Holiday Showcase facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holiday Showcase |
|
|---|---|
| Show type | Annual holiday production |
| Date of premiere | December 9, 2006 |
| Final show | December 6, 2008 |
| Location | Hoffman Estates, Illinois |
| Creative team | |
| Music director | Robert Hanson |
| Aerialists | Cirque du Soleil |
| 2006 Host | Doug LaBrecque |
| 2007 Host | Diane Penning Benjamin Brecher |
| 2008 Host | Jodi Benson |
| Orchestra | Elgin Symphony Orchestra |
| Olympic ice skaters 2007, 2008 |
Melissa Gregory Denis Petukhov |
The Holiday Showcase was a super fun yearly music show for the holidays! It happened at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The amazing Elgin Symphony Orchestra put on the show, and it even featured performers from Cirque du Soleil!
Contents
What Happened Each Year
2006: The First Show
The very first Holiday Showcase took place in 2006. It was held at the brand-new Sears Centre. Doug LaBrecque, a famous star from the musical The Phantom of the Opera, was the host.
This special night featured the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. It also had amazing aerialists from Cirque du Soleil. Plus, there was a huge chorus with over 400 singers! This one-night event was a big hit, so the Holiday Showcase came back for two more years.
2007: Growing Bigger
After the first show, Robert Hanson, the music director for the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, talked about how the show moved to the Sears Centre. For 25 years, the orchestra had their holiday concerts at The Hemmens Cultural Center. A board member from both the orchestra and the Sears Centre suggested the new location.
The 2007 Holiday Showcase was hosted by singer Diane Penning and tenor Benjamin Brecher. It featured Cirque du Soleil performers doing aerial acts and juggling. The Elgin Symphony Orchestra played, and Olympic ice skaters Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov also performed!
2008: A Huge Holiday Event
In 2008, the third yearly Holiday Showcase was hosted by Jodi Benson. She is a singer who won a Tony Award! This show became known as the biggest holiday event in the area.
It once again featured Cirque du Soleil aerialists and jugglers. The Elgin Symphony Orchestra played beautiful music. Olympic ice skaters Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov returned to perform. They also teamed up with the charity Toys for Tots. People could bring new toys to donate before the show started.
