Pre-Show Jitters Keep Children Keyed Up for Concert

Tonight is Hallie Deimel’s big night. She’s been getting ready for a month.

Every night Hallie, 8, has pored over the script of “The Christmas Party,” carefully memorizing her lines in the holiday musical, especially her solo in the big number. And each night the anxiety rises--will she flub her solo, miss her cue?

Her worries crested Saturday during the dress rehearsal at Lake Avenue Church when Hallie had to perform her solo for the first time before the whole 100-child choir. “I don’t want them to laugh at me,” she confided. “Tomorrow I’ll see my parents [in the audience] and it’ll be OK.”

In the cavernous worship hall of Pasadena’s Lake Avenue Church, this was the time to work out the kinks and shake the jitters before tonight’s Christmas concert. Choir Director Judy Kattenhorn chided her charges to avoid “boo-booy” garbling of lyrics and took time out to comfort a boy who was hit on the head by a falling microphone. A sound man flittered by, frantically chatting into a headset. Worried 8-year-olds asked which halos they should wear.

“It always feels like chaos at this stage,” said Debbie Isenberg, a kindergarten teacher at the 4,700-congregant church’s preschool who was helping out. “But somehow the Lord pulls it all together and it’s wonderful Sunday night.”

The children’s concert has been going right for decades at Lake Avenue Church, a Congregational church with a sprawling complex off the Foothill Freeway. Todd Barry, 31, who plays the synthesizer in the concert, remembered performing during his childhood. “You go through months of rehearsals, and then these dress rehearsals were always exciting,” he said, “because you get to see the lights and instrumentalists for the first time.”

The main players have been rehearsing for months, but this was the first complete run-through for the 100 6- through 14-year-olds. They obediently sat on stage as Kattenhorn gave them a pep talk.

“What are some things you can tell me you should do today?” she asked.

The replies came hesitantly: “Sing.” “Learn the words.” “Remember your lines.”

“All right,” Kattenhorn said, “we’re down to the wire.”

The piano and drums sounded, and the performers began the tale of a group of ordinary children--who reminisce about sending Bibles “to the islands” and are then invited to perform at a Christmas party for the homeless.

*

Wireless microphones projected the soloists’ strong but still pint-sized voices through the mammoth chamber, which church officials said is the largest in the San Gabriel Valley. The eclectic score, which challenged the children, included a jazzy number called “When the Lord Says Jump” and “Calypso Noel,” complete with marimba accompaniment. Their singing was occasionally drowned out by the eight-piece band.

Kattenhorn halted numbers and encouraged the children to enunciate--”This is one of the hardest songs,” she said before asking the choir to redo one number. “We’re doing just fine.”

After the first run-through the kids scattered from the stage for a quick break. Food and toiletries were put in gift baskets that will be given to the homeless, some of whom will be invited to the concert.

Kattenhorn checked with the musicians for advice. “See if you can get them to smile at the end,” suggested one.

The children flocked back, chattering and chasing one another. “They’ve had their sugar break,” quipped one volunteer. Kattenhorn gathered them back onto the stage for a final run-through--this time with no breaks.

About 50 minutes later, the ensemble cried “Merry Christmas!” to end the show. This time they were smiling.

*

“OK, wonderful,” Kattenhorn said. “Please be sure to go to sleep tonight. Keep your shoes on, take your vitamins, do what your mother tells you. I don’t want you to get sick tonight,” she stressed, as the children stampeded from the stage in a controlled cacophony of giggles and whispers.

“The Christmas Party” will be the centerpiece of the roughly 75-minute program, which includes a performance by a choir of 4- and 5-year-olds, hymns and organ music.

“I think we’re going to do good,” said Tamaryn Lopez, 9. “It’s going to be easy because Mrs. Kattenhorn’s going to help us learn the words and it’s good because she could be spending time with her family but she’s here helping us, and the same with all the other [volunteers]. They’re all good, so it will be good.”