‘Christmas 1933' at the Columns Museum

Milford - On Dec. 17, the Columns Museum will host two performances of a dramatic reading titled “Christmas 1933.” The reading is based on a short story titled, “That Terrible Night Santa Got Lost in the Woods”, written by Larry King, and adapted by Jeffrey David Stocker. The general public is invited to attend the performances which will be held at 3 and 7 p.m. Tickets are available for $15 by calling the Columns at 570-296-8126, or at the door the day of, if space is still available. The story is set during Christmas as a middle aged man and his aged parents reflect back on the terrible Christmas Eve in 1933 when a father got lost in a blizzard with toys bought on credit so a five-year-old boy would find the magic of the season under his Christmas tree. The holiday excitement is set against the troubling realities of the Depression in a story that stresses the hardy values of a rural family. The reading will be performed by the American Readers Theatre, a group based in New York and founded by Mr. Stocker and Associates. Other local performances by the group include “Dracula,” which performed at Grey Towers a few weeks ago to a sold-out crowd. Readings are the oldest form of entertainment. The roots of this art lie deep in the history of civilization, dating back to an era when reading aloud great stories, poems and plays were people’s only form of entertainment. Over the past few years, research on the effects of reading aloud not only to children, but also to adults, has shown the importance of this vital art form ... literacy. For more information go to www.pikehistory.org or call 570-296-8126.