Students at DVSS will be hosting the first ever totally-student run production to cap off the semester later this week when they put on their Christmas Variety Show, featuring mash-ups and reinterpretations of a number of holiday classics.

This Thursday and Friday audiences at the Kaleidoscope Theatre will expect to see several musical performances of classic Christmas songs and scenes and snippets from holiday movies such as Elf, Charlie Brown, Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Co-director Brandon Holden says the production, with cast members from junior to senior high, will delight audiences with their unique adaptions.

“We were originally wanting to do a single idea, but thought it would be a lot more fun and interesting if we had a celebration of these huge classic holiday movies that already mean so much to everybody,” Holden said. “It’s fun for the audience to see our own interpretation of these movies. We’ve put our own little touches here and there.”

“It’s all these characters that we’ve grown up with on stage being interpreted and given characteristics that were not as exaggerated in the movie, but that we’ve pushed to the forefront to make more interesting and fresh. We definitely wanted to keep the vibe of the shows, but nothing seems like its ‘copy and pasted.”

The production is independent of the school curriculum but is being run in conjunction with the school’s drama department and will provide students with volunteer hours. Tickets will be a monetary donation at the door which will be donated to the Salvation Army for their Christmas drive. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. on both December 20 and December 21 at the Kaleidoscope Theatre, attached to DVSS.

“It’s a fun way to give back to the community,” Holden said.

While Christmas is just two weeks away, the Salvation Army is busy hoping to fill the community’s need to bring Christmas to the in need.

Once again the demand for hampers is up. In fact, over the last five years, demand has gone up 45 per cent. This means they are hoping for a strong push leading up to Christmas.

  Captain Ben Lippers says last year they filled 157 hampers, and there were 168 children who were served last Christmas. Already the demand has surpassed last year’s total and as of Monday, The Salvation Army was still taking appointments.

“People are feeling the pinch so we have to meet the need,” said Captain Lippers.

Drumheller residents have shown their generosity with a stellar result for the annual Red Bag Food Drive. Many tags have also been taken and fulfilled from the Tree Of Hope at Westergard  Ford. The Salvation Army has since had to add more tags to the tree in hopes of filling the hampers with toys for those in need. The deadline is December 12.

  The Kettle Drive is also coming along. As of Monday, December 10 they have collected $ 11,647.35.

“We are a little behind in the kettles,” said Lippers.

The kettles will be at area grocery store leading up to Christmas.

“We are looking for a strong push to finish,” he said.

One thing he says is heartening is the generosity of the community.

“This community is very generous, we know that. We are just a little behind, give us a  push, get us ahead. We can’t say thank you enough, even the Red Food Bag Drive was remarkable to see. That just shows the community spirit that is behind us,” he said.