RUMFORD — The Rumford Association for the Advancement of the Performing Arts’ Christmas show is coming to town on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3-4.

The performance will continue “A Musical Christmas Card” theme begun in 1976, and will be presented in four acts with scenes including an outdoor Dickens-era street, Santa’s Toyland, an informal Christmas house party and a nativity. Chorus members will change costumes for each scene.

Much of the music performed by the 37-member chorus will be familiar: “O Holy Night,” “Toyland,” “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “The Winter Song,” “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “We Three Kings” and “Christmas In A Small Town.”

A dance troupe made up of Doreen Jones, Christine Murphy, Connie Porter and Mary Theriault will present a Rockettes-style tap dance to “The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” and a ballet to “Carol of the Bells.” Both dances have been choreographed by Connie Porter.

Several soloists will perform: Shirli Allen-Heald, Missie Aylward, Wayne Landry, Elaine Michaud, Jim Robertson and Connie Venskus.

The chorus will be under the direction of Judith Kuhn with piano accompaniment by Gail Dorr. Mary Pulsifer will provide flute accompaniment for “Advent Promise.” Narrating will be Nancy Demings. Entr’actes will include an audience singalong and a children’s story read by Gail Parent, plus a visit from Santa Claus.

Landry is overseeing set design; Venskus is supervising the costuming.

Performances will be at 7 p.m. on Dec. 3 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 4 in the Muskie Auditorium of Mountain Valley High School. General admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12. Tickets may be purchased at Bartash, Port to Port and Hannaford in Rumford; Larsens Electric in Mexico; and Log Cabin Craftworks in Dixfield. Tickets also available at the door and from chorus members. For more information, call Anita Murphy, president of RAAPA, at 369-0205.

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