Exotic talents

The parking lot in back of Segerstrom Hall at the Orange County Performing Artscenter has a little bit of a circus feel to it these days.

There’s a pen back there, complete with kissing camels, a donkey and some curly-haired sheep.

Maybe not exactly what Henry Segerstrom had in mind with the expansion project, but the Radio City Christmas Spectacular show just wouldn’t be the same without the “Living Nativity” and its furry, four-footed cast.

Bravos, Tantor and Gabe, the camels, spit as well as kiss, but never on stage.

Mary makes her humble but majestic appearance on the back of George the donkey, and Bobbie Sue, Sue Bob, Jim Bob, Joe Bob and Bubba the sheep bleat softly while waiting for the wise men to arrive at the manger.

Marcie Campbell and her husband, Rick, raise and train the animals at Hedrick Exotic Animal Farm in Nickerson, Kan.

They’ve been with the Rockettes show for the past 12 years, traveling across the country with their menagerie.

The Campbells arrive at least a week before a show’s opening to get the animals accustomed to the stage, as well as to get the timing worked out.

The trainers get their cues from stage managers, then pass that information along to the “actors.”

“The animals have places and spots marked on stage, just like all the other performers,” Campbell said.

The length of the “Living Nativity” scene is about 14 minutes, and the animals are on stage the entire time.

Because they’ve been raised at the farm and exhibited in petting zoos, they become accustomed to crowds and people.

When the animals are younger, the Campbells take them to smaller shows so they become used to being handled and being on stage. The animals love the work, and are real hams who like the attention they get from people, Campbell said.

If there was a Personality Plus Award, Campbell said George the donkey would win it, hands down.

“He’s the star of the show because Mary rides across the stage on him,” said Campbell, adding that George gets annoyed if visitors don’t give him their full attention. “He lets you know that you’ve forgotten him.” All the animals in the Christmas Spectacular are adults, with plenty of experience on stage, or they wouldn’t be taken to a production of this magnitude, Campbell said.

At the farm, the animals’ personalities are monitored by staff to ensure that only those best suited for stage performing are chosen to go on the road with a show. Unlike the actors in most touring companies however, the animals have no understudies.

Campbell said she travels only with the number of animals required for the performance, but there are always people she can call if there is a problem with an animal that is unable to perform.

A representative for the Performing Artscenter said the animals are doing well, in spite of some heavy downpours this past week.

The trainers put up a rain and wind guard when the weather gets nasty, so the animals stayed dry through the worst of it.

And after four grueling performances on Sunday and another on Monday, George and his friends looked forward to Christmas day off.

For information on the show, call (714) 556-2787 or go to www.ocpac.org

SUE THOENSEN may be reached at (714) 966-4627 or at [email protected].