 Submitted photo/SDN Above, the cast Starkville Community Theatre’s production of “Sanders Family Christmas” includes front row, from left, Krista Vowell, Madeline Golden and Molly Watkins; back row, Kary Rogers, Paul Ruff, Drew Dieckmann and Marcus Vowell. “Sanders Family Christmas” is the sequel to the popular musical “Smoke on the Mountain” originally produced by SCT in the 2005-2006 season and earlier this year as its entry in the Mississippi Theatre Association Festival.” For the Daily News
Starkville Community Theatre has an early Christmas present for the community — the Sanders Family is returning to Mount Pleasant Baptist Church for a very special evening.
That’s right, the lovable, laughable Sanders family — along with Pastor Oglethorpe — from “Smoke on the Mountain” are returning to the Playhouse on Main for the heart-warming holiday production, “Sanders Family Christmas.”
“It is Christmas Eve 1941, just weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the Sanders are gathering for what could be their last sing for some time,” said director Pattye Archer. “Dennis, one of the twins (he’s the boy), has enlisted and is shipping out in two days. So between the war and the holidays, it is an emotional time.”
But Pastor Oglethorpe and the Sanders family are as funny and entertaining as you remember, Archer said, and they are ready to sing their way through the evening — offering some gospel classics, favorite Christmas songs and a few surprises.
Sanders Family Christmas opens Thursday, Dec. 6 and will run for 12 shows. Marsha Williams, box office manager for SCT, said tickets are already selling quickly for the four matinees and eight night-time performances.
Show times include 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, to Saturday, Dec. 8, and Tuesday, Dec. 11, to Saturday, Dec. 15; 1 p.m. on Saturdays, Dec. 8 and 15, and 2 p.m. on Sundays, Dec. 9 and 16.
To reserve your seat please call 323-6855 or stop by the box office from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m Monday to Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, or 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday.
“We are so excited to have the Sanders Family coming home for the holidays,” Archer said. “Smoke on the Mountain was one of SCT’s most loved shows, and I think people are really going to enjoy catching up with Pastor Oglethorpe and the Sanders as they prepare for down-home country Christmas.”
The cast of “Sanders Family Christmas” will look familiar to SCT patrons. Six of the seven cast members are returning to reprise their roles from this year’s award-winning production at the Mississippi Theatre Association Festival, including Madeline Golden as Vera, Kary Rogers as Dennis, Paul Ruff as Burl, Krista Vowell as June, Marcus Vowell as Stanley and Molly Watkins as Denise. Joining the cast as Mervin Oglethorpe is Drew Dieckmann, who will be making his SCT debut.
“This is a wonderful cast, and it was really like a homecoming when we all got together for our first rehearsal,” Archer said. “Drew is new to the bunch, but it did not take long before it felt like he had always been with us. These individuals really are a family.”
For more information on or to make a reservation for Sanders Family Christmas, please call 323-6855.
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