By: Katie Upton 

     Each year, it’s a tradition for the Struthers’s Library Theatre Academy to perform a musical during the Warren Christmas Walk, and this year, it was run by a new director, Jennifer Check. The Allegheny Regional Theater Experience or ARTE program educates the community’s youth in theatrical arts, with students ranging from ages 5-18 to explore and grow as performers. The students are organized into levels of 100, 200, and 300, with 100’s being elementary, 200’s being middle school, and 300’s high school. SLT focuses on creating friendships, teamwork, and memories for the community.       

     This year, SLT Academy presented “Christmas Is Here,” which was performed after the Warren Christmas walk on December 5, from 7:30-8:00 pm. The senior high level 300’s caroled as people were entering the theater and got sat, then, after that, they performed.  

     When Check was interviewed by The Squire, she shared, “I’ve always wanted to help with the community, and this year we decided to do a musical just of carols and dances. I wanted to bring joy to the elderly people that usually wouldn’t have anyone with them for Christmas.”                                                                                                                                         

     This year, the 300-level focused on performing some classics like “Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer,” “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause,” “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” and “Jingle Bells,” while the younger kids performed the songs, “Hot Chocolate,” and “Merry Christmas To Me.” Throughout and in between songs, lots of kids were speaking together, mostly kids that were siblings saying, “Welcome to Struthers!,” “Merry Christmas to all,” and “Happy Holidays” as some were singing in the song “Merry Christmas.”  

     When interviewed by The Squire, Check said, “Giving the 100’s and 200’s speaking roles made me feel like I gave the parents a lot more Christmas spirt and the little kids loved to be upfront and speaking.” Next, Jennifer was asked how the backstage crew prepares and what are the challenges working with different age groups. Jen replied with, “The backstage people prepared by testing mics and making sure they aren’t too loud. They went through mic echoes and testing the curtains, as well as putting up new ones.” 

     Check continued to share her experiences working with multiple age groups as a teacher, and she explained how all kids have different reactions to things and eventually everyone must learn how to work with them as individuals. 

     The annual Christmas musical at Struthers brings joy and Christmas spirit to all ages, through helping kids figure out what they like as performers and helping elders get their Christmas spirit back. Struthers Liberty Theater is there with a community full of support all year round.