Holy Family School’s annual Christmas program starts at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at the Prince of Peace Parish Center, 4100 Broadway Ave. The school’s Christmas tradition continues with songs by children in grades K-4, followed by a musical by fifth and six graders.
This year’s musical, “Miracle on Bethlehem Street,” opens with crowds of people arriving for Caesar’s census. Innkeepers Benjamin (Owen Murphy) and Bartholomew (Josh Hoisington) have decided to change their inn from a one night donkey stop to a luxury inn with valet camel hitching and a fig on every pillow. Aiding in this undertaking are Nick Wondra (as Ezra, a servant), Allen To (Staff Alpha), clerks and staff members. The innkeepers sing about their big plans in “Dollars and Census” … how they “go together like humps and camels.”  In the meantime, their wives, including Ruth (McKenna Esfeld), sing a song (“Make a Place”) about a prophetic dream foretelling the coming of the Messiah. In “Everybody Wants to Stay,” the innkeepers rejoice that the inn is packed although their rates are robbery.

The Christmas story unfolds as Mary (Tatum Sander) and Joseph (Drew Nicholson) arrive, followed by the shepherds (Eli Witte, Garrett Hirsh, Patrick Heath, Riley Smith) and the kings (Connor Griffith, Joey Soupiset, Rodrigo Ordonez). This action is accompanied by two exuberant pieces of music, “Flock Watchers” and “Chasing a Star.”
The Nativity scene forms as the choir sings the title song. The innkeepers finally realize their mistake in turning away Mary and Joseph, and everyone joins in singing “Receive the King.”
The Christmas program is directed and accompanied by Stephanie Brunelli, K-6 music instructor. Megan Murphy, theater director for the play, designed choreography and props, sewed costumes and assisted at rehearsals. Shannon Somers also assisted at rehearsals and in creating choreography for the play. Crystal Schroeder is the sound technician.
The program opens with all Holy Family students singing “Do You Hear What I Hear?”  Grades K-4 will then perform a mix of sacred-themed carols: “When Joseph Went to Bethlehem,” “Winds Through the Olive Trees,” “He Is Born, the Divine Christ Child,” “Mary’s Little Boy Child” and “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks,” and secular selections: “Must Be Santa,” “Gonna Catch That Santa,” “Hip-Hop Reindeer,” “Blizzard on the Way!” and “Jose, the Temporary Reindeer.”
“The students are looking forward to sharing this musical gift with the community,” Brunelli said. “Holy Family School staff and students hope to see you at the program!”