Photo Flash: Hell in a Handbag's THE RIP NELSON HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR

Hell in a Handbag's favorite bitter television has-been returns - and just in time for the holidays! David Cerda's world premiere comedy THE RIP NELSON HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR directed by Steve Love, plays November 20 - December 30, 2016 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. Tickets are currently available at www.handbagproductions.org or by calling (800) 838-3006.

Handbag ensemble member Ed Jones* stars as Rip Nelson, a fellow with a razor-sharp wit and a monkey and his back. Rip is a mash-up of iconic television celebrities Paul Lynde, Rip Taylor and Charles Nelson Reilly. Joining Rip on this bizarre holiday romp is his trusted make-up woman, Gladys (Lori Lee*) and a cavalcade of stars circa 1982, including: Dom DeLuise (Tommy Bullington), Bruce Jenner (Chazie Bly*), magician Doug Henning (David Lipschutz*), Liza Minnelli (Alexa Castevecchi), Patti LaBelle (RoBert Williams) and Rip's arch rival, Kermit the Frog (Scott Ray Merchant). To make matters even more complicated, Rip's musical guests, The Lennon Sisters, (Kristopher Bottrall*, Anna Seibert and AJ Wright*), and are engaged in a bitter war with their musical nemeses, The King Cousins (Grant Drager*, Rachel Hadlock* and Terry McCarthy*).

Audiences fell in love with Rip Nelson in Handbag's 2010 hit The Rip Nelson Halloween Spooktacular - now he's back and ready to deck your halls in THE RIP NELSON HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR. It's 1982 and a newly sober Rip manages to land another TV special after the death of his archrival, Paul Lynde. Rip is determined to get his career back on track but can he handle the stress of a network television special and stay sober? Luckily he's got help from a cavalcade of the hottest stars of 1982! Rip pulls every trick in the book to breathe some life in the dying variety series format and save his career but soon questions if his career is worth saving.

For additional information, visit www.handbagproductions.org.

Photos by Rick Aguilar Studios

Ed Jones and the cast of THE RIP NELSON HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR

David Lipschutz, Grant Drager, Kristopher Bottrall, Anna Seibert, RoBert Williams and Tommy Bullington

Ed Jones and Kermit the Frog (Scott Ray Merchant)

Alexa Castelvecchi and Ed Jones

Ed Jones and RoBert Williams

Ed Jones and the cast of THE RIP NELSON HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR

Ed Jones, Tommy Bullington, Chazie Bly, David Lipschutz,Alexa Castelvecchi, and RoBert Williams