of Santa Claus.

Daly enjoys writing children’s books, screenplays, musicals, and plays. He has already signed a contract for one of his novels coming out soon and a play being produced and published.

Daly, after a production of one of his other shows two years ago, originally asked Director, Zac Stearn, whether he would be interested in producing this show at Schoolhouse and it had been agreed and decided upon. As COVID hit and put a damper on all theaters in the area, the show held off for a while.

But as 2021 came around, Stearn called him back and suggested they continue what they started. “It's the perfect time, right? Everyone's going to want to feel good because a lot of people missed Christmas last year," Stearn says. “This year, we want to find a safe way for everyone to enjoy Christmas together.”

Stearn took the time to talk about some of his most memorable experiences on this theatrical journey and some of the challenges posed on his team in the past eight weeks of production.

“Every show that I've directed is a process, right? You always see the beginning and it's very clunky,” Stearn said. “That's the word I use a lot. It's very clunky and very wonky. But then you hit a certain moment where the cast begins supporting one another and then everything just clicks.”.

Stearn also mentioned that the show had originally been written for a cast of nine people. As there are 44 with 23 under the age of 15 with ages ranging up to the 70s in this production, there were challenges in modifying the script.

Brian Daly had to rewrite some of the script to accommodate the number of people in the show. Some scenes that weren’t in the original copy were added to the script. Everyone who auditioned got casted, because they wanted as many people as possible to experience the joy of performing on stage.

The entire cast of 44 has had a splendid time, not only making the most of every minute spent on stage, but spending time with friends and family members, a large number of which are in the cast performing together.

First-timer 7-year-old Bailey Labon said, “I haven't had much experience, but I do like making a lot of new friends.”

Elise Pierson, 9, said “I love seeing how the show all comes together.”

Other young actors and actresses in the show agree that a considerable part of their memorable moments have been spent both onstage and backstage hanging with long-time friends and making new ones as well.

Some notable individuals who’ve contributed to the show’s theatrical magic and pizazz behind the scenes include Ellen Stanley, stage manager; Diane Hancock, musical director; and Emma Tompkins, choreographer. Ellen Stanley was responsible for communications, scheduling, conflicts, and running the stage crew for set changes between scenes. Diane Hancock handled music rehearsals and making sure each individual sounded top-notch.

Emma Tompkins was responsible for movement on the stage and working partially as an assistant to every other task that needed to be completed. A few years ago, she had also choreographed one of Brian Daly’s previous shows, “Come Out Swinging”.

Tech week seemed a tumultuous time for both cast and crew members as they rushed to get light cues, sound cues, and set changes down to a tee for the coming weekend of opening shows. Long nights were spent just to get lights and sounds programmed for the next few days of rehearsals, getting the lights to coordinate with sound and the bodies moving on the stage. Within only a few days of run-throughs, everything seemed to fall into place. The stage teemed with an energy that sent chills down a spine.

A musical two years in the works, the cast is thrilled to make Daly’s words finally come to life.

As opening night approaches, one last word of warning is necessary: Watch out for snowballs! <