OCP offers Cookies and Carols

Orange County isn't really known for traditional caroling, but Orange Community Players, Inc. is striving to bring it back to spread holiday cheer and raise a few funds at the same time. They are offering "Cookies and Carols" Dec. 20-21 between the hours of 5-8 p.m. This is a "pay what you can" event.

New board member Crystal Kelley came up with the idea last week when she, Ashley Guillory and Mic Coats attended the board meeting seeking to fill some vacant seats on the OCP board.

Members were kicking around the idea of doing a Christmas concert, but knew it was a little late in the season to organize it.

Kelley has had a singing telegram business with Guillory for several years, so the idea of Cookies and Carols was just a variation of that.

"They contract us to sing at their business or home, or for someone they love," said Kelley, "to spread a little Christmas cheer."

OCP members will be joined by students from Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School.

Kelley is the president of the newly created thespian booster club for the Bear Stage Players. She contacted Ms. Teague, LC-M's choir teacher and Ms. Creech, the theater teacher, to obtain the students.

"Kids alone make it super fun," said Kelley.

All the carolers will be dressed in ugly Christmas sweaters. Kelley said it adds a silly, fun element and it is the easiest way to get them coordinated on short notice. They will offer Christmas classics such as "Silent Night," "Jingle Bells" and "12 Days of Christmas."

Singers will carol at your place of business, home, or wherever in Orange County you send them, for a donation of as little as $5 or more. You must reserve a spot by either filling out the google form at http://www.bit.ly/ocpcarols or call Coats at 979-450-3254. You can pay with cash, or by cash app.

"We're really excited to rep OCP and show them what OCP does," said Coats. "We're really excited to be on the board and bring OCP back to the community."

Coats said she moved to the Orange community in 2020, so OCP has been in its rebuilding phase the entire time she's lived here. The theater was shut down by flooding in their previous location on Division Avenue in 2017 by T.S. Harvey. OCP has almost finished the phase one remodel of the old Brown Twin Cinema to get back up and running. They are expecting to have a Grand Opening event in January.

The new counter for the concession stand has been paid for with a generous donation from Dr. Nina Leifeste, a long-time supporter of the theater. It will be installed soon. The painting of the handicapped space should be completed by Dec. 27. The only thing that still needs funding to get the theater open are the handrails for the exterior steps. Rico Vasquez says the estimate for the handrails is around $2,000.

Kelley said local theater students were painting in the building on Monday.

Coats is excited the remodel is almost complete.

"It's going to be so much fun!"

Both she and Kelley are hoping to be part of reviving the junior board of the theater.

Kelley said, "Cookies and Carols is not only a way to spread Christmas cheer, but it will spread the word that we're back and we are ready to come back full force."

Funds received from "Cookies and Carols" will go towards operating expenses and anything left over will go towards the cost of the handrails. Maybe Santa can put them on his list.

Reserve your caroling spot today to have them visit you at your home or place of business. Locations are limited to Orange County only.