Music and meal Friday at Lovell Community Center

What is being billed as “a holiday gathering created to lift you into the wonder of Christmas” will take place Friday at the Lovell Community Center.

Branchlight Entertainment will present The Longing and the Light featuring a catered five-course meal and live acoustic music.

Organizer Marie Robertson Nolan, who has a music degree from BYU-Idaho, said she was a cast member in the Cody production of “Fiddler on the Roof” some time ago and heard someone say it would be great if the musical could be staged in Lovell. So she and a friend decided to put together a musical or theater production that they could take to communities in the Big Horn Basin.

Friday’s program and a similar program Saturday in Powell are a “trial run,” Nolan said.

The doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the five-course Brazilian steakhouse style meal will be served to attendees at tables starting at 6 p.m. The music will begin at that time, as well, Nolan said, and last until around 8:30.

“Christmas music is an absolute passion of mine,” Nolan said, adding that the music will be “Christian based” rather than songs about Santa Claus or elves.

Scheduled performers come from all over the Big Horn Basin, Nolan said, including vocal music by herself, her brother Jake Robertson of Cody, Cody native Drew Murray and special guest Joseph Shumway of Lovell, with two violinists and a pianist also performing. An a capella group will serve tables and sing, as well.

A similar dinner and concert at the Commons in Powell will take place at the same times Saturday, Nolan said.

Tickets are $75 and may be purchased at BranchlightEntertainment.com.