Ho-ho-ho! Hello readers of LHS’s Smoke Signal!
The air is getting colder after an annoyingly warm October, so you know what that means: Christmas season is finally here! It’s time for burning your tongue with steaming hot chocolate and cooling it off with some peppermint eggnog. Time for cheesy Hallmark movies to play on your television late at night. But, most importantly, it is time to be with your friends and family through the most wonderful time of the year. Family is the most important piece of the holiday season, and this sentiment is shown through Lompoc High School’s upcoming production of Another Christmas Story!
Another Christmas Story tells the story of three very different families, each grappling with their unique challenges that threaten to overshadow the spirit of the holiday season. A kind-hearted narrator weaves the tale, drawing the audience into the lives of the Garcias, the Russells, and the Stewarts. These three families go on a heartwarming journey as they rediscover their most important Christmas traditions. Amidst the tinsel and turmoil, hot chocolate and board games become symbols of unity and warmth, bringing the families together in a tale of love, laughter, and lasting traditions.
Lompoc High’s theater department puts on a Christmas play every single year, always leaving the audience with a warm fuzzy feeling as they prepare themselves for the holiday season, but this play is a little different… Another Christmas Story was actually written by LHS student Donna Kemp!
Donna Kemp is a senior at Lompoc High School and is deeply involved with the arts. She became involved in LHS’s Choir and Theater Department as soon as she entered high school and is now president of Choir Club, Drama Club, and Thespian Club. Kemp grew up with a passion for singing, acting, and writing, and expressed that passion with every chance she got. That’s why when Sarah A. M. Barthel, Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair, approached her and asked her to write the Christmas Play for the 2023/2024 school year, Kemp jumped at the opportunity.
“My favorite holiday in the world is Christmas,” Kemp says, “it’s so warm and happy, and I get to spend a lot of time with the people I love. Growing up, I didn’t get too many presents under the tree but it never really mattered. As long as I got my hot chocolate and I played my board games with my family, I was the happiest person on Earth.” And that kind of sentiment is what she wanted to share with this Christmas story. Materialistic things only give you so much joy, but the moments you share with your family and friends will last a lifetime. “And is that a little corny? Sure!” she notes, “but it’s true.”
Another Christmas Story, play by Ms. Donna Kemp, will be performed on December 7th, 8th, and 9th, at the Lompoc High School Little Theater. Tickets will be on sale on Saturday, November 18th so make sure to come by and support your local theater and playwrights!
