On December 12th, 2025, the Department of Performing Arts kicked off its annual Winter Show. This event featured performances from the Dance Department, the Drama Department, the Ukiah High Jazz Band, and the Choir. It highlighted the hard work, dedication, creativity, and unique talents of each department, contributing to a truly magical performance.
The anticipation was building as UHS’s Advanced Drama group gears up to present their much-awaited performance in this year’s Winter Show. Under the direction of Chris Douthit, the Drama Department promised a show filled with laughter and joy. “We’re going to bring some silly comedic energy,” Douthit shared, highlighting the vibrant atmosphere that the audience gained.
This year, the Advanced Drama class showcased three original short scenes, cleverly intertwined with performances from the Choir, Jazz Band, and Dance teams, creating a merry blend of entertainment.
One of the standout scenes, titled “Rude Rude Reindeer,” hilariously twists the classic Christmas story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The play brings to light the jealousy of Rudolph’s peers, who treat him poorly despite his special status. Oblivious to their antics, Rudolph remains cheerful until Santa arrives, leaving audiences in stitches as the other reindeer scamper away.
In another scene set against the backdrop of the North Pole, Santa finds himself contemplating retirement. Two elves conduct interviews to find Santa’s replacement, leading to humorous misunderstandings. One bewildered candidate, seemingly unaware of how he got there, becomes the unwitting subject of misunderstanding when one of the interviewers mistakenly believes he is deaf and begins shouting. The hilarity escalates as the candidate faces off against Santa in a spirited showdown on Mario Kart.
The final scene takes an unexpected turn to celebrate Hanukkah, featuring a cast of candles portrayed as military recruits preparing to be on the Menorah. Their strict Drill Sergeant, Shamash, faces considerable challenges as he attempts to mould the recruits, who struggle to meet expectations. However, one standout, Candle 10, played by Sophomore Theo Ramey, excels with perfect push-ups and catches Shamash’s eye, earning the role of leader for the rest of the recruits.
The three engaging and vibrant scenes filled the auditorium with laughter and the warmth of holiday cheer, creating a delightful atmosphere for all Wildcats. With clever storytelling and spirited performances, the Advanced Drama group’s showcase is sure to be a highlight of the season.
Rachel Porter, the director of the Dance Department, spoke with UHS News about this year’s performances. All three levels of Dance will showcase their own routines. Unlike last year’s overarching Grinch storyline, Porter mentioned that this year’s theme would feature some surprises that the Wildcats enjoyed, and she certainly delivered!
She added, “It is a little bit more random; it is a lot more energetic and upbeat.” When asked what the audience can expect from the Dance performances, Porter concluded, “Overall, joy and excitement.”
The Dance Department presented several short performances, each choreographed by the performers themselves. As Porter noted, the performances didn’t follow a specific storyline, but they were fun nonetheless. There were two performances in particular that the audience loved, judging by the enthusiastic cheers.
One featured inflatable Christmas trees engaged in a dance-off. Another audience favourite was a performance set to the song “Make It Jingle,” which included dancers from both Dance II and III. Most of them wore matching pink pyjama pants, with one standout dancer dressed as Santa Claus, played by Marc Lopez, a senior here at Ukiah High.
Santa’s dance moves, in particular, seemed to delight the audience. The Dance Department concluded with all the dancers making one final appearance together before exiting the stage to a roaring applause.
The UHS Choir introduced two groups in this year’s performance. The first group sang “Crowded Table,” while the second group performed “Jack Frost.” The performance concluded with the entire choir coming together to present a special version of “Jingle Bells,” titled “One Horse Open Sleigh (In a Jingly Minor Way).” The choir delivered a spectacular show with their compelling and complementary songs that blended beautifully, leaving the audience in awe.
Audrey McCombs, UHS Band Director, points out that the Jazz Band stands out compared to other departments, stating, “We’re the only instrumental musicians, so we’re representing the instrumental music department.” As in previous years, the Jazz Band delivered live music that included several student solos. In anticipation of the show, McCombs expressed, “We’re hoping that Jazz provides an upbeat, positive vibe.”
The Ukiah High School Jazz Band opened its set with the holiday classic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” providing a calm and warm introduction as the trumpet section began the tune. This song brought some holiday spirit while showcasing the full sound of the Jazz Band, featuring both a trumpet solo and a tenor saxophone solo.
The second song of their set, “Buckjump,” offered a stark contrast with its much faster tempo and funk feel. Originally composed by Trombone Shorty, a musician from New Orleans, the energy of the song was established by the opening notes of the electric guitar, soon joined by the trombone section. During the solo section, students performed improvised solos on trombone, trumpet, and tenor saxophone. As promised, the Jazz Band’s set—especially the latter half—delivered plenty of upbeat energy.
The Ukiah High Performing Arts Department has impressed audiences with the remarkable talent and passion of its performers. The dedicated Wildcats joined forces to create a successful and unforgettable showcase, displaying their commitment to delivering an engaging performance. This event not only highlighted the immense talents within the performing arts department but also fostered a sense of community and celebration, making it a memorable kickoff to the holiday season.
Savannah Kram
Savannah Kram is a junior at Ukiah High School and in her second year of Journalism. She is involved in the Drama department, in her third year. She is a pretty involved student, now taking on Speech and Debate this school year. She joined the journalism class for new experiences, to write about local and current events, and to bring awareness to subjects that have yet to be shown under the spotlight. She was born in Ukiah, California raised in a different state, being back here made her more inspired to become more involved within the Ukiah community. She is ecstatic to continue her journey at Ukiah High News this school year and hopefully continue in journalism in the future.
