Santa Claus is coming to town in the first week of December, and heB次元官网网址檚 bringing a sleigh full of friends with him.

For its 30th annual Christmas show, the students from the PACE musical theatre group at the WestShore Learning Centre will be bringing the Grinch, Buddy the Elf, Frosty and the characters of DisneyB次元官网网址檚 Frozen to life on stage. And rumour has it theyB次元官网网址檝e managed to get the real Santa Claus to drop in as well.

More than 250 students from kindergarten to Grade 12 have been steadfastly rehearsing with professional choreographers and musical directors to deliver a seamless show of skits, classic carols and sing-a-longs, with youngest and oldest working side-by-side.

PACE, the B次元官网网址減rogram for academic and creative enrichment,B次元官网网址� is open to students throughout the West Shore and Victoria. It helps students develop on-stage skills such as singing, acting and dancing, and through those fosters self-confidence and self esteem.

The program has eschewed the traditional school play format in favour of shows that offer wider opportunities for the students.

B次元官网网址淩egular musical theatre shows have a male lead, a female lead, usually two supporting on either side, and then a chorus. It doesnB次元官网网址檛 offer a lot of opportunities for a lot of kids,B次元官网网址� says artistic director Sandy Webster-Worthy.

B次元官网网址淚 build the shows around the kids IB次元官网网址檝e got, around the talent, as opposed to making the kids fit the role. ItB次元官网网址檚 a lot harder to put together, but in the end it makes the kids shine.B次元官网网址�

Belmont students Elijah Driver and Emily Hanson, both 17, have been in the program since kindergarten, and both say theyB次元官网网址檝e benefited from the experience.

B次元官网网址淚 can get up in front of people now and speak,B次元官网网址� says Driver.

Hanson has had similar experience. B次元官网网址淎nd you get to meet friends you might not have met otherwise,B次元官网网址� she adds.

The wide range of ages in the theatre group offers a unique environment as well, adds Webster-Worthy. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 purposely family-grouped so that the younger kids have the opportunity to watch and learn from the older kids.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 remember being in kindergarten, and I remember each of the Grade 12B次元官网网址檚 faces, and I look at the kindergarteners now and think it could be my face that they remember,B次元官网网址� says Driver.

Shows run from Dec. 3 to 5 at 7 p.m., and Dec. 6 at 2 and 6 p.m. at 1026 Goldstream Ave. Tickets are available at WestShore Learning Centre, 814 Goldstream Ave. For more information, call the Centre at 250-391-9002.

acowan@goldstreamgazette.com