WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
NOVEMBER 28-DECEMBER 4, 2018 UCW 13
An American holiday staple, Rudolph
the Red-Nosed Reindeer has gone down
in history as the highest rated Christmas
television special of all time. Since 1964,
the redeeming tale of the misfit reindeer
who helped Santa Claus save Christmas
has entertained people of all ages. Sunday,
Dec. 2, fans of Rudolph will have a one-
night-only opportunity to see the stop-
motion classic spring from the T.V. screen
to the stage in "Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer: e Musical" at the Givens
Performing Arts Center, located on the
campus of the University of North Caro-
lina at Pembroke.
GPAC Marketing Director Chad Lock-
lear said seeing the movie as a live per-
formance is exhilarating and special for
adults and kids alike. "e music is sung
live, the props are colorful, and the bright
costumes and puppetry all bring an exciting and
unique experience," he said.
e production boasts lots of action and move-
ment. From dance numbers to high-flying elves, all
the hard work put in behind the scenes is sure to
keep every audience member amused, said Natalie
Holt MacDonald, the actress who portrays Rudolph.
"With the set movements, they all roll, and people
roll them around, so it kind of looks like they're ice
skating the set pieces all over the stage. It's all beau-
tifully choreographed," she said.
Raised as a homeschooled student in Simi Valley,
California, MacDonald found it simple to connect
with Rudolph's story through what she said was a
misfit experience of her own. "When I finally got
around to … going to college, I definitely didn't have
all the inside jokes of everyone. I felt like I lived
under a rock at some points," she said.
While written for children, Rudolph's narrative
speaks to multiple generations. MacDonald said
the show is close to the hearts of those who come
to see it. "It really is a timeless piece
that is great for everyone of all ages, and
you have that really nostalgic feel for
those who grew up with this story — our
grandparents and our parents," she said.
In addition to the magic of Christ-
mas, MacDonald said she hopes the
musical will illuminate the message of
acceptance for audience members. "I
think everyone feels (a little bit) like a
misfit sometimes. … Everyone is dif-
ferent, and because of that, everyone
has something to contribute to society,"
she said. "No matter how different you
are than everyone else, you matter and
you're important."
MacDonald and the rest of the tour-
ing cast of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer: e Musical" will perform
Sunday, Dec. 2, at 4 p.m. at GPAC. e
show is 90 minutes long, including a 20-minute
intermission. Tickets range from $21 to $41. Visit
uncp.edu/gpac to purchase tickets online. For
more information, call 910-521-6361 or visit
www.rudolphthemusical.com.
Rudolph visits Givens Performing Arts Center
by SADE' WILSON
EVENTS
SADE' WILSON, Contributing Writer.
COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin-
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