Arts & Culture
Music and theatre group celebrates holiday online
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Images of Christmases past are fresh in the minds of most adults, and a local youth arts group hopes to preserve some of the same lifetime memories for today’s kids.
Amidst a difficult year due to COVID-19, many have been greatly affected in multiple ways. For the Childlike Faith Academy of Music and Theatre (CFA), a lockdown which began in March meant not being able to meet in person for classes, and further regulations cancelled the annual musical production in June.
But with its sixth anniversary production, Secret Santa and the Surprising Gift Factory, the Richmond-based CFA hopes to share some good cheer.
While the short film will be performed remotely by children aged five to 17, it will be posted on YouTube in time for all to enjoy this Christmas.
This isn’t the first time CFA’s has had to adapt to the new normal, noted artistic director and principal Elizabeth Chau.
“CFA had thrown a short video contest for kids in the summer, encouraging them to creatively express their feelings during the lockdown,” she explained.
Having to forego the annual musical production not only meant students could not perform collectively, but also the academy was unable to fundraise for its annual operating costs. As a result, it is facing a deficit for 2020.
A registered charity, the academy does not charge the students a production fee. Therefore, it relies heavily on sponsorship, donations, and volunteers to make its annual musical production possible for the children, families, and the community. Visit childlikefaithacademy.com to learn more.