1996 Austin Christmas Pageant on K-EYE Opener News

The Friday, Dec. 6, 1996, early-morning newscast on KEYE-TV (the Austin, Texas, CBS affiliate) offered a sneak preview of Great Hills Baptist Church's fourth annual Austin Christmas Pageant. Around 500 people - including 300+ singers - were involved in the production of "A December's Eve," which combined a contemporary story with traditional biblical pageantry. And 10,000 to 14,000 people were expected to attend during the five-show run.

Clip 1: Reporter Rosenda Rios (who can't sing, or isn't trying) talks with music director John Sorrell, also one of the pageant's writers, and the young adult ensemble performs "Swingin' Around the Christmas Tree."

Clip 2: In-studio anchor Will Thomas throws it over to Rios, who teases the next clip. From there, we go to Dan Robertson's weather report and Captain Mike's traffic report.

Clip 3: Rios talks with Sorrell again, and we get a glimpse of the show's living-room set as well as ice (actually, Teflon) skater Jamie Stevens. The pageant#39;s trio performs the 4Him song "Best Gift of All."

Clip 4: Rios interviews production director Colin Lambert, and the young adult ensemble sings "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree."

(Editor's note: This was the last installment of my Advent Calendar last year, and I'm considering the fact that I could find the original description something of a Christmas miracle.)

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