Two members of the Winged Ox Players community theater group performing.

The Winged Ox Players, made up of the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church ministry will be putting on a comedic winter performance this weekend.

The show titled Looking at Christmas will be put on for three days, allowing community members to come together to show support for a local community theater group.

The Winged Ox group initially began about 15 years ago, through numerous church members that were incredibly passionate and connected to theater, according to the Rev. Luke Fodor. Fodor stated that the group has frequently done plays with an increased social aspect, meaning that there is some sort of commentary on a particular community or societal issue. Some of the plays, while not often, have been originals to the group. An example Fodor gave of this was the group’s 2018 performance titled Least Resistance. This play pertained to the opioid epidemic, which was having negative effects within this community at the time, according to Fodor. Fodor stated that the play was made in coordination with the Mental Health Association. This allowed the play to present real aspects, and stories, of recovery. Funds that were raised by this play were donated to the MHA to help further the local fight against opioids, said Fodor. The Christian was another original play that the group has performed, according to Fodor. This show pertained to people’s ideologies and ideas developing in a way that may not align with that of their congregations. Afterward, the congregation held a discussion of the topics.

Other productions that Fodor mention include To Kill a Mockingbird, which largely encouraged compassion and placing oneself into someone else’s shoes. Additionally, the group’s first performance in 2017 was a presentation of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Fodor also made note of the 2024 performance that was put on. While not a full-cast production, the show still stuck to the themes of discussing social happenings, said Fodor. The play was a one-woman show performed by Curate for Children, Youth and Families Jessica Frederick. The show was titled My Name is Rachel Corrie, and was largely centered around life’s difficulties in the Holy Land, said Fodor. Specifically, this play discusses a 23 year old activist that was killed by an Israeli soldier, and draws similarities to the violence that many Palestinian people have faced in recent years.

Fodor did mention that the group is not funded by the church, instead likely relying on generous donations or self-funding. As a result, this Christmas play will not only give people a funny Christmas performance to watch, but will also support future productions such as the one that the group has planned for this upcoming Spring. This year’s play will follow a writer and actress who meet while casually viewing some holiday window displays. Before long though, the windows displays come to life and present a host of wacky and offbeat characters. Guests will see a flirtatious elf with wandering eyes for Mrs. Claus, Scrooge and Tiny Tim Bickering over being portrayed as zombies, a streetwise Little Match Girl with attitude, and a very jealous Joseph the Carpenter, along with various other quirky characters.

A wide range of people were required to ultimately bring such a performance together. Marge Fiore and Steven Cobb will be codirecting the performance in collaboration with stage manager Cathy Smith. Remaining cast members will include Alyssa Porter, Jon Thompson, Norma DeJoy, Heath Boundary, Earl Rothfus, Steven Cobb, Russell Lee, Karen Buck, Marion Beckerink, Matt Smith, Emmory Pickett, Danger, Matt Smith, Cáitlín O’Reilly, Momina Di Blasio, Arthur Dahlgren, Mckenzie Pickett, and Gale Svenson-Campbell.

Community members are welcomed, and encouraged, to come and enjoy the show. The performance will be put on Dec. 19 and Dec. 20, at 7 p.m., and Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. Performances will take place in the St. Luke’s Undercroft. For any additional information contact (716)-483-6405.