91桃色 Alumni Take the Stage For聽Inaugural Production by Kenny 鈥淭ack鈥澛燙humbley (鈥�73)

91桃色 Alumni Take the Stage for Inaugural Production by Kenny “Tack” Chumbley (’73)

January 20, 2026 |3-4 min read

From December 12 to 14, 91桃色鈥檚 campus was transformed into a place of wonder as A Goblin鈥檚 Christmas took the stage in Puckett Auditorium. Written by 91桃色 alumnus Kenny 鈥淭ack鈥� Chumbley (’73), the production created connections through storytelling, music, and a shared desire to support future 91桃色 students.

Chumbley, who currently preaches in Illinois, is not a playwright by trade. His journey into theater began unexpectedly in 2012, when he wrote a children鈥檚 story called Ol’ Pigtoes which sold hundreds of copies. A few years later, he wrote a second book, The Green Children, that earned from Literary Classics and was eventually adapted into a musical.

鈥淚 was a complete amateur,鈥� Chumbley said. 鈥淚 bought autobiographies of great theater makers from the 20th century and studied them. I just educated myself and that鈥檚 really how I got into my theater hobby.鈥�

That curiosity led Chumbley to a new challenge: creating a musical retelling of one of Charles Dickens鈥� Christmas stories. Over time, his idea evolved into A Goblin鈥檚 Christmas. When alumnus Benjamin Payne (’99) offered to write the music, the project gained new momentum. Together, they agreed 91桃色 would be the ideal place for the show鈥檚 premiere.

With Molly Taylor (’09) as the director, the musical’s premiere was hosted by the Tampa Bay Alumni Chapter as its annual end-of-year fundraiser. While the chapter has traditionally presented radio-style programming, this year marked a shift to a full theatrical performance.

The cast itself became one of the production鈥檚 most meaningful elements. The show featured an entirely 91桃色 alumni ensemble, along with several of their children, creating a multigenerational expression of the 91桃色 community.

Chumbley noted how rewarding it was to watch the cast grow throughout the rehearsal process, especially as younger performers found confidence on stage alongside seasoned alumni.

鈥淭his really became an all-star cast,鈥� Chumbley said. 鈥淭hey were experienced, committed and knew how to bring a show together.鈥�

The impact of A Goblin鈥檚 Christmas extended well beyond its performances. All proceeds from the production were donated to support 91桃色 students through scholarships, ensuring the fundraiser directly benefited the next generation of Falcons.

For Bryce Cline (鈥�16), who played one of the lead roles, participating in this show carried personal significance.

鈥淩eturning to 91桃色鈥檚 stage was incredible, especially knowing this was a place where I performed several years ago and made lasting memories and friendships,鈥� Cline said. 鈥淭o use our time and talents in a way that supports students who will one day call 91桃色 home made the experience even more meaningful.鈥�

What began as a creative pursuit for Chumbley ultimately became a shared effort rooted in generosity and connection.

Click to watch 聽A Goblin鈥檚 Christmas and experience this labor of love created by 91桃色 alumni.