New Year’s gift

‘Amahl and The Night Visitors’ returns as part of Curtain Calls 2000, the Arts Council of Princeton’s New Year’s Eve celebration which includes events at multiple venues.

By: Matt Smith

Elliot Creager (left) and Matt Goss (right) play Amahl in individual performances of Amahl and The Night Visitors on New Year’s Eve. The production’s stage manager, Ranjit Arapurakal, poses with them.

   The chestnuts have been roasted and the day-after sales are over, but the Christmas story — and its message — extends beyond Dec. 25.
   Nassau Presbyterian Church celebrates the season with two performances of the Gian Carlo Menotti opera Amahl and The Night Visitors as part of Curtain Calls, the New Year’s Eve celebration in Princeton sponsored by the Arts Council of Princeton.
   Amahl, which Menotti composed in English for NBC television in 1951, centers around a crippled boy and his widowed mother who are visited by the three kings on their star-lit journey. Although poor, Amahl and his mother open their home to the kings.

CURTAIN CALLS 2000 EVENTS Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon St.    7-11:30 p.m. – Silent and classic comedies shown by Bruce Lawton; 7-9 p.m. – Minikin the Clown; 8-10 p.m. – Dorothy B. Rubin, handwriting analysis. Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau St. Flutist Wendy Zoffer    5:30-6:30 p.m., 8-9 p.m. – Amahl and the Night Visitors (Sanctuary); 6:30-11 p.m. – Caricatures and Sit-Down Comedy by "Harold" (Assembly Room); 7-8 p.m. and 9-11:30 p.m. – pianist David Stern (Assembly Room); 9:30-10:15 p.m., 10:30-11:15 p.m. – "Classics to Broad": flute and tenor with Wendy Zoffer and Friends (Music Room); 10-10:45 p.m. – Baroque music for two flutes and harpsichord with Conversation Galante (Chapel). Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon St.    7-7:40 p.m., 7:45-8:25 p.m. – Joanna Mell, Celtic harpist and storyteller; 8:45-9:30 p.m. – "Cindy Lou" performing holiday songs and children’s music; 9:30-10:15 p.m. – folk singer Caroline Moseley. Princeton University Art Museum    7, 7:30, 8, and 9 p.m. – Docent tours of the Art Museum’s collections; 8:30-8:45 p.m., 9:30-9:45 p.m. – John Burkhalter playing 18th century English, Scottish and Irish music on recorder; 8:45-9 p.m., 9:45-10 p.m. – bagpiper Anne Witt. Princeton University Chapel    7-7:45 p.m. – Princeton Girlchoir; 8-8:30 p.m., 9:30-10 p.m. – Millstone Valley Chorus/Sweet Adelines; 8:30-9:30 p.m. – Victor Marshall Jazz Duo; 10-11 p.m. – Tom Spain’s Dixie Spasm Jazz Band. McCormick 101 (inside the Art Museum), Princeton University    7-7:45 p.m., 9-9:45 p.m. – mime and comedy by Per Kreipke of Princeton Movement Theatre; 8-8:30 p.m., 10-10:30 p.m. – Magic and Comedy by Dennis James. McCosh 50, Princeton University    7:30- 9 p.m. – World Rock with The Shaxes; 9:30-11 p.m. – Motown, Funk, Classic Rock, and R&B with Tony Stacey and Hardplay. Murray-Dodge Theater, Princeton University Jazz guitarist Carol Hamersma    7-7:40 p.m., 7:50-8:30 p.m. – Bluegrass and Celtic fiddler Travis Wetzel; 8:30-8:50 p.m., 9-9:20 p.m. – Irish step dancing with sixth graders Libby Bliss and Megan DiBiase; 9:30-10:15 p.m., 10:30-11:15 p.m. – jazz guitarist Carol Hamersma.    Curtain Calls 2000 buttons will be available while supplies last at the Arts Council, 102 Witherspoon St.; open noon to midnight on Dec. 31. For information, call (609) 924-8777.

   "They spend the night at Amahl’s house — and that’s when it starts getting fun," says Ranjit Arapurakal, stage director and choreographer.
   Mr. Arapurakal, a 1996 Princeton High graduate who sang the title role in a production at Westminster Choir College in the 6th grade, will also take on the role of one of the king’s servants.
   "Everybody’s giving — and it’s about the miracles that can happen when everyone gives," he says.
   According to Sue Ellen Page, Nassau Presbyterian’s director for choirs for children and youth since 1982, a minor miracle was needed to put the show together since it includes more than 60 participants and has been in the works since September 1999.
   Ms. Page, who is the co-producer and will conduct the orchestra, says the church has an extensive music education program for children.
   "We try to involve as many people as possible," she says. "With this, we have a vehicle by which the church can celebrate the gifts of its graduates."
   Nearly everyone involved has been a part of other church productions, and all possess full academic and professional stage resumes. Sharing the title role are fifth-grader Elliot Creager and seventh-grader Matt Goss. Amanda Johnson, also a 1996 Princeton High graduate, will sing the role of Amahl’s mother, while Matthew Gaventa, Carl Goss and Craig O’Donnell will portray the three kings.
   Three of the string players — May Chiang, Zachary Sweet and Jessica Wyatt — are participants in Nassau Presbyterian’s music program.
   A number of area high school graduates will be working behind the scenes, including stage manager Karen Johnson and set designer Janie Woodbridge, along with Jay Kelsey, Annie Farrell and Joan Kisthardt.
   In addition, the chorus of shepherds and dancers is composed largely of the church’s current high school choir. Bryce Hayes and Sarah Sweet are chorus masters.
   Ms. Page, who has trained numerous Amahls for other productions and starred in the role as a child, says this production was conceived for a few reasons:
   First, the story is an "extraordinary one." Second, it’s accessible because it’s just over 45 minutes long. Third, it’s a chancel opera, composed for performances in a church — in this case, in and around the altar.
   While families are encouraged to attend, the opera isn’t suitable for very young children.
   "This is a deeply dramatic, powerful opera," Ms. Page says. "However, children 6, 7, 8 years old are going to be absolutely drawn in."
   The church’s assembly room will be open throughout the evening to provide a little hospitality.
   "We also look forward to opening up our building to the community," Ms. Page says, "to be a place where people can drop in, warm up, have a cup of cider."
   Amahl and the Night Visitors will be staged at the Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau St., Princeton, Dec. 31 at 5:30 and 8 p.m. as part of the Curtain Calls 2000 celebration. Curtain Calls buttons are required for entry. For information, call the Arts Council of Princeton at (609) 924-8777 or the church at (609) 924-0103.