Film, puppets and more
‘SingWe Joyous!’ keeps the surprises coming for online performance
There are always surprises in “SingWe Joyous,” the popular annual holiday show thatWilliam Chin creates at the First United Church of Oak Park, where he is the director of music ministries. That’s true this year, too, even though the 15th annual edition of “SingWe Joyous” is going virtual, premiering on Dec. 12.
Therewill still be performances by the groups that Chin leads: The Oriana Singers, City Voices, ProMusica Youth Chorus, and the SingWe Joyous Orchestra. The annual amusing version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” returns. But there are some exciting new additions this year— including a silent film and a shadowpuppet show.
Chin admitted, “It did take a little thinking” to turn the showvirtual.“We definitelywanted to keep some things that are normally in the live performance in this remote version butwe knew that itwas a different artform,” he said.
One new element this year is a shadow puppet version of “The Gift of theMagi.” “I’ve always been fascinated by shadow puppetry,” Chin said. “This seemed like an opportunity.”
Another innovation is a black-and-white silent film version of “TheNight Before Christmas.”
Chin revealed that there are three guest spots in the show: the local bandKettlestrings; the family of City Voices member Aniela Tyksinski; and a video by City Voices member Declan Ryan.
Chin had a huge amount of help putting this showtogether fromfamily members— his wife, Beth Albrecht, and stepdaughters Rosie Albrecht (22), Gracie Albrecht (20), andWillaMarie (17). His son Julian Chin composed incidental music.
Beth Albrecht has the official title of director, but that’s a small part of her involvement in the project. “Normally I am the stage director. I’ll choreograph things and create a lot of the ideas. I bring the funny— that’smy job,” she said. Her job this year also includes videotaping the parts of the showshot in their home, editing that and the videos created by the singers, sewing costumes, making props, and writing music. She also sings with City Voices.
Beth Albrecht has high praise for the show. “We try to make everything a highlight,” she said, admitting that one of her favorite parts is a version of “SilentNight” she wrote for two voices that her daughter Willa sings withMeganKennedy.
Albrecht also loves the silentmovie which she said will be “really, really charming.”
“The silent puppet showis going to be amazing,” she said.
The puppetswere created by her daughter Gracie, an art student at Carleton College. “I like to drawvery realistic people, especially hands,” Gracie said. “The hands are particularly detailed. In fact the whole thing is very detailed, including elaborate backgrounds which are all cut out of paper. Every joint thatmoves on a humanmoves on the puppets.”
Gracie noted that shewas inspired by Lotte Reiniger, a pioneer in silhouette
animation. “‘The Gift of theMagi’was published in 1905, so Iwas inspired by that time period when I designed the clothes and the Gibson Girl hair.”
Gracie also created nearly 80 drawings of birds for the “TwelveDays of Christmas” presentation. “I hope people will think it’s funny,” she said.
Willa, a senior at Oak Park River Forest High School, sings with ProMusica but also has beenworking behind the scenes. “My favorite thing this year is the out-ofthe-screen stuff,” she admitted. “In the puppet show, therewere four of us at once behind the screen. There’s somemovie magic special effects in some of the videos and some of thatwas just me pulling the string.”
When the pandemic ends Rosie will return to theUniversity of Chicago. She is alsoworking behind the scenes. “Iwas part of the crew for the puppet show,” she said. “I’ve also played the role of cameraman several times and there have been several
parts in the showwhenwe’ve used handwritten title cards. They’remy handiwork.”
“It’s truly a family affair this year. Even more so than usual,” Julian Chin said. “I’ve been composing some music, mostly underscoring or incidental music.”
That includes creating music for the silent film.
“We also have some ‘commercials’ that are going to be in it which I did the soundtrack for,” Julian Chin said.
Beth Albrecht said therewas an unexpected benefit to be sheltering at home while she and her husbandworked on the show. “Becausewewere stuck in this house, the whole family got involved,” she said. “Itwas so much fun doing this with my family.”
Rosie Albrecht added that she’s glad, “We can still keep the spirit of ‘SingWe Joyous’ alive.”