In Merry Measure

Darcy, long-based in New York City, is considered in some circles to be one of the finest pop vocalists of her generation. But that generation has come and gone, and her dwindling number of fans just want to hear her most famous song from early in her career, "Sugar Rush," instead of anything new. She has been without representation or a record deal for some time, and is now self-plugging her latest demo of new material to record companies. As this Christmas season's "A Very Darcy Christmas" series of concerts doesn't seem to be winning her any new recognition, she decides to accept her recently-widowed sister Gretchen's offer to spend Christmas with her and her daughter Megan for the first time since she was a teenager in their hometown of Dayton, Ohio. Gretchen is still struggling with the loss of her husband, and the holidays will be difficult for her. Megan, who attends McIntosh High as Gretchen and Darcy did, learns that she wasn't accepted into this year's version of the school's Herald Angels--founded by Darcy--who compete in the Montgomery County high-school caroling competition. Darcy discovers that Megan's teacher--who didn't even let her finish the audition!--is her high-school adversary Adam, who can point to results in the Angels winning competition six years running under his leadership. Believing that all Megan needs is some confidence in understanding from Gretchen that she can sing when she thinks no one is listening, Darcy decides, for Megan and herself, decides to form her own caroling group of Megan and some of the other students Adam didn't accept to compete against Adam's group to represent McIntosh at the competition. In the process of necessarily spending time with Adam, Darcy learns where her priorities lie among her music career, family, the Angels...and romance.—Huggo