New direction

There won’t be three ghosts.

But there will be three new directors, leading a three-part Christmas production.

Zach Champ, Jessica Barker and Reid Knuth, all first-time directors, are leading Jay County Civic Theatre’s upcoming production of “Christmas Kaleidoscope.”

This is civic theatre’s third “kaleidoscope” production during the Christmas season — the last was 2007 — in which it uses several shorter offerings to create a full-length show. In this case, there are two one-act plays — “What Could Go Wrong the Night Before Christmas?,” directed by Barker, and “Christmas Cameo,” directed by Champ — and a musical revue with Knuth at the helm.

Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 13 and 14, and 2 p.m. Dec. 15, in the Jay County Courthouse auditorium. Tickets are $7 for students and $10 for adults and are available in advance at CrossRoads Financial Federal Credit Union and The Commercial Review.

Barker, who played the lead role of Doris Walker in last year’s Christmas-time production of “Miracle on 34th Street,” kicks off the evening with her directorial debut. Her show features a cast made up of mostly children in which a narrator (Phil Hartman) is constantly interrupted while trying to share the classic poem “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Santa Claus (Matt Lingo) even objects to several of the poem’s characterizations of him.

“It’s been an interesting experience but I love working with the kids,” said Barker. “They’ve made it really fun.

“I think people will definitely enjoy some of the comedy aspects to the show. … The kids do a really nice job. They’re really cute and funny.”

Knuth, who served as musical director for civic’s production of “Shrek the Musical,” didn’t have a script to work from for his show. He made all of the musical selections himself, mixing classic Christmas and holiday tunes along with some off-beat songs he hopes will have the audience giggling. There are a variety of group numbers and solos, including a rendition of “O Holy Night” by Rachel Werling, who was the voice of Gingy in “Shrek the Musical.”

“I’ve really enjoyed it,” said Knuth. “I’ve learned a lot. I’ve probably learned at least as much as everybody that I’ve directed. It’s an eye-opener to how much work goes into it from a director’s standpoint.”

Fresh off of playing the leading role in civic’s September production of “Parlor Games,” Champ’s first show as a director tells the story of a teenaged girl (Leah Hummel) neglected by her high-society parents. A down-on-their-luck older couple (C.J. Yoder and Sara Pyle) walks into her life and, as a result, all of them learn a little bit about the meaning of Christmas.

“It shows you sometimes the best present is just to show one another that you care about them and that you love them,” said Champ, who like Barker said his first time directing has been a fun experience. “The biggest present is being together and being there for everybody.”