College of Fine Arts and Design

Dec. 1, 2010

Celebrate the holiday spirit at the University of Central Oklahoma Jazz Lab Christmas show, "Christmas in the City," at 8 pm, Dec. 9-11 and 16-18 at the UCO Jazz Lab, located at 5th and Littler in Edmond.

"Christmas in the City" will feature a cast of 25 music theatre vocalists playing many colorful holiday characters including shoppers hustling and bustling, clerks franticly restocking the shelves, kids writing letters to Santa, Dickens carolers singing on the street corner, street musicians and cowgirls singing and playing on the sidewalk to raise a buck and, of course, Santa and his festive elves.

"'Christmas in the City' takes the audience on a sleigh ride of a journey from the hustle and bustle of the 12 days of Christmas through that magical night before Christmas and finally celebrates Christmas day with the love of family and friends," said Steven Smeltzer, director of the show and Central music theatre instructor and choreographer.

A number of standard holiday selections will be performed, including "The Christmas Song," "Carol Of The Bells," "Have A Holly Jolly Christmas," "The First Noel," "Baby It's Cold Outside," "Go Tell It On The Mountain," "Winter Wonderland" along with a number of more contemporary hits including "Run Rudolph Run" and "Zat You Santa Claus."

"'Christmas in the City' is a show for young and old alike with familiar favorites as well as new and unique songs to make the audience smile and reminisce or laugh like a bowlful of cherries," said Smeltzer.

The UCO Jazz Lab Christmas show is an Edmond tradition and tickets often sell-out.

"People love this show because it's the perfect way to jump start your holiday spirit," said Greg White, Ph. D., Central's director of music theatre and producer of Broadway Tonight.

"It offers everything the big, splashy holiday spectaculars offer: incredible singing and dancing guaranteed to get you in a holiday mood. The difference is that the Jazz Lab offers an intimate space where the audience can truly connect with the performers."

Tickets are $15 and may be purchased by calling the UCO Jazz Lab at (405) 359-7989. Due to the show's annual popularity, reservations are strongly recommended.

For a complete schedule of UCO College of Fine Arts and Design performances and events, visit www.uco.edu/cfad/events.