Detweiler: Come celebrate Christmas at the Palace in 2021
I first met Clare Cooke in 1977 when I was a 15-year old theatre wannabe and she was choreographing her first Palace production. The show was “Oliver!” directed by the late Marilyn Babich. I played Orphan #7 and I thought Clare Cooke was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. (Well maybe second only to the poster of Farrah Fawcett that I had taped to my bedroom wall.)
Since then, we have done many shows together, but “Christmas at the Palace” will always hold a special place in my heart for two reasons. In 2010, my beloved mother, Polly, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was a little spitfire of a lady who was deeply involved in her church activities and the Sweet Adelines Ladies’ Barbershop Chorus. My first outing as a cast member of “Christmas at the Palace” was 2011, a year after her diagnosis and I had suggested to Clare that the Sweet Adelines would be a great addition to the show. I remember standing backstage, donning my tap shoes, ready to go on with the Men’s Tap Line, watching my mom sing her heart out with her harmonizing chums to the great delight of the audience.
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Fast forward to November 7, 2013. I was home again after spending a season in Asia on a cruise ship. My second chance to be in the Men’s Tap Line. After three years, Mom lost her battle with cancer on that cold and cloudy Thursday afternoon. She died at 4:25 p.m. The first person to come over with a bottle of wine was Clare Cooke. Men’s Tap Line rehearsal was later that night and she told me, “Honey, you don’t have to come to rehearsal tonight.” I went anyway. I needed to get out of the house. That year, I danced for my mom.
For me, “Christmas at the Palace” always kicks off the Christmas season for me and gets me into the holiday spirit. This year, taking over as executive director of the Palace one month before this year’s 39th anniversary production, brings back some great holiday memories for me. I am again honored to be a member of the Men’s Tap Line (Clare and her daughter, choreographer Kristi Wink are still under the false impression that I can actually dance!)
Watching rehearsals and admiring Clare as she makes her magic happen on the Palace stage will be memories I cherish in years to come.
Christmas at the Palace: We Need A Little Christmas” will take place Friday, Dec. 3 and Saturday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m.
Kirk Detweiler is executive director of the Marion Palace Theatre.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Detweiler: Come celebrate Christmas at the Palace in 2021
