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<DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT size=4><FONT size=6>FACTS ABOUT <EM>THE
CHRISTMAS GIFTS</EM></FONT></FONT></STRONG></DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4><FONT
size=6></FONT>
<DIV align=left><BR> <FONT face="Times New Roman"> The Canal Fulton
Players at the UMC Family Theatre are proud to announce that they will be
presenting an original new play about the Christmas season on December 12-14 and
December 19-21. Entitled The Christmas Gifts, the play is an examination
of the use of human emotions as Christmas gifts instead of material
objects. Written by David Van Gaasbeek, director of the play and of the
Players, the play offers an in depth look as to how remembrance, sacrifice,
honor, love, loyalty, understanding, tolerance, and generosity play a more
important part of the season than a new video game, piece of jewelry, item of
clothing, or toy.<BR> This play is the third one of a trilogy written
by Mr. Van Gaasbeek concerning the Christmas holidays. His first one,
entitled The Second Coming?, was written and presented in 1993. It dealt
with the story of an embittered alcoholic who made the ultimate challenge to
God- “Perform a Miracle. Save a wretch like me.” What happened after
the challenge defied imagination.<BR> The second play, entitled
Merry Christmas Princess, was written and presented in 2001. It dealt with
the story of a relationship of a father and daughter over thirty nine
years. Told over ten different Christmases, the story went from the father
becoming a parent until he had to relinquish the role to the daughter. The
play marked the debut of Lisa Van Gaasbeek.<BR> The Christmas Gifts is told
in six stories in modern times. The first one, entitled The Letter,
relates the story of a school teacher who has the day to end all days right
before the holiday break. The second one, entitled When the Cheering
Stopped, deals with how remembrance can bring back self worth. The third
one, entitled Support Our Troops, deals with the hard choices as to war and
peace. After an intermission, the players will present the story, entitled
Goodbye, as death becomes part of the holiday. It will be followed by a
story entitled Love Thy Neighbor, which deals with the manner in which people
handle anti-Semitism, hate crimes and apathy. The last story,
entitled Punch You in the Nose, is a love story. The stories are intertwined and
the actors play numerous parts.<BR> Kathy Devus will be playing the woman
in Punch You in the Nose, the head of the PTO in The Letter, and the mother in
Goodbye. Abby Yaggi has plays the Lieutenant in Support Our Troops, the
argumentative teacher in The Letter, the young wife in Punch You in the Nose and
the young woman in Goodbye. Ken Hehmeyer is the school principal in The
Letter, the fanatical football fan in Support Our Troops, the boss in Love Thy
Neighbor, the man in Punch You in the Nose, and the treating physician in
Goodbye. Jon Neumann plays the young man in Support Our Troops, the young
school teacher in The Letter, and the state tested nurse‘s aide in Punch You in
the Nose. <BR>Anita Artzner returns to our stage as the school teacher who
has the bad day in The Letter, the nurse in Goodbye, the ticket agent in Support
the Troops, and the nurse in Punch You in the Nose. She is joined by
fellow actor, Drew Hutchinson, who plays the second worker in Love Thy
Neighbor. <BR> Matt King is cast as the bigot in not only The Letter
but also Love Thy Neighbor. Matt delivers a bravura performance as an
anti-semitic bigot. He also plays the egotistical baseball player in When
the Cheering Stopped. Gary Liknes plays the man in When the Cheering
Stopped. Mike Groom plays a member of the entourage for the egotistical
ball player in When the Cheering Stopped, the apathetic worker in Love Thy
Neighbor, and the surgeon in Goodbye. Steve Long plays the husband of the
school teacher in The Letter and the son in Punch You in the Nose.<BR> Dave
Van Gaasbeek takes a turn on the stage as the father in Goodbye, the older
worker in Love Thy Neighbor, and the janitor in When the Cheering
Stopped.<BR> The play will be performed on December 12-14, 2008 at 7:30 pm
at the Canal Fulton Players Fellowship Hall Theatre, 363 West Cherry Street,
Canal Fulton, Ohio and on December 19-21 at the Kathleen Howland Theatre, 324
Cleveland Ave N, Canton, Ohio . The cost of admission at the Kathleen
Howland Theatre will be $10.00 for adults and $8.00 for seniors (65+) and
children under the age of 12.<BR> For further information call David Van
Gaasbeek at 330-494-1022 or 33-854-4387 or Todd at Second April Art Gallery at
330-451-0924.</FONT></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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