Memphis Makes Me... Embrace the Past, Present, and Future

This time of year is all about traditions. In fact, from the moment the last Thanksgiving plate is washed and dried, our family begins the annual rituals. But we’ve all known for months that the Christmas season of 2020 would look a bit different. Even with the limitations of a Covid Christmas, Memphis has unique ways to celebrate. In fact, one of the beauties of this challenging year has been watching the ingenuity and creativity of Memphians rise to the occasion. 

An Old Tradition Threatened

The Arts community has suffered this year along with everyone else. What most of us consider pure entertainment is the bread and butter of thousands of people all over our community; an evening of theatre or ballet or symphony is truly art and livelihood wrapped up in one. With locked up facilities and darkened stages, many of our local theatres, dance troupes, and galleries have been inventing new ways to engage with the community and keep the inspiration alive and thriving during a global pandemic.

Theatre Memphis celebrates its 100th year of productions during the ‘20-’21 season. As one of the oldest community theatres in the nation, the Ghosts of the Christmas Past, Present, and Future have long haunted their legendary stage. In fact, Theatre Memphis has been staging ‘A Christmas Carol’ for 43 straight seasons. Families make it a tradition to see the classic evening production while day time performances have introduced hundreds of thousands of school children to the magic of live theatre. And this year was supposed to be extra special...the theatre began a massive renovation in early 2020 with the hopes of introducing their new state-of-the-art facility to the public this Fall. Because of Covid, the opening didn’t happen and the plays were delayed. 

A Pandemic Doesn’t Cancel Christmas

Instead of sitting this year out, the staff at Theatre Memphis dreamt up a plan that would reach into the past, embrace the present, and look forward to the future in the most Dickensian of ways. Gathering film footage from historical productions of the play and blending them into recently recorded scenes, they have produced a digital version of the favorite Christmas tale. And they’re inviting limited audiences to either view the play in their gorgeously updated building or purchase and watch in the comfort of their own homes. The community is gifted with a Memphis tradition and the opportunity to support one of our most cherished establishments. 

If you love what Theatre Memphis is doing, there’s another way to give the gift of the (literal) stage this Christmas. Their staff turned the scenic shop into a jewelry studio this summer, taking bits of the old stage that was taken out during renovation and crafting them into beautiful pieces of jewelry. Earrings, necklaces, and even coasters fashioned out of the stage are Available For Purchase so you can own a little bit of Memphis arts history yourself.

Instead of letting 2020 turn us into Scrooges this Christmas season, we’ll all be finding new ways to be merry in Memphis. Let’s hold the old traditions close so we support the new things to come.