Photo Flash: Actor's Playhouse "Merry" Opening Of ANOTHER NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight," so ends the traditional poem and so ended the opening night performance and festivities of the new holiday musical ANOTHER NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS at Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre.

Guests were treated to a heartwarming and sentimental performance from Carbonell award-winning actors Irene Adjan and Ken Clement that left some chuckling and some sniffling, but all with a fresh reminder of the true holiday spirit. Chairman of the Board Dr. Lawrence E. Stein, Executive Producing Director Barbara S. Stein and Artistic Director David Arisco were on hand to greet guests as the crowd enjoyed a pre-show reception courtesy of Alhambra Station, Bacardi, U.S.A. and Premiere Beverage Co. with music by Bravo Musicians. The show was followed by a post show reception with an array of holiday desserts from the CrepeMaker, Edda's Cake Designs, Cold Stone Creamery, and Starbucks Coffee.

On behalf of Actors' Playhouse, Barbara Stein thanked honored guests and loyal patrons as well as the show's sponsors including Norwegian Cruise Lines, Vista Color, NBC 6, Spanish Broadcasting System, Comcast, and Miami-Dade County.

Among the night's guests were Mayor Donald and Jeannett Slesnick, Former Mayor Dorothy and Jack Thomson, School Board member Dr. Larry Feldman and wife Avis, Captain Minas Myrtidis of Norwegian Cruise Line, NBC6 anchor Jackie Nespral and husband Armando and family, and Mega TV anchor Lourdes Ruis-Toledo and son Gianluca.

Another Night Before Christmas and its cast, called "reason enough to celebrate the holidays in Coral Gables" by Ron Levitt of Florida Media News, and " a Santa sackful of panache, verve, and comedic tricks" by Bill Hirschman of the Miami Herald, can be seen now through December 27th at Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm. There will be no performance on Thursday, December 24th but there will be one on Friday, December 25th.

Tickets for weeknights and matinees are $40, and on Friday and Saturday evenings $48. The theatre offers a 10 percent senior discount rate the day of performance and $15 student rush tickets 15 minutes prior to curtain with identification. Discounts are based on availability and exclude Saturday and Sunday. Group discounted rates are offered for 15 or more through our group sales department. Single tickets may be purchased through the box office at 305-444-9293 or online at www.actorsplayhouse.org

Subscriptions are now available to the 2009-2010 season, which will also include: The Great American Trailer Park MUSICAL with music and lyrics by David Nehls and book by Betsy Kelso (January 13 - February 7, 2010), Boublil and Schönberg's Miss Saigon (March 3 - April 4, 2010), the world premiere play Unreasonable Doubt by Michael McKeever (May 12 - June 6, 2010) and Are We There Yet? by James Hindman, Ray Roderick and Cheryl Stern with music by John Glaudin (July 7 - August 15, 2010). To become part of the Miracle as an Actors' Playhouse subscriber, call 305.444.9293 or go to www.actorsplayhouse.org.

Actors' Playhouse, the nonprofit resident theatre company and managing agent of the Miracle Theatre, has an agreement with Actor's Equity Association, the union of professional actors, New York. Under the leadership of Executive Producing Director Barbara S. Stein and Artistic Director David Arisco, Actors' Playhouse was named South Florida's Theatre Company of the Year 2008 for overall season excellence and community outreach by the Carbonell Committee and in 2009 Artistic Director David Arisco received the industry's highest acknowledgement with the George Abbott Award for his 22-years of artistic excellence in South Florida. Actors' Playhouse is a Florida Presenting Cultural Organization and one of twenty-one major cultural institutions in Miami Dade County. In addition to its Mainstage season, Actors' Playhouse produces a year-round five-show season of Musical Theatre for Young Audiences, a National Children's Theatre Festival, and a Theatre Conservatory and Summer Camp Program.

This event is made possible with the support of Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, The Cultural Affairs Council, The Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, and by following sponsors: NBC 6, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Vista Color, Spanish Broadcasting Systems, Comcast and the Funding Arts Network.

Photos by Alberto Romeu

Eddie Cutillas, Randi Cutillas and Mayor Don Slesnick

Lourdes Ruis-Toledo, Barbara S. Stein, and Isabel Bucaram-Montana

Bethany Baldwin Tesche and Jackie Nespral with her children