Stages Repertory Theatre Presents Three Upcoming Holiday Shows

Stages' holiday season offers comic alternatives to traditional seasonal shows with three productions including the regional premiere of the irreverent yet heartwarming The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged), the world premiere of Panto Star Force, the latest in Stages' series of original Pantos for audiences of all ages, and the regional premiere of Who's Holiday!, an adult-themed How the Grinch Stole Christmas parody told entirely in Seussian rhyme. The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged) and Who's Holiday! will be offered in true repertory style, playing in the same theatre at different performance times. Who's Holiday! will also include late-night performances at 9:30pm on select dates.

"This series of plays really celebrates a certain kind of madness-kinetic, zany, joyous, magical madness that is part of the holiday season," Stages Artistic Director Kenn McLaughlin said. "There is an irreverence and a childlike sense of excitement that permeates all three of these shows-and they all have huge hearts too. It's all the best parts of this festive season but without a single calorie-a win-win!"

Originally workshopped and produced by Napa Valley Conservatory Theatre, Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor's The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged) had its world premiere at Merrimack Repertory Theatre in 2011 and has since been seen around in the country, including Boston, San Diego and Ft. Worth. The Stages production marks the Houston premiere for the comedy, which is a madcap sendup of a range of holiday stories including Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Ramadan, along with attendant traditions like the family holiday newsletter, the 12 Days of Christmas, the Nutcracker, singing carols, and more, with plenty of surprises along the way.

Directed by Julia Traber, the "delightfully twisted" comedy features Ronnie Blaine, Joseph "Joe P" Palmore and Gabriel Regojo. Palmore and Regojo have been seen at Stages recently in We Are Proud to Present...and My Mañana Comes, respectively. Traber and Blaine make their Stages debuts with this production.

Stages continues its decade-long family holiday tradition with the world premiere production of Panto Star Force, directed by Stages' Artistic Director Kenn McLaughlin and written by Ryan Schabach and Elizabeth A.M. Keel. Schabach is no stranger to Panto at Stages, having appeared as the beloved character Buttons in most of the Pantos for the past 10 years. Local playwright Keel, whose work has been seen at several theatres around Houston, joins Schabach as part of the duo bringing Stages' latest Panto to life.

Traditionally performed during the holiday season for family audiences, British Pantomine, or Panto, traces its roots all the way back to Greek and Roman times, incorporating elements of commedia dell'arte, harlequinade and vaudeville. Panto has long been a holiday staple throughout the UK, characterized by a combination of song, dance, buffoonery, slapstick, cross-dressing, topical reference and audience participation. Stages is only one of a handful of theatres in the US that produce Pantos during the holidays, and audiences can expect to come ready to laugh, cheer and boo along with a crazy cast of fairy tale favorites, tailored to be enjoyable for the whole family.

Notably, the Panto series also provides one of Stages' key annual opportunities for performance internships, including those offered as part of Stages' long-standing partnership with the Sam Houston State University, now entering its eleventh year. These internships provide professional training and experience for college students planning a career in the arts, including the chance to perform in a professional company alongside experienced actors. Many of Houston's recognized theatre artists made their professional debuts as part of this program, including favorites like Chelsea Ryan McCurdy (actor, director), Mark Ivy (actor), Rachael Logue (actor), Dayne Lathrop (actor), Mitchell Greco (director, actor, administrator), J. Mitchell Cronin (designer) and Krissy Larson (stage manager). In Panto Star Force, 7 of the 14 roles will be played by interns.

The third production in Stages' 2018 holiday season, Who's Holiday! will play in repertory with The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged), with the two shows alternating performances in Stages' Arena Theater at different dates and times. The last time that Stages performed shows in repertory was in 2015 with The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe and Character Man.

Set 40 years after beloved Dr. Seuss story "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", Who's Holiday! re-introduces the now very grown-up Cindy Lou Who, whose subsequent years have been more naughty than nice. The play premiered off-Broadway in November 2017, where Broadway World called it "a comical riot, shining with moxie-laden tastelessness and irreverence." Stages' incarnation will be one of the first productions outside New York. Directed by Sally Edmundson (Who Am I This Time? And Other Conundrums of Love, Gidion's Knot, The Language Archive), Bree Welch (The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) will slip into Cindy Lou-Who's shoes in the bawdy and mischievous one-woman show. Leave the kids at home-Who's Holiday! is strictly ADULTS ONLY.

C.C. and Duke Ensell / Admiral Transfer and Rigging are Presenting Sponsors for Stages' three 2018 holiday productions, joined by Macy's as Sponsor for Panto Star Force and The Junior League of Houston as Community Access Partner, with a focus on providing free and low-cost tickets to youth and family audiences who might not otherwise be able to attend.

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The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged)
by Reed Martin and Austin Teichor
Stages' Arena Theatre (in repertory with Who's Holiday!)
November 7 - December 23, 2018
All performance times 2pm and 7pm

Press Opening: Friday, November 9 at 7pm

It's the Annual Holiday Variety Show and Christmas Pageant at St. Everybody's Non-Denominational Universalist Church-where all faiths are welcome because we'll believe anything! There's just one minor problem: none of the acts scheduled to perform have arrived. Now it's up to three quick-witted church members to perform the ENTIRE Variety Show and Christmas Pageant by themselves! An irreverent yet heartwarming romp through tradition, The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged) bursts with festive, slapstick fun as these cheerfully ridiculous clowns celebrate all of our favorite holiday traditions-at once.
Directed by Julia Traber
Featuring Ronnie Blaine, Joseph Palmore and Gabriel Regojo

Panto Star Force
by Ryan Schabach and Elizabeth A.M. Keel
Stages' Yeager Theatre
November 21 - December 30, 2018
All performance times 2pm and 7pm

Press Opening: Friday, November 23 at 7pm
Family Fun Days: Join the cast for fun activities and refreshments following the 2pm matinee performances on November 24, December 1, 8, 15, 22 and 26.

Panto Star Force is an adventurous, cosmic blast of blockbuster hilarity! Jed, a farm boy from the planet Cypress, joins forces with a zany band of space rebels, robots, and furry bartenders (and Buttons, of course!) to stop the powerful Emperor Snorkelfish and Dark Tater from taking over the galaxy. Come ready to laugh, cheer and boo in true Panto style, with plenty of toe-tapping music and intergalactic fun for the whole family!

Directed by Kenn McLaughlin
Featuring Genevieve Allenbury, Gavin Calais, John Ryan Del Bosque, Ryanne Fury, Kara Greenberg, Madi Grossman, Blake Jackson, Oleode Oshotse, Ryan Schabach, Brandon Schultz, Christian Scott, Chris Scurlock, Tamarah Tucker and Kristin Warren

Who's Holiday!
by Matthew Lombardo
Stages' Arena Theatre (in repertory with The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged))
December 5 - 30, 2018
All performance times 7pm and 9:30pm
9:30pm performances offered on December 14, 15, 22, 26, 28 and 29
Press Opening: Friday, December 7 at 7pm

It's Christmas Eve and the now 40-year-old Cindy Lou Who lives in her shoddy trailer home on Mount Crumpit, former hideout of the infamous Grinch. While she awaits her Christmas party guests, she regales listeners with the bizarre journey her life has taken since that fateful night in Whoville when a certain Grinch tried to steal Christmas. This hysterical and wild parody is a must-see for mischievous ADULT theatre-goers this holiday season! Not suitable for those easily offended.

Directed by Sally Edmundson
Starring Bree Welch as Cindy Lou Who

Performance times for The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged) and Panto Star Force are Tuesdays*-Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays at 2pm and 7pm, and Sundays at 2pm and 7pm*.
* Tuesday and Sunday evening performances offered on select dates only - please see Stages website for details.
Performance times for Who's Holiday are Wednesdays-Sundays at 7pm and 9:30pm**.
** 9:30pm performances of Who's Holiday! offered on December 14, 15, 22, 26, 28 and 29.
Press tickets are available for the Opening Night shows on November 9 and 23, December 7, and for other performances subject to availability. To request seats, email press@stagestheatre.com.

Regular tickets start at $25 with savings Wednesday - Friday plus Saturday matinees for groups of 6 or more, or Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees for groups of 10 or more. To purchase, call the Stages Box Office at 713.527.0123 or reserve online at www.stagestheatre.com.

For more information including production photos and interviews contact Jonathan Beitler, Barrelhouse Media, 832-964-9932, jonathan@barrelhousemedia.com.

ABOUT STAGES REPERTORY THEATRE

Founded in 1978, Stages has grown to become Houston's leading midsize theatre company, the city's sixth largest nonprofit performing arts producer overall, and the largest outside of the downtown theatre district. With deep roots in the Houston community, Stages is a greenhouse for new talent and innovative ideas, and a place for art, artists and audiences to thrive.

For more than 40 years, Stages' focus on producing a broad scope of plays and musicals in an intimate setting has generated critical acclaim and created a highly engaged, connected community of patrons and artists. Stages is one of the region's leading artistic employers, producing an average of 12 productions per year totaling more than 375 performances and welcoming 65,000+ visitors each season. Almost all of Stages' shows are rehearsed and constructed on-site in Houston, brought to life by an exceptional community of locally-based artists and craftspeople along with occasional guest directors, actors and designers from around the world.

For more than a decade Stages has made a strong investment in nurturing emerging artists and craftspeople who have now become field leaders and working professionals. Stages' learning opportunities include student matinees, performance and production internship programs for college students and conservatory-style training for middle and high school students.

For more information visit www.stagestheatre.com.