Gordon in the News: last updated 12/04/2012
For Immediate Release
December 3, 2012
CONTACT
Kristina Stevick
History Alive!
Gordon College Institute for Public History
508.423.4823
[email protected]
SALEM, MA—While it’s too early to predict a winter wonderland, Salem’s Old Town Hall will be “hot” on Saturday, December 15th. The 1816 building will host a holiday “jump” with dance instruction and music from the famed White Heat Swing Sextet band.
Sponsored by History Alive! of the Gordon College Institute for Public History, Jingle Bell Jump features The White Heat Swing Orchestra, a nationally acclaimed swing band. The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with swing dance instruction and The White Heat Swing Sextet performing from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Children may join in the dancing or participate in guided activities. The dance event is open to the public and all proceeds go to the continued restoration efforts of the Old Town Hall, under the stewardship of the Gordon College Institute for Public History. Tickets may be purchased individually ($16) or as a discounted family pack ($38) from Brown Paper Tickets at http://jinglebelljump.bpt.me.
The White Heat Swing Sextet has performed at The Roxy, a Boston night club, for several years, and was the first swing big band to receive Boston Magazine’s “Best Dance Band” award. It has backed up Tony Bennett, Cab Calloway and Norah Jones, recorded for Warner Brothers and Walt Disney and was profiled on CBS News Tonight.
“We were inspired to imagine what Salem might have been like when the city was a hub of Christmas shopping, before the malls on Route 128 entered the picture,” said Kristina Wacome Stevick, artistic director of History Alive! “Through music, dance, costume, and attention to period detail, our goal for Jingle Bell Jump is an unforgettable evening in which guests feel truly transported to that post-World War II world.”
To help create this illusion, retro dress is particularly encouraged and will be rewarded with door prizes. Mid-century party fare includes regional treats such as punch made with Puleo’s Ice cream, Vincent’s Potato Chips and Jell-O salads made with Marshmallow Fluff. More nutritious fare will also be available and included in the ticket price. A limited number of tickets may be available at the door or can be purchased individually ($16), a discounted family pack ($38) at http://jinglebelljump.bpt.me.
History Alive! of the Gordon College Institute for Public History produces original theatre based on true stories from New England’s past. We choose audience interactive formats so that each show is fresh, playful and surprising. The company functions as a training program for actors entering theatre as professionals and seeks to invigorate the local economy by designing activities which connect the community and its visitors to a distinct, local history.
