By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Chilton County High School is adding to local Christmas festivities this year with two performances of “Little Town of Christmas.”

Students will perform on Dec. 2 and Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door.

The play is a comedic compilation of holiday favorites, featuring Santa, reindeer and characters from “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens.

Drama teacher Kay Tippet said she thought a comedy was a good fit for the group.

“Some of these kids — it is the first time they have done anything (in theater),” Tippett said.

Tanna Curtis, a junior, explained that each scene is a different set of characters, so many of the students play multiple roles.

Curtis plays a narrator, news reporter and a shopper.

“I’ve always been a little more interested on the arts side of things, so I thought it would be fun to try out (for drama club), and I have really, really enjoyed it,” Curtis said.

The journey to opening night has helped some of the students gain confidence.

“I don’t know why I signed up for drama in the first place … I was really shy,” Reagan Powell, a sophomore, said.

Since dropping the class was not an option, Powell stuck with it

“Everybody kind of just inspired me in the class,” Powell said.

The prospect of acting started to sound fun.

“I’m also pushing myself to overcome my fear of stage fright,” Powell said. “I can definitely tell a drastic change in me.”

Powell plays a narrator and is an understudy for Scrooge’s ex-fiancé.

She said she enjoys being the narrator because “it is fun to tell the audience what is about to happen.”

“I’ve kind of used this as a platform to come out of my shell,” India Cannon, a junior, said. “I’m a lot more friendly towards people after doing it.”

She enjoys this year’s play because “it has a lot of comedy in it, and I love comedy.”

She plays Professor Plum, a child and the ghost of the future.

“I have to do an accent, and I think that’s really fun to try to do different accents,” Cannon.

She said playing parts that are so different is helping develop her acting skills.

The students have become close during rehearsals.

“Everybody gets along really well,” Curtis said. “It’s like being a part of a really big family … Everybody is there to support each other when we need it.”

Cannon agreed.

Tony To, a junior, said drama club has given him opportunities to make “a lot of friends and become a better actor.”

Shelby Argo, a senior, said she has enjoyed “meeting all these different personalities … You learn to deal with everyone like they’re your family” and work through issues that may come up.

“You get to explore your own talents, and you get to grow,” Argo said.

She said she “feels at home” on stage. She plays Mrs. Claus and Scrooge.

Bethany Bishop, a sophomore, said she “has always loved theater” and enjoys the club and “being with friends that won’t judge you for being who you want to be.”

Bishop will play Bob Cratchit and a news reporter.

Tanner Staggs, a junior, said he enjoys this year’s play because of “how light-hearted it is and how fun it is to practice it.”

He joined the drama club because he was interested in public speaking.

“I thought it would help me gain a lot of confidence and be a potential career path,” Staggs said.

He will play Santa Claus and Marley.