PACA Brings Yuletide Cheer with Holiday Extravaganza

James Wallace

Diane Harder will present a holiday-themed variety show at PACA entitled Holiday Extravaganza with elements of sketch comedy, improv, and musical theater – helping to raise funds for PACA's continued efforts towards building restorations and improvements.

FRIDAY, DEC. 19

As the snow of December falls on Erie, the Performing Arts Collective Alliance (PACA) is warming up the stage with their Holiday Extravaganza. Taking the Flagship City approach to Carol Burnett and Saturday Night Live, PACA's variety show features a mix of sketches, improv, and musical acts from around Erie and the North Pole, celebrating the season and raising funds for renovations.

From sketches with music and poetry performances to dancing, tarot reading, and drag performances, there's a wide range of acts for audiences to watch and participate in. That energy makes it an exciting experience for performers and for audience members. "It brings the audience in. With [music] you're singing to the audience, but with improv you're speaking directly to them," Artistic Director Ryan Dawley explained. "It's going to be a lot of fun. It's something different that we don't do that often, but I would like to do more with it."

Musical performances include the acapella stylings of Flagship City Chorus and Beach Glass Quartet. For the holidays, Director Diane Harder is reviving The Sisters, a group of nuns who lead the audience in carols in their own comedic style. Stemming from past productions of Nuncrackers and Sister Act, the group got together month after month to perform as the Sister Act Dinner Club. "These are the sisters of the Divine Instrument. We've got Mother Mary Whack, Sister Mary Shell (E) on keyboard, Sister Mary Angel, Sister Mary Toot on the French Horn, and Sister Mary Carol Hypotenuse on the guitar. There will be 'Jingle Bells,' 'Silent Night' with a French Horn solo, and 'Go Tell It On The Mountain,' with ridiculousness happening throughout."

The show is also the penultimate fundraiser for Rise with PACA which is in support of historic renovations to the building, with Tom Hagen pledging to match up to $500,000 in donations to the theater. The organization is still shy of that mark, but hopes the community can help raise funding for a new elevator and fifth-floor renovations. "The current elevator is original to the building with the old crank and gate, and we're trying to make it more accessible," Dawley said. "The fifth floor is a beautiful space. I want to put another theater up there with footlights, artist's studios, and places for children's performances. We want to expand the art system for more cultural opportunities. It's just about supporting the arts and the community."

Cali's West will provide catering for the event, and audiences can use PACA's Flex Pass for $125, which includes admission to eight shows. For Hardner and Dawley, the show's theme is absolute inclusivity. "Come have an amazing time with us, not just watch us have an amazing time. It's not just Christmas, that's why it's the Holiday Extravaganza."

7:30 p.m. // PACA, 1505 State St. // $17-$23 // For tickets and info: tickets.eriereader.com