Combat Center Holiday Show lights up at Sunset Cinema

Photo By Lance Cpl. Dave Flores | Creating Arts Company’s cast performs “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” during the Combat Center Holiday Show at Sunset Cinema aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Nov. 3, 2016. (Official Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dave Flores/Released)  

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, UNITED STATES

12.03.2016

Story by Lance Cpl. Dave Flores 

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center

For more than 19,000 service members and their family members who live and work aboard the Combat Center, time spent with loved ones can often be scarce. The holiday season provides an opportunity for those who live aboard the installation to unite with friends and family and partake in the seasonal cheer. Marine Corps Community Services helped make time spent together worthwhile with the annual Combat Center Holiday Show at Sunset Cinema, Dec. 3, 2016.
The Combat Center Holiday Show provided live entertainment, a vehicle give away and a meet and greet with Santa Claus.
“We like to host events like this because it shows our support for active duty service members and their families,” said Stephanie Andrews, social media manager, MCCS. “Marines and sailors have a lot to take care of with their jobs and families but this allows us to help them enjoy a stress free event.”
The event commenced with the Twentynine Palms High School Select Choir singing seasonal holiday songs.
Following the choir, MCCS concluded the yearlong Motor Mania Giveaway. The contestants who won the monthly Facebook competition came on stage, and participated in a game that had them blindly choose between candy or a set of car keys. The winner of the contest was Maj. Jesse Rubio, instructor, Marine Corps Logistics and Operations Group.
Creating Arts Company, an educational performing and visual arts company, performed “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and throughout the performance, actors moved through the aisles to interact with the crowd through song and dance of their rendition of the play. At the conclusion of the play, families were able to meet with the cast and crew during a meet and greet.
“This is the fourth holiday show we’ve been able to put on for service members and their families, so it’s definitely exciting,” said Shannon Sukovaty, CEO/artistic director, CAC. “We love doing these shows because it lets us show our respect and give back to the people who serve our nation, even if it is through something as simple as a play.”
After the performance, Santa Claus came to visit with the children and families had the opportunity to take a free photo with Santa as well as receive a small gift and holiday book of their choosing.

• Date Taken: 12.03.2016
• Date Posted: 12.08.2016 12:42
• Story ID: 216852
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, US