By Debby Woodin

dwoodin@joplinglobe.com

An effort to turn Landreth Park into a “Living Nativity” is still in need of shepherds, wise men and angelic voices.

A sign-up session has been scheduled for today to recruit more volunteers for the event scheduled the first week of December as part of the Joplin Holiday Experience.

The Nativity is one of a series of events planned in conjunction with the visit of dignitaries from Joplin’s sister city of Bethlehem.

The sign-up session will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at City Hall, 602 S. Main St. Those attending are to use the west door of the building.

Staff members from the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the “Living Nativity” production will be on hand to answer questions and enroll participants. The tourism bureau is working with a committee of residents to plan the event.

Vince Lindstrom, director of the bureau, said some volunteers have been lined up for the event, but more are needed. The show will require about 100 people a night.

“We have been delighted (with the number of volunteers who have enlisted) in the last two or three days,” he said. “We have both churches and individuals.”

Organizers think the drop-in format of today’s session might attract many more.

“People can just come in and say they want to be a shepherd or an angel or a volunteer, and we can get their name and contact information,” Lindstrom said. “We will take their sizes for costumes. We are going to need young, old or in between. But most of all, we need singers.”

Singers are to be changed out every 30 minutes each night of the event so they don’t get so cold. They will be asked to sing traditional Christmas carols, which many people know by heart, Lindstrom said. The choir will sing about 10 songs.

The Nativity is a drive-through production to be staged from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, through Saturday, Dec. 5, in Landreth Park. All of the roles except the choir are nonspeaking parts.

Other volunteers are needed for one-hour increments on any of the dates so they are not out in the cold long if they do not want to be. Volunteers who want to participate more than one hour may do so.

People of all ages may volunteer. Roles include shepherds, wise men, an innkeeper, census takers, and Joseph and Mary.