PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Preparations are underway for the
Mummers Fancy Brigade Finale indoor shows on New Year’s Day. Members of the 12 clubs are already hard at work at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
The clubs must follow several rules ahead of the indoor shows — namely, props, sets and lighting have to be trucked into the Convention Center before Friday night. After that, the garage doors will close, and remaining pieces and last-minute items will have to be carried in through a smaller door.
“It's a lot of practice. It's a lot of preparing,” said AJ Knights, who performs with the Magic Brigade and builds sets. “It's worth it, it's definitely worth it. It's a lot of fun and it brings everyone together. I didn't know any of these people; now, they are a part of my family.”
There are rules for #Mummers Fancy Brigade finale clubs. One: They have two days to truck in materials for #NewYear day indoor competition. After tomorrow night the garage doors close and last minute things have to go through regular door. @KYWNewsradio @PAConvention pic.twitter.com/8UlhTNGiF8
— John McDevitt (@JM1060)
December 26, 2019 The clubs will perform Broadway-style productions on Jan. 1. Tom Knight, the new president of the Fancy Brigade Association, said the 4 ½-minute performances are extravagant.
“The imagination of all 12 clubs are unbelievable, and how they come up with all of the ideas in different ways to do things every year is unbelievable,” said Knight, who also performs in the South Philly Vikings Brigade — 2019's first-place winner.
Sal Rota, 21, has been a mummer all his life. He’ll stage a “calm before the storm”-themed performance with the Magic Brigade.
“This is the hectic part: We are building a stage right now, 40 feet long, 10 feet wide. And then we have to go 2 feet up, make a bunch of props — you know how it goes,” he said. “It’s crazy over here.”
Tickets are still available for both the 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. shows.
