Love of the theater has kept volunteer director Gordy Handeland returning the past several years to put on the play, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. The production was held this past weekend to enthusiastic crowds.

"I have directed plays with the Children’s Matchbox Theatre. I put this play on through Matchbox too. I have been in plays with Somerset Theatre. I was Daddy Warbucks in Annie,&uot; Handeland said.

Donna Handeland, his wife, is also heavily involved with the productions her husband directs. She accompanied the actors in this play on the organ and also was in charge of costuming the actors. Kari Handeland, their daughter, was in charge of the publicity for this year’s production.

"We had a lot of people help put this play on. There were 30 people acting in it. We had more adults try out for roles this year than last year. It is fun to have new people be involved," said Handeland.

Two churches in Austin worked together to put on this production. They are Beautiful Savior and Trinity Lutheran Church. Practice started in October and was held every Sunday for an hour and half.

"It was really a group effort. Everyone just did it together. We had a lot of fun," Handeland said.

When Handeland is not involved in theater work, you can find him at Doors and Floors, where he is a part owner. He is proud of the entire cast and crew that made this year's production a success. He said special thanks goes to the Matchbox Theatre, Pastor Seifert, Austin Daily Herald, Austin Fire Department, Rochester Post-Bulletin, Dan Heins, Dean Pacholl, and all the volunteers who furnished meals for the crew.