Final rehearsals are being held and sets put in place for Permian High School’s “Merry Christmas from Black Magic” show, set for 7 p.m. Friday at the Ector Theatre, 500 N. Texas Ave.
Ticket information is available at theector.com.
This will be Black Magic’s first Christmas show at the Ector. Black Magic is a pop vocal and instrumental ensemble.
Director of Choirs Laurie Wash said there are a total of 22 Black Magic vocalists and band members in the show; seven students working back stage; and 13 members of the PHS Marching Band joining in for one of the numbers.
The set is decorated with flocked evergreen trees and two actual sleighs.
The Ector Theatre staff and volunteers have played a big role in making things go.
“Our Black Magic parents are just amazing. They helped to bring everything in. They were the ones that helped bring all of these trees in on Saturday, and you can see our sleighs. Our sleighs are actually from the East Coast and they’re actually real snow sleighs, but they have been set with casters so that we can run them here in the building,” Wash said.
“Everybody’s working really, really hard, but in a joyous manner. It’s just been lots of fun to be working together with everyone,” Wash said.
She also expressed thanks to Associate Directors Stephanie Burton and Jeb Harris.
“Our head of audio is Gary Veith. He is amazing,” Wash said.
Asked what kind of music people can expect, Wash said, “Christmas — out your ears Christmas.”
“It is every different type of … music that you can imagine … Many different genres,” Wash said.
It is a way of kicking off the season and offering a beautiful gift to the community, she added.
They began working on the show in the fall.
Wash said she is absolutely looking forward to the show. When the students come in for rehearsals in the evening and see the sets, they begin to see the pieces of the show come together.
“Watching their excitement is lots of fun. More than that, seeing their growth; hearing their growth vocally and then watching them interact with one another; loving on each other; taking care of each other. That’s the best part,” Wash said.
She added that she wished to thank the United Family supermarket chain for their contribution to the program.
Eighteen-year-old senior Jaden Rankin has been in Black Magic since his sophomore year. He likes the idea of the show being at the Ector Theatre as it is normally held in churches.
He also said this will be one of the best Christmas shows ever.
“I think having a new director always changes the atmosphere in some way, but I think Ms. Wash has kind of revitalized the Christmas show and kind of given it more of a Christmas feel, rather than sort of a play. I think this is a a really loving environment that we’ve been in. I think this year’s Christmas show is probably going to be one of the best ones,” Rankin said.
He added that attending the Black Magic Christmas show has been a tradition in his family, even when he wasn’t in the group.
“… It’s a nice thing to look forward to when Christmas time comes around,” Rankin said.
