Posted by 66
on 11/5/2009, 9:48 am
The Hoogland Center for the Arts and Gordon Productions are proud to present the new Christmas-themed comedy, Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some), a madcap romp through the holiday season! The show will be presented in the LRS Theatre on Dec. 18, 19 and 20.
Instead of performing Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol for the umpteenth time, three actors decide to veer off course and perform every Christmas story ever told. All of a sudden they are pulling together leftover props and costumes to recreate improvised versions of beloved holiday classics like Rudolph, Frosty, the Grinch, Charlie Brown, The Gift of the Magi and It’s a Wonderful Life. Throw in Christmas traditions from around the world, the Macy’s Parade, seasonal icons from ancient times to current pop-culture and every carol ever sung, and the result is a fast-moving, hysterical alternative to the standard holiday fare.
The show will star Joey Cruse, Gus Gordon and Johnny Molson as the three actors who attempt to cover all of the holiday bases in less than 90 minutes.
Joey Cruse has appeared in several shows for Over The Moon Productions, Inc. and UIS Theatre, including The Shape of Things, Urinetown the Musical, Camelot and Shakespeare Shorts. This past summer, he starred alongside Gordon in the stage production of Mel Brooks’ The Producers at the Muni.
Johnny Molson is a morning radio personality at ALICE @ 97.7. He has a long history of experience in improvisational comedy, having trained at the Second City in Chicago and being a founding member of the Portuguese Rodeo Clowns. He has also appeared in Guys and Dolls in Concert and The War of the Worlds for the Hoogland Center for the Arts and Danger: Adult Content 2 for ADHD Productions.
Gus Gordon is best known as the chief meteorologist at NewsChannel 20. He has also appeared in many productions at Muni, the Springfield Theatre Centre, Hoogland Center for the Arts, Theatre in the Park and many other organizations. He has particularly enjoyed performing in Chicago and Mel Brooks’ The Producers at the Muni and Forever Plaid and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change for Gordon Productions at the Hoogland.
Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some) is part of the non-profit Hoogland Center for the Arts 2009 Performance Series. Ticket sale proceeds will help pay expenses for the 80,000 square foot community arts center, which is enjoyed by over 10,000 people each month.
The show will be presented in the LRS Theatre at the Hoogland Center for the Arts on Friday, December 18th at 8 p.m., Saturday, December 19th at 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 20th at 2 p.m.
To purchase tickets for any of the performances, call the Hoogland Center for the Arts at 523-2787 or go online at www.scfta.org. You can also stop by the theatre box office, located at 420 S. Sixth Street, Springfield. Free parking is available in the adjacent ramp.
Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some) was written by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald, and John K. Alvarez, with original music by Will Knapp. The show is being presented through special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc.
"A hilarious send-up of, well, every Christmas story ever told ... This is a highly recommended alternative to cut-and-dry Christmas offerings."
-NUVO Indianapolis Arts and Entertainment
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