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A Yosemite Holiday Tradition A Yosemite Holiday Tradition
(32 minutes later)
Good morning.Good morning.
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Alex Collado, dressed in chef’s whites and a toque, ran down the aisle of the grand dining room at the Ahwahnee, a storied luxury hotel in Yosemite National Park.Alex Collado, dressed in chef’s whites and a toque, ran down the aisle of the grand dining room at the Ahwahnee, a storied luxury hotel in Yosemite National Park.
“Alex,” called out Sarah Coykendall, the producing stage director of the Bracebridge Dinner. “Keep that whisk above your head.”“Alex,” called out Sarah Coykendall, the producing stage director of the Bracebridge Dinner. “Keep that whisk above your head.”
And, indeed, there was Mr. Collado, a 27-year-old performer wielding a lacrosse stick-sized cooking instrument.And, indeed, there was Mr. Collado, a 27-year-old performer wielding a lacrosse stick-sized cooking instrument.
“Servers, begin lighting your candles, please!” someone else said.“Servers, begin lighting your candles, please!” someone else said.
On a floor above, performers put on jewel-encrusted dresses with richly colored puffy sleeves and square necklines. An enormous peacock tail was fanned out on a side table. Some checked their makeup.On a floor above, performers put on jewel-encrusted dresses with richly colored puffy sleeves and square necklines. An enormous peacock tail was fanned out on a side table. Some checked their makeup.
And Andrea Fulton, a 74-year-old with regal posture, presided over it all — just as she has done for the last four decades.And Andrea Fulton, a 74-year-old with regal posture, presided over it all — just as she has done for the last four decades.
Ms. Fulton had told me earlier by phone that as a 5-year-old girl, she made her debut performing in the Bracebridge Dinner, an annual holiday spectacle that was long directed by the photographer Ansel Adams, who hoped the banquet would draw wintertime visitors to the park he loved.Ms. Fulton had told me earlier by phone that as a 5-year-old girl, she made her debut performing in the Bracebridge Dinner, an annual holiday spectacle that was long directed by the photographer Ansel Adams, who hoped the banquet would draw wintertime visitors to the park he loved.
In 1979, Ms. Fulton took over the show, a series of songs and sketches loosely based on an obscure Washington Irving work called “The Keeping of Christmas at Bracebridge Hall,” performed during a seven-course meal. (Think plum pudding and baron of beef.)In 1979, Ms. Fulton took over the show, a series of songs and sketches loosely based on an obscure Washington Irving work called “The Keeping of Christmas at Bracebridge Hall,” performed during a seven-course meal. (Think plum pudding and baron of beef.)
Over the years, Ms. Fulton revamped the show, adding more to what had previously been a largely improvised script. She also added roles for women — in the chorus and as stars.Over the years, Ms. Fulton revamped the show, adding more to what had previously been a largely improvised script. She also added roles for women — in the chorus and as stars.
“While it was beautiful, it was a very static pageant,” she said. “There is so much energy in the theater these days, and the audience wants to laugh.”“While it was beautiful, it was a very static pageant,” she said. “There is so much energy in the theater these days, and the audience wants to laugh.”
Still, I didn’t quite know what to expect when I showed up for the dinner earlier this month.Still, I didn’t quite know what to expect when I showed up for the dinner earlier this month.
As it turned out, what lay ahead was a four-hour Yuletide marathon for about 300 guests, dressed in tuxedos and ball gowns, but not, it should be noted, in costume. (It makes it difficult to distinguish audience members from staff.)As it turned out, what lay ahead was a four-hour Yuletide marathon for about 300 guests, dressed in tuxedos and ball gowns, but not, it should be noted, in costume. (It makes it difficult to distinguish audience members from staff.)
While Sydney Schwindt, a classically trained fight choreographer, brought kinetic energy to her scenes as the production’s first woman jester, and two women’s version of “O, Holy Night” moved at least one man I saw to tears, Ms. Fulton was the steady star.While Sydney Schwindt, a classically trained fight choreographer, brought kinetic energy to her scenes as the production’s first woman jester, and two women’s version of “O, Holy Night” moved at least one man I saw to tears, Ms. Fulton was the steady star.
She didn’t blink when, during a bit requiring an audience member’s participation, the man’s friends broke the rule forbidding phone photography. She was charismatic when she visited tables to greet guests.She didn’t blink when, during a bit requiring an audience member’s participation, the man’s friends broke the rule forbidding phone photography. She was charismatic when she visited tables to greet guests.
Ms. Coykendall recalled starting out at the show and being one of its youngest cast members.Ms. Coykendall recalled starting out at the show and being one of its youngest cast members.
Now, she said, there’s a mix of performers who have been trekking to Yosemite every winter for decades and ones who are just beginning their careers in the Bay Area’s theater community, or as actors in Los Angeles.Now, she said, there’s a mix of performers who have been trekking to Yosemite every winter for decades and ones who are just beginning their careers in the Bay Area’s theater community, or as actors in Los Angeles.
And in a state where it’s increasingly difficult to make a living as a performing artist, the Bracebridge Dinner is a unique gig.And in a state where it’s increasingly difficult to make a living as a performing artist, the Bracebridge Dinner is a unique gig.
Mr. Collado, for instance, told me he grew up in Arlington, Tex., the large suburb wedged between Dallas and Fort Worth.Mr. Collado, for instance, told me he grew up in Arlington, Tex., the large suburb wedged between Dallas and Fort Worth.
He moved to L.A. while he was working in finance before he decided that he wanted to pursue a singing career full time. Mr. Collado said a friend encouraged him to audition for Bracebridge. It was his first professional gig.He moved to L.A. while he was working in finance before he decided that he wanted to pursue a singing career full time. Mr. Collado said a friend encouraged him to audition for Bracebridge. It was his first professional gig.
“You get to sing and get paid to come to Yosemite,” he said. “I’m all in.”“You get to sing and get paid to come to Yosemite,” he said. “I’m all in.”
Whitney Steele, an understudy who was playing the lady of Bracebridge Hall, said she performs as a member of the San Francisco Opera’s chorus. Her schedule doesn’t often take her to national parks.Whitney Steele, an understudy who was playing the lady of Bracebridge Hall, said she performs as a member of the San Francisco Opera’s chorus. Her schedule doesn’t often take her to national parks.
“It’s a thing people get excited about,” said Ms. Steele, 29. “So often we’re confined to cities for work.”“It’s a thing people get excited about,” said Ms. Steele, 29. “So often we’re confined to cities for work.”
When I asked her about the likelihood that working artists would be able to visit Yosemite for a vacation, Ms. Coykendall, who said she spends most of her year working in black box theater in the Bay Area, laughed wryly.When I asked her about the likelihood that working artists would be able to visit Yosemite for a vacation, Ms. Coykendall, who said she spends most of her year working in black box theater in the Bay Area, laughed wryly.
“Yeah, vacations aren’t a thing.”“Yeah, vacations aren’t a thing.”
She watched as a stream of diners, mostly older, filed toward their tables.She watched as a stream of diners, mostly older, filed toward their tables.
Ms. Coykendall, a Bracebridge veteran of more than a decade, recently took on her new role as a way of preparing to step into Ms. Fulton’s shoes — and to give Ms. Fulton a bit more time to focus on her own performance.Ms. Coykendall, a Bracebridge veteran of more than a decade, recently took on her new role as a way of preparing to step into Ms. Fulton’s shoes — and to give Ms. Fulton a bit more time to focus on her own performance.
She said that she appreciated the tradition, her updates will be to make the show more accessible to younger audiences, who, she hopes, will keep the show alive. She said that she appreciated the tradition; her updates will be to make the show more accessible to younger audiences, who, she hopes, will keep the show alive.
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Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, graduated from U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter, @jillcowan.Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, graduated from U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter, @jillcowan.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.