They fell in love on stage. Now, Columbus couple’s Christmas show to benefit community
They fell in love on stage four years ago. Now, thanks to dozens of donors, you can see the Christmas musical this Columbus couple created.
And they plan to donate the proceeds to community causes.
Although it will have only two public performances its first year, plus one for school groups, Victoria and Ethan Hall told the Ledger-Enquirer they intend for “A Christmas to Believe In” to become an annual holiday tradition in Columbus.
“It’s been a privilege to be a part of it,” Ethan said. “It’s really been not just us. It’s been hundreds of hands.”
“It’s miraculous, honestly, truly,” Victoria said. “… It’s been so many other people that have come forward and helped make this dream happen, and I think that’s what’s been so special and amazing to see.”
The public performances will be Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 12 at 2:30 p.m. in the Bill Heard Theatre at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway. The $15 tickets, with reserved seating, may be purchased in advance or on the day of the show.
Tickets are available at the RiverCenter box office, online at rivercenter.org or by calling 706-256-3612.
Message of hope
Victoria graduated from Columbus High School in 2015; Ethan graduated from Houston County High School, also in 2015. They met that year as freshmen at Columbus State University while acting in a production of “Beauty and the Beast” at the Springer Opera House.
Their friendship turned into romance two years later, when they played love interests in “Newsies” at the Springer. They married in 2020.
Then, starting seven months ago and motivated by the sorrow of the COVID-19 pandemic, they combined two passions — theater and Christmas — to write their own holiday tale.
“Over the last year and a half, a lot of people have had a difficult time,” Ethan said. “There has been a lot of loss, a lot of grief, a lot of sadness, a lot of depression, and Victoria and I, just like everyone else in the world, were heartbroken to see all this happen. … We want to be able to create something that could help somebody out.”
So their story is about hope. In fact, the lead character, an orphan girl in New York City, is named Hope (played by Reese Colley of Auburn, Alabama).
She is the last child left in her orphanage after all the others are adopted as Christmas approaches. Her teddy bear, Fuzzy (played by Nicholas Rogers of Seattle), joins her on an adventure to the North Pole, where they learn the “true meaning” of Christmas, Ethan said.
Although the two-act story is original, the musical selections are Christmas classics, which are “transformed into showstopping dance numbers,” Ethan said.
Community benefit
They declined to disclose the cost of their project, but the Halls said funding for the production is based on donations from local organizations and individuals.
“Everyone played a key role that this couldn’t have happened without every single person,” Ethan said.
“It’s just been amazing to see everyone rally behind this and get excited about it and take ownership over it as well,” Victoria said.
They said they haven’t decided where they will donate the proceeds, but they promised to announce the recipients on social media after they determine how much money ticket sales generate.
“Not only is it a vehicle for hope for people year after year, but it’s a vehicle for our community, too, to continue to rebuild … and also create memories that will last a lifetime for families,” Ethan said.
A week before the premiere, they had sold more than 1,000 tickets combined for the two public shows in the 2,000-seat theater. They also will perform for school groups Dec. 13.
Relying on faith
Although they have combined to act in more than 20 theater performances, the Halls don’t have any experience on the production side of the industry. But they relied on their contacts — and their faith — to provide the necessary resources.
“It was then that God started opening doors and opening doors and opening doors,” Ethan said. “… There are some things that come up where we don’t know how we’re going to be able to get through this or pay for this, but all of this happened through God, and so we’re trusting in Him, and time and time again He has come through.”
Columbus actors Carter Eldridge and Leila Wheaton, part of the 28-member cast, told the L-E they are grateful their roles in this production.
“The opportunity to be in this show here in Columbus, at the RiverCenter, the biggest stage in the entire city, and to be telling a bright, beautiful Christmas story like this, I mean, it’s just a great opportunity and to work with such amazing people like Ethan and Victoria,” said Eldridge, who graduated from Columbus High School in 2016 and CSU in 2020.
“Nobody has done this (production) before, and, to me, I feel like that’s just so special to be able to be a part of it but to also give our feedback to Ethan and Victoria,” said Wheaton, who graduated from Columbus High School in 2020 and is majoring in theater at CSU.
The actors also praised the Halls for their compassion while carrying the busy burden of being the writers, choreographers, directors and producers of the show.
“I can’t imagine the stress that is trying to put on an original musical of this scale,” Eldridge said. “But then, when they see that we’re down, they take care of us. I have my complete trust in them because of that.”
For example, when Wheaton was injured and Eldridge was sick during rehearsal at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center, the Halls bought them dinner.
“I’m so happy to come here every day and work with them,” Wheaton said. “It just makes me so excited to come and collaborate.”
This story was originally published December 9, 2021 at 10:52 AM.
