Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM NOVEMBER 28-DECEMBER 4, 2018 UCW 11 "Behold: A Folk Christmas Cantata" is Sweet Tea Shakespeare's artistic contribution to Fayetteville's Christmas season. "Behold" takes the familiar Christmas story and sets it to what STS describes as "glorious, mostly new music that quickly feels familiar." It's a Christmas concert that tells the nativity story from beginning to end through music, and it takes place ursday, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6-15, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. is is STS' fourth year performing "Be- hold." e performance is 100 percent music and features three acoustic guitars (played by one player), an electric guitar, mandolin and banjo (played by another person), a bass guitar, an accordion, a piano, two violins, one cello and a percussionist — and plenty of singers, too. And while it is a Christmas concert, don't expect to hear songs like "Jingle Bells" or "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." "We try to tell the real story of the nativity," said Marie Lowe, STS associate director, and for this production, singer and cellist. "One of the songs begins, 'It was not a silent night ...' and it goes on to remind us about how scared Mary and Joseph must have been. ey were people, just like us. So, there are somber and reflective moments, but the overall mood is joyful — it's Christmas, and we're together, and we're glad and grateful." Jacob French is Master of Note at Sweet Tea Shake- speare (think "resident music director") as well as an assistant artistic director and board member for the company. For this production, he's the music director and plays the guitar and sings as well. He's excited that "Behold" is becoming a holiday staple for so many. "We want to be one of the things that folks around town think about and look forward to when Christmas rolls around," he said. "e piece is mainly based upon a show called 'Behold the Lamb of God' by Andrew Peterson. Our artistic director, Jeremy Fiebig, knew of the show and music from his days prior to Sweet Tea Shake- speare. Once the company reached a place where we could do it justice, we thought it would be a natural fit. We supplement the original show with a few other songs that we think fit the message and feel as well." French added, "I think 'Behold' is a niche that isn't (or wasn't) filled until now in town. e story of the virgin birth is one of the big- gest stories every told, and (it) is cram-packed full of love — Mary, Joseph, Jesus, God himself — love coming out your ears. e music does a great job of telling the story, and when we play it, I can feel the love in the room. … ere are funny moments, serious ones, contemplative ones, ones that could make you cry, and ones that will make you clap along and dance. If I had to choose one word to describe the feel- ing, I think I'd choose 'reflective.'" In addition to the concert, STS will have traditional front-of-house activities accom- panying the show. ere will be beverages (adult and non) for purchase, merchandise for sale, preconcert entertainment and, French promises, "a warm holiday spirit." e show starts at 7 p.m. each night. Tickets are free but require a reservation. To purchase tickets, or to learn more, call 910-420-4383, visit www.sweetteashakespeare.com or search the group's Facebook page. Sweet Tea Shakespeare presents 'Behold: A Folk Christmas Cantata' by STEPHANIE CRIDER Ever wonder what those homes up above the shops on Hay Street and at Park View on Bragg Boulevard look like inside and what drew people to live in the heart of downtown Fayetteville? An upcoming tour of these spaces will give community members the opportunity to find out. Gracious residents will once again open their lofts to host Cool Spring Downtown District's annual Downtown Fayetteville Candlelight Loft Tour for one night only on ursday, Dec. 6, from 6-9 p.m. at evening, stop by the Cool Spring Downtown District office at 222 Hay St. to pick up an event program and a map for the self-guided tour and to get the official tour wrist band, which will give partici- pants access to all the homes on the tour. Wander farther down Hay Street, toward the Market House, to begin the tour at the delightful City Center Gallery & Books. e loft above the shop is home to proprietors Hank and Diane Parfitt. Stroll back up the sidewalk, following the printed guide, to visit the other fascinating loft homes along Hay Street. Catch the Majestic Mobility shuttle at the Cool Spring Downtown District office to be transported to Park View where, in addition to lofty condos warmly decorated for the holidays, there will be light refreshments and representatives on hand from the Prince Charles Hotel and the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. Learn all about the new residential and commer- cial spaces that will be available once renovations at the Prince Charles are complete. Get updates on the construction of the new baseball stadium and peruse the team merchandise on hand for purchase. As always, throughout the downtown tour there will be lots of interesting shopping opportuni- ties, delicious dining experiences, street art and sidewalk entertainment provided by Cool Spring Downtown District's Busker Program. e Wine Café will host jazz performances on the patio. Enjoy a film in the elegant ambience of the Cameo movie theater. Be sure to check out the Arts Council's current gallery exhibition, "Touchstone: Images of Service." Around the corner from the Arts Council and down the block on Maxwell Street, wander through the potters' and painters' studios and view the mixed media art on display and for sale. Tickets for the Downtown Fayetteville Candlelight Tour are $10 each and may be purchased at the Pilgrim Gift Shop in Westwood Shopping Center; the Cool Spring Downtown District office; Rude Awakening coffee house; City Cen- ter Gallery & Books; e Shops at 123 Hay Street; Pressed-A Creative Space; Kinder Koalas; e Wine Café; e Coffee Cup; e Door- Belle; e Hemp Farmacy; and at A Bit of Carolina. Check-in for the event will be at 222 Hay St. any time between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. the day of the event. Staff will be on hand to answer questions and to give directions. Parking is available at the city of Fayette- ville's municipal parking deck on Franklin Street and is free after 5 p.m. Candlelight Loft Tour lights up downtown by PRUDENCE MAINOR EVENTS In addition to the delightful tour of historic homes, participants will get to meet represen- tatives from the Prince Charles Hotel and the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. "Behold" tells the story of the nativity with 100 percent music. PRUDENCE MAINOR, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upand- comingweekly.com 910-484-6200. STEPHANIE CRIDER, Associate Publisher. COMMENTS? Editor@upand- comingweekly.com. 910-484-6200.