Up & Coming Weekly

September 16, 2014

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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SEPTEMBER 17-23, 2014 UCW 9 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Best Play/Musical Heart of Christmas 910.670.2814 www.heartofchristmasshow.com In its 17th year, The Heart of Christmas Show continues to bring a Broadway-style musical to the community each Christmas. While there are great costumes, big dance numbers and even big- ger singing numbers, it has a little different fla- vor, which comes from the cast and its mission. The cast is comprised of 36 talented young people between the ages of 5 and 18. The show was born from the need of the community to give that talent an outlet so the children could grow their talent. The Heart of Christmas Show provides a whistles and bells, full production, professional environment for child performers. Their moments on stage are grand and they are forever memorable. And if the cast takes away memories, so does the audience. The audience is enthralled by the show's level of professionalism, talent and entertainment value. Laura Stevens, the founder and director of the show, noted that the best compliment she gets from audience members is that they forget they are watching young people per- form until a "5-year-old comes out, steals your heart and gets a standing ovation because he was so good." Stevens works on the show year round, while the cast starts rehearsals about three to four months out. It is a tremendous effort with a lot of moving pieces, but for many in the community, this "home-grown" production is now a yearly tradition that kicks off their Christmas Season. When the show was first conceived, it was never intended to go beyond its first year. The response of the community was so overwhelming, Stevens and her tal- ented cast recognized that they were in it for the long haul, with the show becoming one of the biggest annual events at the Crown. Just as the talent that makes the show so unique comes from the community, so does the support needed to make it a success. Stevens acknowledges that without the support of businesses in the community and nearby communities, the show would not be possible. "The sponsor support has been a lifeline to continue the show and to improve the show," she said. "We pay for all the expenses of the show with the sponsor support so that we can give all the ticket money away." And that's what is truly at the heart of The Heart Of Christmas. The first show was designed specifically to help children in need in Cumberland County. Each year, The Heart of Christmas Show has kept its promise to give away 100 percent of the ticket sales from the weekend shows to local children's agencies that work to help sick and abused children. Additionally, the show is performed for school children throughout the community, with pro- ceeds going back into the schools. Throughout its run, The Heart of Christmas has raised more than $170,000.00 dollars for local schools. With the weekend shows and the school shows, The Heart of Christmas Show has raised more than $575,000.00 dollars to help the children in our community. With that kind of giving power, Stevens and her cast of talented performers have lived up to their motto, "Children helping children." "We have and will continue to help the children of this community because we believe it is a privilege to help others," explained Stevens. "It teaches our per- formers to look outward instead of inward. " Stevens said the philosophy she instills in her cast is simple. "Want to know the secret to happiness in life? Helping others. We were created to do that. In Ephesians 2:10 says, 'For we are God's workmanship, Created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to do.'" "We can make a difference. One life at a time; one community at a time," she concluded. Or, in this case, one show at a time. Thai Pepper thanks our patrons for voting us Best Thai Cuisine R E S T A U R A N T THAI & CHINESE FOOD ENJOY TASTES FROM THE EXOTIC ORIENT Best Thai Cuisine 13 years in a row! 195C Starpoint Drive 864-2014 864-2013 (Carry Out) www.thaipepperbuffet.com 1342 Bragg Boulevard 677-0100 Thai Pepper Thai Pepper • Detailing • NC Inspections • Full Service • Express Service • $6 Wash Free Vacuum TLC Autowash & Fast Lube Thank You for Voting Us Best Car Wash/Detailing $5 Off any service Expires in 30 days. 6 Locations to serve you! 1917 Skibo Rd. • 867-7100 5011 Ramsey St. • 822-9800 7780 Good Middling Dr. • 868-9753 2601 Hope Mills Rd. • 423-7001 185 Starpoint Dr. • 229-2222 4735 Fayetteville Rd. • 565-3392 www.tlcautowash.com Unlimited Car Wash Packages starting at $15 per month!

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