“Christmas Spectacular!” Slated for
Television on Christmas Morning

The University of Mobile Center for Performing Arts will help Gulf Coast residents celebrate Christmas morning when WALA Fox10 television broadcasts excerpts from “Christmas Spectacular!”

The university’s portion of the special will be aired from 6:55 to 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 25. Handel’s Messiah performed by Christ United Methodist Church will be aired from 5 to 6:05 a.m., Christmas music from Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church will be shown from 6:05 to 6:30 a.m., and the 2007 Christmas Festival from Dauphin Way Baptist Church will be broadcast from 6:30 to 6:55 a.m.

“We’ve decided to replace our normally scheduled morning newscast on Christmas Day with the sights and sounds of the holidays. It gives viewers at home a chance to listen to some wonderful talent in the community, while giving our employees a chance to spend Christmas morning with their families,” said Bob Cashen, Fox10 news director.

“If something major happens in our community, we will break in with news,” Cashen added. “Otherwise, we will have our regularly scheduled newscasts at 5 and 9 p.m. Christmas day. We hope it is a safe and happy holiday for everyone.”

“Christmas Spectacular!” was originally presented live at Dauphin Way Baptist Church on Nov. 27 and 28. This is the fifth year of the production, which showcases the vocal and instrumental talents of students and faculty from the UM Center for Performing Arts. Among the groups presented are Voices of Mobile and RamTonz, who have sung at the White House; the Chamber Singers who will perform in the spring at Carnegie Hall; and RamCorps who will tour Russia.

The Center for Performing Arts is under the direction of Roger Breland, a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and founder/director for 31 years of the internationally acclaimed contemporary Christian group Truth.

For more information about the ensembles or the Center for Performing Arts, call (251) 442-2420.