Ridgewood students present 'Closed for the Holidays'

The Ridgewood High School Performing Arts Drama Class presented the holiday comedy, "Closed for the Holidays," in two rescheduled performances — an evening show Jan. 8 and a daytime performance Jan. 9 — for the annual senior citizens’ luncheon. Originally planned for December, both events were postponed due to weather.

"Closed for the Holidays," written by Flip Kobler and Cindy Marcus, tells the story of a diverse group of travelers who become unexpectedly stranded in a community center when a blizzard shuts down the roads on Christmas Eve. With a cast of characters including a devoted drama teacher (senior Emily Maple), a bickering couple on the way to their wedding (seniors Jensen Cunningham and Preslee Wallace) and an overeager sheriff (freshman Noah Smoulder), the play blends humor, holiday magic and heartfelt moments as the group searches for a miracle (or seven) to make their holiday complete.

Senior Charlotte Seibert, who portrayed the character Pink, reflected on the production: “It was a fun show about the joy of miracles and making the best of a bad situation.”

Both performances were met with applause from students, faculty, families and guests at the senior citizens’ luncheon, celebrating the spirit of community and the joy of live theater. Director Jill Collins said it is always an honor to perform for the senior citizens of the community, who devote so much to supporting the school.

Collins also spoke about the new assisted hearing devices that will now be available for events in the auditorium at Ridgewood. The assisted hearing system was purchased with the help of the district and Collins’ grant award from her Master Teacher Award of Excellence from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation and was installed by McVay Technologies. She was inspired to include this system by a former student with hearing loss who was a member of the performing arts program.

There are four units that can accommodate up to eight people. Audience members who would like to use the assisted hearing devices can contact the high school before shows and concerts.

For more information about upcoming Ridgewood High School performing arts events, email ridgewoodperformingarts@gmail.com or follow their social media on Facebook and Instagram.