Preview for An Aethereal Christmas presents "The Bishop's Wife" featuring Fake Bacon
Preview for An Aethereal Christmas presents "The Bishop's Wife" featuring Fake Bacon
An Aethereal Christmas presents "The Bishop's Wife" featuring Fake Bacon
Preview for An Aethereal Christmas presents "The Bishop's Wife" featuring Fake Bacon
Join us for a holiday celebration fit for the entire family.
Our annual tradition continues with the return of An Aethereal Christmas. This year the holiday celebration includes a choir concert, improv performance, and a production of the classic Christmas story "The Bishop's Wife."
The evening begins with a performance of our holiday choir. Enjoy the voices of our community singers as they add their voices to your favorite holiday songs and carols.
The evening continues with our adaptation of "The Bishop's Wife." The story centers on Bishop Henry Gales who, having difficulties funding the building of a new cathedral, prays for divine guidance. His plea is seemingly answered by a suave angel named Dudley, who reveals his identity only to the clergyman. Dudley's mission turns out not to be to help construct a cathedral, but to guide Henry and the people around him spiritually. Along the way Dudley begins to long for more than his current existence and contemplates giving up eternity for a chance at everything that makes us human.
In between Acts 1 & 2, local improvisational theater group Fake Bacon will perform a 20-minute holiday themed improv show with the assistance of the audience.
An Aethereal Christmas provides an alternative to the usual holiday productions while maintaining the festive spirit of the holiday season.
Production Staff
Director - Brian A. Palmer
Music Director - Abby Altizer
Stage Manager - Ryan Dever
Cast
Dudley - Logan Fondriest
Henry - Grady Sims
Julia - Kate France
Professor Wutheridge - Richard Wilson
Debby - Aubrey Smetzer
Miss Cassaway, Matilda, Bobbie - Lee G. Gilbert
Mrs. Agnes Hamilton, Ruth - Brenda Josephsen
Stevens, Sylvester, Mr. Miller - Steve Josephsen
Thank You
Aethereal Jest Arts Council would like to extend a special "Thank You" to the following groups and individuals:
Greater Columbus Arts Council
Geoffrey Martin
Evan Fondriest
Company
Abby Altizer
Music Director
Abby is an elementary music teacher in Newark, Ohio. She has directed many (very adorable) 2nd grade musicals and 4th grade ukulele concerts, but this is her first experience music directing in community theater. Abby is, as always, just delighted to be making music. When she isn’t making music with humans, she is probably petting dogs.
Ryan Dever
Stage Manager
Coming Soon!
Logan Fondriest
Dudley
Logan will be playing the role of Dudley in tonight’s performance. This is the fourth production that he's done with Aethereal Jest Arts Council. Other roles he's played include Ferdinand in “The Tempest,’ Duncan in “Macbeth,” and Morpeth in “The Reluctant Dragon.” He is an alumnus of Ohio University and currently spends his time acting and writing for both theatre and film. Logan would like to thank Ryan and Brian for the opportunity, his friends + family, and his partner and muse, Elizabeth.
Kate France
Mrs. Julia Gales
Kate will be playing Julia in this production. Most recently, played Mishkin in “Fools,” and she played a few roles in the Young Writers Festival at MadLab. Some of her other recent roles include Ida in “The Villain Wore a Dirty Shirt” [Weathervane Playhouse], Dragon in “The Reluctant Dragon,” Sharon Kettering in “Holier Than Thou,” Rachel Lynde in “Anne of Green Gables” [Aethereal Jest Arts Council], and DJ in “Normies” [MadLab Theatre]. She would like to thank her family, friends, and mentors for their enduring support and willingness to watch her be silly on stage.
Lee G. Gilbert
Miss Mildred Cassaway, Matilda, Bobbie
Lee recently moved back to Columbus. She joined the ATC season this year in “A Midsummer Night's Dream” as Flute, and “She Kills Monsters” as Vera & Evil Gabbi. Before this, she spent four years in Athens, Ohio studying acting and communications, as well as performing in “John Proctor Is the Villain” (Shelby), “Shining Girls” (Cathrine), and “Imaginary Audiences” (Marvel Cunningham), writing and producing two of her own works, “Velveteen, Lavender Grace” and “Run Wyoming,” and creative producing for all five of the Golden Isle shows.
Brenda Josephsen
Mrs. Agnes Hamilton
Brenda will be portraying Mrs. Hamilton and Ruth in tonight's performance. This is the second production that she has done with Aethereal Jest Arts Council. In November she played Miribelle in "Good Help is So Hard to Murder" at the Senior Center of Reynoldsburg. She would like to thank Brian Palmer for giving her the opportunity to be on the stage again.
Steve Josephsen
Stevens, Sylvester, Mr. Miller
Coming Soon!
Chris Makar
Board Representative
Chris served as the Board Representative for tonight’s performance. This is the third production that she has done with Aethereal Jest Arts Council. She will be playing keyboard for Vaud-Villities Christmas in Columbus at Lincoln Theatre later this month. Chris would like to thank Brian Palmer and her husband John.
Brian A. Palmer
Director
Brian served as the Director for tonight’s performance. This is the sixteenth production that he has done with Aethereal Jest Arts Council. Past credits include Director for “Tuck Everlasting” [Worthington Community Theatre], Director for “Nighthawks” [Red Herring Productions], and Director for “The Fantasticks” [King Avenue Players]. Brian would like to thank Anthony, Tina, and Ryan.
Grady Sims
Bishop Henry Gales
Grady has been a huge film and television lover for most of his life. It wasn't until 2013 after his family moved back to Atlanta for a time that Grady discovered a love of acting. He got work as an extra and really enjoyed the experience of learning about the work both in front of and behind the camera. He’s since been learning the craft and trying to make the move from extra work to more speaking roles. Grady is so thankful for the opportunity to join this company of great actors and looks forward to whatever the future holds.
Aubrey Smetzer
Debby Gales
Aubrey will be portraying the role of Debby Gales in tonight’s performance. This is the third production that she has done with Aethereal Jest Arts Council. Past credits include Minnie May in “Anne of Green Gables” [Aethereal Jest] and Katy the maid in “An Aethereal Christmas Radio Show” [Aethereal Jest]. She has also performed in the Ensemble for “Finding Nemo Jr.” [New Albany Youth Theatre] and Lullaby League Munchkin and Ensemble in “The Wizard of Oz” [New Albany Youth Theatre]. Aubrey would like to thank her mom and dad and her sister, Emma.
Richard Wilson
Professor Wutheridge
This is Richard’s third time performing with Aethereal Jest, and he is enjoying playing the Professor. Richard has been acting since high school, playing roles both comic and serious. Recently he played Dr. Zubritsky in Aethereal Jest’s production of “Fools”, Selig in “Gem of the Ocean” with Trinity Theatre, Borachio in “Much Ado About Nothing” with Pickerington Community Theatre, and Grandpa in “You Can't Take it With You” with GCP. Richard’s other loves are his wife, Anne Grove, and the Bahá'í Faith, which teaches the importance of spiritual growth and detachment from material pursuits.
Board of Directors
Brian A. Palmer, President
Shana French, Vice President
Anthony Reitzel, Treasurer
Tina Palmer, Secretary
Randi Honkonen, Director at Large
Chris Makar, Trustee