ARTS

Sandi Patty gives inside scoop on Yuletide Celebration

Tyler Dague
Star correspondent
Sandi Patty and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra principal pops conductor Jack Everly promote Yuletide's 30th anniversary.

Real snow. Real reindeer. Real talent.

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra has once again brought IPL’s Yuletide Celebration to the Circle City. Returning for this 30th anniversary edition is inspirational gospel singer Sandi Patty for her seventh time as host of the song and dance holiday extravaganza with principal pops conductor Jack Everly.

Patty spoke by phone about hosting the massive event and what makes it such an Indy institution.

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What got you into hosting Yuletide in the first place?

For years and years, I lived in the Anderson area. And Indiana is our home. We raised our kids in Indiana. Yuletide Celebration is such a tradition for Indianapolis. I was taking a couple of years off when my kids were younger, and (ISO senior director of pops programs and presentations) Ty Johnson said, “Hey, would you consider this? You can stay home. You can be in Indiana, but come and host.” I had seen Yuletide, and I said, “Let me think about this — yes!”

It’s one of those amazing events, and a great way to celebrate Christmas and Indiana.

When did you realize this was going to be a long-term gig?

I really didn’t know if it would be. But the first year I did it, I sure enjoyed it and hoped that they would invite me to do it again, and sure enough, they did. I’ve gotten to host several times, and my kids have grown up loving coming to Yuletide. The dazzle and getting to meet the cast, it’s just been a great thing in their lives. It’s made a huge impression on them. Now that they’re grown, some of the kids are in the cast this year. They auditioned, and that’s really special for us to come full circle.

What are some behind-the-scenes tidbits that go into hosting a show of this magnitude?

The thing about it is that Ty Johnson and Jack Everly do such an amazing job of pulling an ensemble together. Of course, the Indianapolis Symphony is just exquisite. Basically, my job is to simply show up and do what they have asked me to do. The lens that they view everything through is “Is this going to be about the audience having a wonderful time?”

I suppose a fun tidbit behind the scenes is getting to do all the costume changes. It’s very choreographed. That’s a fun thing for me. This year, I’m doing 12 costume changes.

What’s something you wish more people knew about this upcoming production of Yuletide?

I think people have really begun to understand this is a treasure in Indiana because every year it begins to sell out very quickly. It’s a very multi-generational event. There are nights when the grandparents and the kids and the grandkids come all dressed up, and it’s become a family tradition for so many people. For kids who come early, there are all sorts of things going on in the lobby. There’s story time. There are real Santa’s reindeer outside.

I heard that this may be your last time hosting. What prompted your decision to end your time with Yuletide?

Honestly, I’m not sure that it would be my last time. I don’t know. I’m not ready to say goodbye yet.

Lots of symphony orchestras have holiday concerts. What really sets Yuletide apart?

One of the things is that every note that is heard or played or sung is 100 percent completely live. There’s nothing pre-recorded. Sometimes there will be singing that you’ll hear, and it’s offstage. But those singers are standing there on the side of the stage singing live.

There are people from New York in the cast, there are people from everywhere. A lot of the cast of singers, dancers and actors—they’ve realized this looks really good on their resume. So you have a lot of talented people vying for being part of a show. And (we have) real snow.

Do you have any advice for future hosts of Yuletide?

I would say trust the producers. We have a saying, “When the show wins, everybody wins.” Be yourself. Be prepared, for heaven’s sake, because everybody shows up very prepared. Take it seriously, but have fun.

Tyler Dague is a 2015 Arts Journalism Fellow. The fellowship, funded partially by a National Endowment for the Arts grant, is a partnership between the Arts Council of Indianapolis and The Star.