Drama and dessert for the holidays

A great weekend evening of entertainment can be found today and Saturday as the Central High School Drama Club, under the leadership of Marla Jennings, presents three one-act plays that commemorate the fun, the magic and the true meaning of Christmas.

There will also be a buffet of desserts served during the intermission between the first and second plays.

The cast for the Christmas season production of "Drama with Dessert" is made up of juniors and seniors, and Jennings said that she was able to give a part to everyone who auditioned.

The first play, "The Jingle Bell Jury," tells the story of Jim Dandy, who has lost his Christmas spirit and has come to believe that Christmas is a bunch of nonsense. A trial takes place, and witnesses prove to Dandy that Christmas is real. This play reveals both the secular and the spiritual side of Christmas.

"Baddest Angel Band," the second play, shares the tale of three young angels who are about to be kicked out of Angel School if they don't shape up. They are sent to Earth to find the good in humanity, which they do. This play closes with a modern day portrayal of the Nativity.

The evening ends with the presentation of "Carol * A Christmas," a modern day version of "A Christmas Carol." This play is set in a high school and tells the story of Carol, who has focused so much on her grades that she lost sight of life's other important things, such as family, friends, and helping others. With the assistance of three non-traditional ghosts, Carol learns to take the time to see what is really important in life.

Curtain time is 7 p.m. both days, and the entire production, including dessert, is scheduled to last an hour and a half.

Theatre Arts instructor, Marla Jennings, has been teaching at SCHS for the last 12 years. She graduated from Central in 1987, went on to Middle Tennessee State University, and returned to her alma mater to teach.

"I am certified to teach psychology and English," Jennings said. "But I have been teaching drama, too, since I came back to Central."

Jennings heads up the Bedford County Schools' Summer Theatre Enrichment Program for students in grades 4-7, so many of the students that are in her productions at SCHS have been with her for years, which enables her to get to know their strengths and to see them grow and excel over time.

Jennings said she loves the students and loves what she does, and it shows in the way the cast members of this season's production respond to her leadership.