Southside Theatre Guild in downtown Fairburn recently announced a second performance of “Home for the Holidays,” featuring Robert Ray and Shea Johnson. The show will feature some of the world’s best-loved sacred songs of the season, performed to a contemporary beat provided by jazz musicians – Rich Jones, Paul Fallat and John Willingham.
Also expect to hear Christmas standards such as “White Christmas”, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, “Winter Wonderland”, “Jingle Bell Rock”, “Favorite Things”, “Silver Bells”, “I’ve Got my Love to Keep me Warm” and “I’ll be Home for Christmas”. Add to the roster some new Holiday favorites like Celine Dion’s “Don’t Save it All for Christmas Day”, Whitney Houston’s “Joy”, Bette Midler’s “From a Distance”, Amy Grant’s “Grown Up Christmas Wish” and Newsong’s “Christmas Shoes.”
Ray is no stranger to holiday music having performed the opening number for three WSB-TV Christmas Parades. He also directed and produced “The 75th Anniversary of the Fox Theatre,” which was the highlight of the 2005 holiday season. Ray is a Palmetto native and graduated from Campbell High School in Fairburn prior to moving to New York and working as a broadway actor and award-winning cabaret artist.
Johnson balances her time as a speech and drama teacher at Landmark Christian School with her work as a professional actress and singer. She is currently featured in Stone Mountain’s holiday commercial and has performed leading roles at Atlanta Lyric Theatre and the Highland Playhouse. Johnson resides in Newnan with her husband and daughter.
Ray’s orchestra has performed for three Underground Atlanta Peach Drops and at seven “1st Night Atlanta Celebrations.”
Enjoy an intimate evening of Christmas classics on Wednesday, Dec. 22 at 8 p.m. (The Dec. 21 show is sold out) Tickets are $20 each and include a dessert after-party. For more info or to purchase tickets, www.STGplays.com or 1-800-838-3006.
