Forum heads to Motown, and art museum, for first holiday ‘Words & Music’

During its transition to a new space, Forum Theatre is taking advantage of its temporary home for the first holiday edition of its Words & Music concerts.

“Holiday in Hitsville, USA” will have four performances next weekend at Wichita Art Museum’s Great Hall.

“It’s just so lovely, it’s beautiful,” Forum artistic director Kathryn Page-Hauptman said. “I’m glad we collaborated with them to do this.”

She compares the wall-to-wall windowed background to the Lincoln Center’s concert space.

“It’s the mini version of that,” Page-Hauptman said. “We use the glass as a background. The stars are twinkling, the trees are twinkling, lights are on and it’s really lovely. A different environment.”

“Holiday in Hitsville USA” will be featuring mostly Christmas music from Detroit, but not just Motown, she said.

“We’re really focusing on the Detroit performers, that specific sound,” she said. “There’s so many songs, it’s hard to decide which ones to keep and which ones to leave for another time.”

It’s not all Christmas music, Page-Hauptman said, but other songs with themes of peace, hope and understanding. There may also be poetry featured in the performance, she added.

Performers for the concert are Alexandra Adkins, Forum music director Anjelica McRae Breathett, Josh Kelley, Alexander Ogburn and Delaney Williams.

The Words & Music concert, a staple of the Forum season, was originally two shows in a weekend, adding a Sunday night performance after sellout shows. For the “Holiday in Hitsville,” a new Friday night show is on the schedule.

The city has approved the plans and permits for Forum Theatre’s new home at 141 S. Ellis Ave., in the Hyde neighborhood, Hauptman-Page said.

The former printing pressroom will be converted into a 190-seat theater, with the lobby able to seat 175 at tables, and be available for rent, she said.

“It’s going to be a lovely space,” she said.

Plans are on track for the theater to open in March for the first of its mainstage shows in the space, she said.

“We’re more than ready to start,” Page-Hauptman added.

‘HOLIDAY IN HITSVILLE USA’ BY FORUM THEATRE

When: 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 12-13; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14

Where: Wichita Art Museum,

Tickets: $31-$34, from forumtheatre.org or 316-618-0444