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Th ursday, November 16, 2017 • WATERLOO CHRONICLE • 21Serving your community since 1856 Music byGeorge Stiles Book and Lyrics by Anthony Drewe Directed & Choreographed byDavid Connolly Music Direction by Steve Thomas Adult tickets $46. Youth tickets only $27! 1-855-Drayton (372-9866) | draytonentertainment.com/honk One of the most beloved children's stories of all time is coming to St. Jacobs! Featuring dancing frogs, a conniving cat, and an unlikely duckling hero, this high-energy musical comedy from the composers ofMary Poppins is sure to quack up audiences of all ages! Bring the whole family. Nov 29 - Dec 24 St. Jacobs Country Playhouse It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas Annual variety show for KidsAbility approaching $100,000 raised over 5 years By Joy Struthers Chronicle Sta� A Christmas variety show dreamed up by local talent Nicole Guse, was the best way she knew of to give back to the com- munity. Five years later the Sounds of Christmas is approaching $100,000 raised for KidsAbility in Waterloo. As a performer who comes from a family of musicians, putting on a show comes naturally. As a mother, the idea of helping children inspired her, especially since KidsAbility helped her own son. "I wanted to give back to kids on a grander scale," Guse said, who has travelled the world with the Guse fam- ily, and is a step-dancer, vocalist, � d- dler and director among other things. Her son Joshua, from the age of 18 months, needed a bit of extra help and that's where KidsAbility stepped in to support him. "He didn't speak and was missing some milestones," she said. He accessed different programs and professional support through KidsAbility until he was � ve years old. Now Joshua is in Grade 7 and has been helping others, as is his entire family, by participating in the Sounds of Christmas. All proceeds from the show go directly to KidsAbility. Guse said she involves many chil- dren in the production and is thrilled by how much they give of themselves. "The kids have embraced giving their time and talent to give back and help other kids, which was something I didn't expect to happen as much as it did. � ey take ownership of it. � at's great to see in young people and we need to keep encouraging them," Guse said. The adults in the show include her father Jim Guse, brother Shane Guse and sister-in-law Stacey Lee Guse among others. Guse's involve- ment with Drayton Entertainment has brought in great talent from that com- pany as well. Guse said when she started the project in 2013 she thought it was just a dream. "I feel fortunate that it's grown to be as big as it has," she said. They have raised $85,000 in total for the KidsAbility Foundation, and hope to reach $100,000 this year. She said they do six shows over two weekends, starting Nov. 24 and ending Dec. 2. � e shows will be held at Waterloo Mennonite Brethren Church in Waterloo. "I'm happy because people have started to make this a tradition, kick- ing off their holiday season," Guse said. She said the show has something for everyone, and has all different styles of Christmas music. "Traditional songs that people will know, new songs that will hopeful- ly become new favourites, fiddling, instrumentals, step-dancing and dif- ferent kids of dance, costuming and lighting," Guse said. Lisa Talbot, executive director, KidsAbility Foundation, said the show has been a big success. "I � nd it just gets better and better every year, she just takes it to another level," Talbot said. She credits it to Guse's talent and passion for giving back. "We're so fortunate to have her turn that passion into supporting kids," Talbot said. She explained that KidsAbil- ity helps close to 7,000 children and youth with special needs each year in Waterloo Region and Wellington County. Although they do receive funding they also rely on fundraising in numerous ways. "It helps us provide therapy to more children and also support vari- ous therapeutic equipment that we need for programs," said Talbot. She said early intervention is criti- cal for children who are struggling and said Guse's son Joshua is a tes- tament to how this can really help, because he started getting support when he was so young. "We encourage families if they do have any concerns to give us a call and we can check things out," Talbot said. A s t h e C h r i s t m a s s e a s o n approaches she said they are out in the community asking for support, and there are many ways to donate. People can donate online at kidsabil- ity.ca, in person or by phone to any of their locations. "Every gift makes an impact, no matter the size," Talbot said. Tickets for the Sounds of Christ- mas shows can be purchased online at ticketscene.ca through guseproduc- tions.com, at the KidsAbility Founda- tion o� ce in Waterloo or by phone to the box o� ce at 519-502-8390. You can also call Guse at 519-885- 0873. ARTS FOCUS WATERLOO CHRONICLE It's beginning to sound a lot like Christ WATERLOO CHRONICLE SUBMITTED PHOTO Nicole Guse, centre, performs at the Sounds of Christmas in 2016, a variety show in support of KidsAbility.