More than three dozen amateur thespians from LifeQuest Inc. staged an original Christmas story titled “His Story” during five presentations Wednesday and Friday.
The show was presented in the auditorium of the former Washington High School building, which also houses LifeQuest Inc., a psychosocial rehabilitation day program for adults in Beaufort, Martin and Pitt counties.
This year marked the eighth Christmas season the group staged a holiday program, according to Adam Congleton, LifeQuest’s program director and author of “His Story.”
“This was the largest cast we’ve ever had,” Congleton noted.
The cast and crew began preparing for the presentation in late October. The Rocky Hock Playhouse allowed LifeQuest to use its sets, lights and sound equipment for the show, and costumes were on loan from the First Free Will Baptist Church of Washington.
“His Story” follows the divergent paths of two brothers, separated as children through adoption; one became homeless, while the other found his life’s calling as manager of a group home for adults. After attending a Christmas pageant at a local church, the brothers were reunited upon learning that each carried a treasured Christmas tree ornament given to them as children by their beloved grandmother.
LifeQuest members and staff spent countless hours studying lines, practicing and building props in preparation for the show, according to Congleton.
More than 650 people attended the production’s five shows over its two-day run. And while admission was free, folks were invited to support the Beaufort-Hyde Special Olympics through monetary donations or a local food pantry through the contributions of nonperishable food items.
Based in Washington, LifeQuest opened its doors July 1, 2004. Today, it averages 50 members each day, Monday through Friday, Congleton said. Its mission is to help adults achieve the self-empowerment needed to enable them to live a successful, rewarding life.
Services offered include assistance in social skills, money management, vocational skills, daily living skills, personal-care skills and instruction in reading, writing, math, typing and computer skills.
“We’re a safety net. … They can come here and just feel productive every day,” Congleton said.
For more information about LifeQuest and the services it offers, call 252-975-8080 or visit its website: lifequestinc.net.