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The more the merrier for 'Miracle'
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
Todd Hancock and Maureen Collins of Easy Street Productions have been staging their annual holiday spectacular, “Miracle on Easy Street,” for more than a quarter of a century.
It keeps getting bigger, but its essence remains unchanged.
“It’s a family tradition for a lot of folks,” said Hancock. “When I take reservations, I hear comments like: ‘It wouldn’t be Christmas if we didn’t see it’ or ‘I brought my kids to see it when they were little, and now my kids are bringing their kids.’”
The show is a choreographed revue of festive music that features a full band and up to 100 performers on stage at each show. It returns for the 26th year this weekend for four shows at Powers Auditorium.
Easy Street created the show in 1989, when it was at the old Uptown Theater. “Miracle” was a hit from the start, packing the theater for show after show.
As always, Hancock and Collins will host “Miracle” with a dependable cast. Returning are Easy Street alumni and singing siblings Eric McClellan, Janeen Williams and James McClellan, along with featured cast members Colleen Chance, Candace Campana, Natalie Sprouse and Cortney MacKay, who starred in Easy Street’s production of “Annie” two years ago.
McKay will sing “Let It Go” from “Frozen,” the blockbuster Disney animated movie. “I know every kid is going to be singing along when she sings ‘Let It Go,’” said Hancock.
Musical director Jeff Sanders also will return with the Easy Street Little Big Band. Dancers from studios across the Valley will perform routines in tap, jazz and hip-hop style by choreographer Megan Cleland.
In all, this year’s spectacular will make use of more than 150 singers, dancers and Little Rascals, the youth group of Easy Street.
In fact, there are so many Little Rascals this year that Easy Street had to double-cast them to get them all on stage.
“There are close to 100 Little Rascals this year because the workshops are so popular,” said Hancock. “They each get to be in three performances [splitting the four public and two school shows]. There are also two groups of 4- and 5-year-olds, which we call the Rascals in Waiting, in the show this year. We also have the Easy Street Dancers, who range in age from 7 to 20. That’s 50 to 60 dancers on top of all the Little Rascals. There are more than 150 people total involved, including singers and musicians, and 80 to 100 on stage any given night.”
Hancock had high praise for Cleland, who has been rehearsing the dancers since October.
“The show is one dance number after another,” he said. “Megan lives in Nashville, but she stepped into the role and commutes in for it. It’s her fourth year, and she is fantastic.”
Every year, Easy Street swaps in new segments, but the anchor numbers — including the Toy Soldiers and Elvis Claus — remain constant.
“We add three to five numbers each year,” said Hancock. “We juggle around the favorites and add new ones.”