Samantha Corey standing outside of PMO Reindeer Day with flyer in hand (Credit: Kelsey Lefever)
Words: Madelyn Thomas
The Purdue Christmas Show has been a cherished tradition for over nine decades, bringing the joy of the holiday season to audiences right here on our West Lafayette campus in the historic Elliott Hall of Music. This year’s show celebrated 91 years running and continued to uphold its legacy of dazzling attendees with a blend of music and theatrical artistry.
The fun started before the weekend of the performance though. Two weeks prior, PMO hosted a “Reindeer Day” (pictured to the left) on the Felix Haas Hall front lawn to promote student tickets sales and spread some seasonal cheer. The event featured a hot cocoa bar (special thanks to College of Science), student caroling, and two live reindeer who “flew” in from The North Pole (special thanks to Indiana Reindeer Company). Hundreds of students, faculty, and staff stopped by throughout the day, taking selfies with the animals and getting into the holiday spirit.
PMO alumna Molly Walker, who currently works as a marketing & public relations specialist for Computer Science in the College of Science, jumped at the opportunity to collaborate on the event.
“This event meant a lot to me [because] I know how special it is to perform in the Christmas Show, and share music and cheer with the Purdue community,” Walker said. “Playing a small part in such a fun event and encouraging people to come to the show was a full-circle moment, and I was so proud of the students caroling and handing out flyers, plus it’s not every day that you see reindeer on campus!”
This year’s production celebrated collaboration and community like never before, on stage and off, as PMO staff and students played a vital role in shaping the show – painting and assembling stage elements, assisting with choreography, and mastering challenging musical repertoire. Among those who gave their time and talents, Dagan Knight (Purdue Varsity Glee Club, pictured below, center) went above and beyond to help get the show in festive shape.
“If I’m being honest, when we began to collect everything in June, I felt obligated to help, but by early September, I was personally volunteering and clearing my schedule to help,” Knight said. “Every time I stepped on that stage during rehearsals, I felt a close connection knowing I painted that nutcracker, or set up that tree, or assembled those lights.”
Knight’s experience exemplified the intimacy students felt with the production, shaping this year’s show into something truly special.
Director Scott Hines (Heart & Soul, Purdue Varsity Glee Club, Express) added a new responsibility to his title for this year’s show: scenic designer. “Taking on a bigger role this year was a little overwhelming at first, but this experience gave me the opportunity to work with students from ensembles I don’t normally work with,” Hines said. “Watching them work together and their pride in what they accomplished was inspiring.”
The Purdue Christmas Show is more than a performance; it’s an annual tradition that creates lasting memories, year after year. Bolstered by innovative marketing efforts and an emphasis on collaboration, the show upheld its reputation as a highlight of the holiday season once again and remains a shining example of PMO’s commitment to bringing people together through music.