PMO Christmas Music includes Hammer Beats and Humming Saws
Hall of Music Productions is the Santa’s helper behind the scenes of the 76th annual Purdue Musical Organizations Christmas Show. We are readying the Elliott Hall stage for the lyrical magic that will be this year’s theme “The Spirit of Christmas” on December 12 and 13.
Planning for this year’s show began right after last year’s performance ended. This year, more than 200 students are involved in the production, both on stage and backstage. Our professional staff and student theater technicians work very closely with PMO and are responsible for sound, lighting, staging, special effects, production management, ticket sales and guest relations.
Set construction begins in the summer. It takes three months to build the set and two weeks to place it on stage and fine tune the design. We use hundreds of gallons of paint and nearly 1,000 yards of fabric to create the sets, props, floor drop, screens and custom curtain.
Over the years, Hall of Music Productions has created fun special effects for the Christmas Show. We have made Santa fly and magically appear. For many years, snow has fallen inside the Hall, directly over the theater audience. The realistic flurries are made with a snow machine and liquid soap.
Under the direction of PMO Director Bill Griffel, an original story will be told during this year’s Christmas Show. All PMO ensembles will perform, including the popular PMO Kids Choir. This show also welcomes the return of the University Choir to the Elliott stage. University Choir is a mixed-voice, large ensemble that features traditional, sacred and secular choral works.
In addition, for better viewing and added punch, the big screens flanking the Elliott stage are back! These massive screens ensure every seat in the house offers a great view of the performers.
Former PMO Director Al Stewart created the first Christmas Show in 1933. It was performed in the former Eliza Fowler Hall, which only seated 200. In 1940, the show moved to the newly christened Purdue Music Hall, later named for Purdue’s sixth president, Edward C. Elliott.
Tickets for the PMO Christmas Show are available at any Purdue box office location or call 800-914-7469. Order online at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information about Purdue Musical Organizations, visit www.pmojo.com.
Happy Holidays from Elliott hall of Music and Hall of Music Productions!
