The Christmas Play: An Ashley Hall Tradition

By Jennifer Turner, Editor & Director of Content

A cherished, longstanding Ashley Hall tradition, The Christmas Play assumed a digital format for its 2020 production in response to pandemic safety concerns. Against the backdrop of new technology, creative staging, and the need for the cast to physically distance, one thing remained clear: the love for this shared generational experience runs deep.

sk any alumna to name her favorite Ashley Hall memories, and The Christmas Play makes the list more often than not. Now in its 97th year, the annual performance is nearly as old as the School itself and draws together generations of graduates who relish memories of assuming roles of angels, shepherds, and jesters, reciting timeless lines, and singing a repertoire that embodies the holiday season.

“The fact that you can reconnect so well with your Ashley Hall experience through watching the play makes it so special,” said Assistant Head of School and Upper School Director Anne Weston, Ph.D., ’73, who treasures many fond memories of watching and performing in the play. “This year we worked hard to preserve the tradition of The Christmas Play in the face of challenging conditions.” Guest director and Ashley Hall parent Sharon Graci, co-founder and artistic director of Charleston’s PURE Theatre, introduced several exciting aspects via the new digital format, including prerecording the musical and theatrical elements to capture the best performances and filming personal interviews with alumnae who shared their thoughts about what makes the tradition a meaningful experience unlike any other.

“I was selected to be Mother Angel this year, and I am very honored and excited about this role, which holds a special place in my heart,” asserted AnaCapri Burke ’21, who sees Ashley Hall’s ethos of sisterhood embodied in the special relationship between the Mother Angel and the baby angels. “It is the passing of the torch from one generation to the next, the invitation of a new generation. I hope that as the baby angels continue through their Ashley Hall journey, they will remember their first Christmas Play experience fondly.”

This year we reimagined The Christmas Play in order to adhere to “ public health and safety protocols, and the spirit of this Ashley Hall tradition came to life in an entirely new way.

Filmed outdoors on campus, the play allowed us to take full advantage of our cherished Senior Lawn as well as the Bear Cave, which served as the perfect backdrop for the Holy Tableaux. ” —HEAD OF SCHOOL JILL MUTI

Continuing the play’s rich legacy was always a priority, and like generations before them, students still experienced the joys, stresses, and laugh-out-loud moments of bringing to life this meaningful series of religious mystery plays first performed during the Middle Ages.

“Preparing for this year’s play has been different from past years, but I have had a lot of fun,” said Riley Kerr ’21, who first participated in The Christmas Play as a baby angel in first grade. “Ms. Graci of course has been really wonderful to work with, as she has a lot of experience on real sets.” Because of this year’s innovations, Kerr not only reprised her role as the First Shepherd but also had the chance to be an angel.

Historically, the logistics of The Christmas Play have adapted through the years to allow for location changes and staging demands, and the digital version represents the latest of these transformations. While the medium of delivery may change, it is reassuring to know the essence of this beloved tradition remains very much the same.

To view the special 2020 presentation of The Christmas Play, visit ashleyhall.org/TheChristmasPlay

| Student singers, musicians, and actors film The Christmas Play in the afternoon light on campus. Photos by Kelly Grace Photography