EVENTS CHRISTMAS Nativity Play Mary Rogers Letter to Ruby Yocum

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 16: EVENTS
Christmas
Nativity Play
Mary Rogers
Letter to Ruby Yocum, c. 1953

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Nativity Play in the Pine Mountain Settlement School Chapel with cast. Prophets not shown. c. 1950s. Joe Bramlett Album, [bram_(41).jpg]


TAGS: Nativity Play, Mary Rogers Correspondence, Ruby Yocum Thatcher, student actors, cast members, Christmas celebration,


NATIVITY PLAY Mary Rogers Letter to Ruby Yocum
December 12, [1953 ?]


Mary Rogers’ letter to Ruby Yocum (Thatcher), dated December 12, describes in detail the preparation of the annual Nativity Play and the many delights and challenges that Mary Rogers faced as she prepared the cast for the play. The cast was composed of local children and, typical of the age, many of them needed some “nudging” to cooperate.

This letter was among items sent to Pine Mountain by the family of Ruby Yocum Thatcher in 2011.


TRANSCRIPTION: NATIVITY PLAY Mary Rogers’ Letter to Ruby Yocum

Dec. 12th [1953 ?]

Dear Ruby,

I wish you were going to be here tomorrow. Many of the same kids as last year are in the play. I started out with others but Billy MacQueen thought he could “sass” me all the time and kept the others giggling, so Wilma Boggs and he went out and my trusted Sonny [Begley] came in, and Tom Ely again! Now Sonny was sick for the dress rehearsal and I don’t know if he will be well tomorrow, and rather than re-instate Billy (who rather wanted to now!) I’m having Kit to come down from the prophet’s stand, shed his head-cloth behind the trees and emerge as a shepherd. I do hope Sonny will be well enough. I’ve still got my fingers crossed about Tommy Scearse as a King, but so far his desire to shine (which he does, he looks gorgeous) has out-weighed his desire to play the fool. He came in with many reservations on my part. Jack [Cornett] makes one of the best prophets we’ve had. George Washington C. [Couch] is Simeon so we have to use short candles! Stephen [Steven] Hayes is Shepherd lad, Sue Day singing sweetly gently & in tune is Mary! She sings unaccompanied.

Other members of the cast: 1st Shep., Sylvan [?] (very hard work to get him loud and clear, and I’ve failed somewhat on getting him expressive, Bargella [?] 4th Shep., Coburn [?] 3rd, Ronnie Hughes, Joseph, Bonnie Creech, 2nd Shepherd’s wife, Dennis Baker, Blind Boy, Don Browning and Virgil [?], Kings. O, I do pray it goes well. I’m absolutely dithering.

Come and see us Ruby. There is so much to talk about and I’m such a poor hand at sitting down to letter writing. It was good to have Mary Taylor and her mother over here the other day.

This brings much love and every good wish from us all.

Mary


See Also:
MARY ROGERS Staff Biography
RUBY YOCUM THATCHER Staff Biography

EVENTS CHRISTMAS Nativity Play Script I
EVENTS CHRISTMAS Nativity Play Script II
EVENTS CHRISTMAS Nativity Play Casts Through the Years