Act II Playhouse to Present THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS, 12/10-29

Act II Playhouse presents the regional premiere of The Twelve Dates of Christmas, starring Maggie Lakis from New York's Avenue Q, from Dec. 10 to 29. The Twelve Dates of Christmas is directed by Act II Artistic Director Tony Braithwaite and was written by Ginna Hoben.

The one-woman romantic comedy stars Lakis as Mary, a single woman in New York. The play begins on Thanksgiving when Mary catches her fiancé kissing another woman - on national television, no less! Mary spends the next year going on one hilariously bad date after another, never losing her sense of humor.

"It's funny, festive, candid, disarming, and good light fare for around the holidays, but it also has just a little bit of an edge that makes it even more fun," Braithwaite said.

In addition to playing Mary, Lakis plays 12 other characters, including some of the men she dates, her aunt Kathy, an Irish bartender, and a five-year-old boy who unexpectedly opens her heart.

"Maggie has a wealth of experience: comedic, dramatic, musical, puppetry even. She's as good as it gets," Braithwaite said. "She blew us away at auditions, and 'got it' immediately. "

Tickets for The Twelve Dates of Christmas at Act II Playhouse are $23- $34. Discounts are available for subscribers, students, group of 10 or more, and seniors (65+). Tickets are available online at http://www.act2.org, by calling the Act II box office at (215) 654-0200, or in person at 56 E. Butler Ave. in Ambler.

The Twelve Dates of Christmas' creative team includes set designer Dirk Durossette, sound designer John Stovicek and lighting designer Andy Shaw.

This is the first production Braithwaite has directed since becoming artistic director at Act II. His previous professional directing credits include Tru at Mauckingbird Theater Company, Everybody Loves Opal at Montgomery Theater, and The Fantasticks and Give My Regards to Broadway at the KimMel Center.

"Twelve Dates is a one-person show, and I have some experience with being in one-person shows as an actor. I've also directed a few. Plus, the play contains a lot of direct address and comedic monologues, and my original background is as a stand-up comic, which is another skillset I can hopefully draw on for this project," Braithwaite said. "As such I am hoping I can shed some light for our amazing actress Maggie Lakis. I also wanted to direct the play because it's super funny."

Braithwaite will also direct Act II's other holiday show, the original play for kids, Murray the Elf and the Case of the Terrifying Tinsel, which runs Dec. 21-28.

Photo by John Flak