Technology Aids ‘Singing Christmas Tree’
Thirty-one years ago, Loren Cleveland decided that he was going to be a part of the Singing Christmas Tree tradition – a drama production that is put on by the Grand Island Evangelical Free Church each Christmastime. Since then, the production has become a part of this life, as the quality of technology evolves each year to accommodate new ideals and changes.
Cleveland started out 31 years ago in the choir. But a few years later, he took the position as the official button-pusher, or in other words, the master of the sound system. “I figured this was more fun than singing” Cleveland said. Over the years, improvements to the sound system as well as to other aspects of the production have allowed increasingly involving productions of the play.
Cleveland remembers when the show was only singing, devoid of drama. At that time, there were no live animals as there are now, but cardboard animals were used in their stead.
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But today, it requires a 5 man team to set up the sound system alone each year. The crew spends about 40 hours rewiring the sound system teach year, they run 32 microphones in the singing tree alone, and they work with mixing boards throughout the production.
When Cleveland started, he said that he would be happy if he made it through a performance without feedback. Today, even a small pop in the microphone is enough to make him want to crawl under a table.
"It gives you a sense that you're doing something good," he said, reflecting on the growth and success of the Singing Christmas Tree. "It makes us want to do the best job we can do."
Now, 300-400 volunteers pitch in annually to make the Singing Christmas Tree into reality. Despite the use of new technologies and stage methodologies, the essence of the play has remained the same: it is a fun way to tell the Christmas story in the spirit of the holiday season.
