The festive sounds of Christmas will fill the Walker Fine Arts Theatre at Patrick & Henry Community College as the annual Holiday Extravaganza takes center stage. The production, a dazzling revue of holiday music and dance, is brought to life by performers from the Ray Hollingsworth Dance and Arts Studio, featuring vibrant costumes and beloved holiday classics.
Pat Beam, the inspiration for Devin Pendleton’s enduring Christmas spirit. (Contributed)
The show offers audiences a mix of joy and reflection, divided into two distinct acts. “Act one for us is all about the happy things of Christmas. It’s Santa, it’s Ms. Claus, it’s Christmas movies, it’s tacky sweaters, it’s cookies, it’s all those things,” said Devin Pendleton, coordinator of Campus Life and Fine Arts at P&HCC and director of the production.
Act two, however, delves into the more solemn side of the holiday season. “Folks have different associations with the holidays. It makes us a little more nostalgic, it makes us think about our loved ones we really miss the most at Christmas time,” Pendleton explained.
A particularly poignant moment comes during a slideshow set to Mariah Carey’s “Miss You Most at Christmas Time.” Performers were invited to share personal photos of loved ones they are remembering this season, adding an emotional layer to the performance.
For Pendleton, the project is deeply personal. He honored his grandmother, Pat Beam—fondly known as Nanny—who served as a 911 dispatcher in Henry County. “Anytime I do holiday anything, I always lean into thinking about her the most. That’s where I think I developed such a strong love for the holiday,” Pendleton said.
This year’s Holiday Extravaganza was produced with just 13 rehearsals, a swift turnaround compared to other shows by the P&HCC Patriot Players, who staged The Wizard of Oz and 9 to 5 earlier this year. “This is just another opportunity after an otherwise busy season to cater to a different demographic in our community that has a more limited rehearsal schedule,” Pendleton said.
The production reflects a mix of Pendleton’s vision and input from the cast. “It’s a Christmas show if I kind of come up with it every year,” he said, adding he maintains a wish list, but caters songs to the actors. “We can kind of custom tailor certain things and situations for people in our show as you can see on stage.”
Pendleton also played a key role in costuming the cast. He encouraged performers to embrace quirky holiday styles, including tacky sweaters and elaborate headpieces. “I asked actors to bring in things like their tacky sweater look and to have crazy headpieces because we haven’t done that,” he said. The sparkly costumes not only reflect the holiday spirit but also catch the theatre lights, enhancing the visual appeal.
After leading the cast through rehearsals and participating in the Martinsville Henry County Christmas Parade, Pendleton is looking forward to some well-earned downtime. “I’m just looking forward to being at home with my cat and partner Jacob, wrapping all the Christmas presents, eating all the things, and getting fat and sassy,” he said with a laugh.
Performances of Holiday Extravaganza will take place December 4-6 at 7 p.m. and December 7 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Walker Fine Arts Theatre. Tickets are $20 in advance at www.phccpatriotplayers.com/tickets or $25 at the door.
