Insights & Information

Christmas musical showcases Manuel's 'eye for the possible'

Cheryl Manuel

“Heirlooms,” the 2015 Kernersville Christmas Spectacular, retells the Christmas story through people and letters written over four decades.

The 1940s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s are largely brought to life onstage through the costuming talents of Cheryl Manuel, says “Heirlooms” playwright Jeremy Chandler.

With the exception of a soldier’s costume borrowed from the Winston-Salem Little Theatre, Chandler says all of the “Heirlooms” costumes are Triad’s own, and created by Manuel.

“She’s not only a great seamstress who can sew and fix things but someone who is very creative, and has an eye for the possible,” Chandler says. “She’ll spend a whole day bargain hunting at thrift shops, and can make things look really great on a small budget. I never have to worry about what something is going to look like, which makes it really nice. I appreciate her creativity, talents, and ability.”

In addition to her work on “Heirlooms,” Manuel also has created a place for these and other costumes to be stored so they can be used again.

Prop room makeover

 

Prop room treasures– Image 1 of 4

 

Triad has at least 100 other costumes plus nearly 40 Bible character costumes along with a host of props — tea cups and goblets, Roman helmets, armor, and other items — in its loft prop room space.

Not that long ago, no one knew exactly what was in the room or who had it so Chandler, the church’s creative communications director, asked Manuel to bring order to the chaos.

The project began in earnest last spring when Chandler began talking to Manuel about the role costumes would play in a future play he’d begun writing (“Heirlooms”).

Over about five months, Christmas decorations and other non-drama items that other groups had in the room were moved out to their own spaces. Access was limited and a process created for checking items out and in.

With more space, props that once were on the floor are now on shelves, and the costumes hang in long racks. A dressing area with its own curtain is being built for costume fittings.

“One of our key goals was to pull everything together into one place so that, instead of renting a costume and props, we would have what we needed for dramas and every individual ministry could have a resource to access without rental costs if they needed something whether it was for VBS or Mom Connection or another ministry,” Chandler says.

Manuel says she has enjoyed the prop room reorg (aided by her husband, Jonnie, and Charles McPeak) and serving as the costuming arm of a drama team led by Chandler, Wendy Fulp, Cat Nifong, and Heather Still.

“I like to be behind the scenes so this is a way for me to serve without being in front, and sewing is something I can do,” Manuel says.

Anyone interested in using costumes or props for their ministries should contact Manuel at, 692-7754, or Chandler at, 577-7207.

Musical bonus

“Heirlooms” features an expanded selection of music over previous Christmas Spectaculars. Performed by Triad’s adult choir under the direction of Worship Director Scott Compton, the music includes the song, “Jesus Our Lord,” featured in theme park productions. The church obtained permission to use the song in “Heirlooms,” and hired a local arranger to orchestrate the piece and score for choral use.

For more information about “Heirlooms,” see the Kernersville Christmas Spectacular page on tbcnow.org.

Phase 2 Shot of TBC B&W 17

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