Tipping Point Theatre presents A VERY NORTHVILLE CHRISTMAS! This comedic play It’s every Christmas in any year in Northville, Michigan. Snow falls, the big tree is lit, cookies are baked and everything is Hallmark holiday perfection. Well...kinda? This hilarious spoof became a Northville favorite and it’s back! A new cast takes on various characters with breakneck speed and agility. Will the big-city gal find love with the small-town guy? Only one thing is for sure—schnapps is the peppermint of choice. We celebrate Northville with loads of humor and love!
Cast and Creative team for A Very Northville Christmas at Tipping Point Theatre
Cast
Meghan Van Arsdalen
Felice
MEGHAN VAN ARSDALEN is merrily returning to Tipping Point Theatre for her fourth production. She was previously seen here in Little Women, The Squirrels, and Game. Set. Match! Meghan has worked with many companies across Southeast Michigan, including the Purple Rose Theatre (Bert & Trixie Visit the Vet, Diva Royale, Human Error, Welcome to Paradise). She has also appeared onstage in New York at the Actors Studio, the Hudson Guild Theatre, Penguin Rep Theatre, and the Tank. Meghan holds a BA in theatre from Siena Heights University and an MFA in acting from the New School for Drama. She extends heartfelt thanks to Julia, Tracy, Brian, Dave, the cast, and all the players behind the scenes at Tipping Point. Happy holidays! For more, visit meghanvanarsdalen.com.
Jonathan West
George
JONATHAN WEST last worked at Tipping Point as Carolinensis in Robert Askins’ The Squirrels directed by Julia Glander. Recent regional work includes performing as Bert in Matt Letscher’s Bert & Trixie Visit the Vet directed by Rhiannon Ragland at the Purple Rose in Chelsea, Prospero in William Shakespeare’s The Tempest directed by Sam White at Campus Martius in Detroit, and King Arthur in Melody Bates’ Avalon, directed by Joan Jubett on Deer Isle in Maine. He is Company Manager for The Players at U-M’s Center for Research on Learning and Teaching and lives near most of his family in and around Ann Arbor.
Melissa Beckwith
Mom/Barb/Old Woman
MELISSA BECKWITH is thrilled to be making her Tipping Point debut! She has worked with numerous theatre companies throughout southeast Michigan over the past 20 years including The Ringwald Theatre, Detroit Repertory Theatre, Theatre Nova, Matrix Theatre Company, Jewish Ensemble Theatre, Open Book Theatre Company, Planet Ant, GoComedy!, and UDM Theatre Company. Recent credits include The E(Xmas)ist (Chris MacNeil), Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors (Dr. Westfeldt/Renfield) and Jingle Babs (Roz) at The Ringwald; and Transfers (Rosie) at Detroit Repertory Theatre. Thanks to Dave, Julia, Tracy, and the extremely talented cast and crew!
Chris Korte
Mr. Plastuere/Jack/Dad/Danny
CHRIS KORTE is excited to be returning to the Tipping Point Theatre stage. He has worked on many local area stages over the last twenty-five years including Tipping Point, as Hal in 2011’s Proof, and most recently at the Planet Ant Theatre as the Fire Chief in Eugene Ionesco’s The Bald Soprano. He would like to thank Kate, Adam, and his parents for being their incredible selves and for their continued love and support.
Meredith Parker
Felice - Understudy
MEREDITH PARKER is thrilled to return to the TPT stage after making her debut in last season’s Little Women. Parker is a proud associate artist at Flint Repertory Theatre, where she previously appeared in The Glass Menagerie, The Wolves, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, Into The Woods, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, New Works Festivals’s Quiver, Funny Like Haha, Legacy and the Flint Mural Plays. Parker has been seen on several stages throughout southeast Michigan- most recently in Shakespeare Royal Oak’s Macbeth. Thank YOU, our audience, for supporting live theatre. For my husband and forever favorite scene partner, Drew, and my best girl, Jules.
Drew Parker
George - Understudy
DREW PARKER returns to the Tipping Point stage after appearing as Roy Scheider in the season opening production of The Shark is Broken. Other regional credits include: The Vast Difference (Purple Rose Theatre Company), Death of a Salesman (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), The Secret Mask (Next Act Theatre in Milwaukee), and K2 (Virginia Stage Company) Thank you, our audience, for continuing to support live theatre. For my wife, my cheerleader, and my best friend, Mere.
Creative Team
Dave Davies
Director
DAVE DAVIES has been an improviser/actor for over 25 years. He has performed and directed at several theaters and clubs around Metro Detroit, but is particularly fond of Tipping Point. He was fortunate enough to be part of the theater’s very first show (Don’t Dress for Dinner, 2007) and several more since then. Dave was part of the cast of ‘A Very Northville Christmas’ when it was produced here a couple years ago and is now honored to direct this new production. Dave would like to give a very special ‘thank you’ to his wonderful wife, Dyan, for sharing his life and picking out the very best pets in the world! He would also like to thank YOU for supporting local theater and attending today’s performance!
Tracy L. Spada
Stage Manager
TRACY L. SPADA is one of the original Tipping Point Theatre (TPT) founding members and served as its resident stage manager from its inception, with a short pivot in Washington D. C. and Virginia. Spada is an Arts Management graduate of Eastern Michigan University and a member of the Actors’ Equity Association. SHE was the recipient of the 2023 Encore Michigan Wilde Award for “Best New Script” for Game. Set. Match!, produced at TPT. Much love and appreciation to my family and friends, and to the supportive TPT community. And so much more love to my love. - “Thorty!”
John Charles
Technical Director
JOHN CHARLES retired from Eastern Michigan University where he spent 37 years working to promote and maintain high standards of technical production for EMU Theatre, as well as consulting, technical directing, and designing for events and productions for the campus community. John provided scenic, projection, and/or lighting designs for more than a hundred shows of every period and genre at EMU. His work also includes freelance design and consulting for numerous theatre companies and trade shows. John collaborated with Eastern Michigan University technical theatre faculty to develop EMU’s Entertainment Design & Technology program, which was established in 2013. The ED&T program is a multidisciplinary program that allows students to build a curriculum geared specifically toward their career goals. He retired from EMU in 2020 as Technical Director Emeritus. John has been serving as TPT’s technical director since the Season 16 production of The Chinese Lady, in addition to doing freelance design for other area theatre organizations.
Alicia Moore
Assistant Stage Manager
ALICIA MOORE, a Detroit native, is excited to continue working as an assistant stage manager with Tipping Point Theatre for Season 18. As a lifelong fan of the arts, mainly music and theatre, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre, stage management and acting from Berea College in Berea, Kentucky. She has recently worked under Robbie Taylor Productions as a production assistant and actress. She previously had the pleasure of working as an ASM at Tipping Point Theatre for Steel Magnolias, Grand Horizons, Little Women, Halftime with Don, and Lungs. She would like to show appreciation for her main support system, Micheal and their three wonderful boys, Michael, Ronald and Kenneth. Also, thank you to The Tipping Point Theatre for this opportunity.
Gianna "Gi" Bratke
Costume Designer
GIANNA (GI) BRATKE is very excited for their f irst production at Tipping Point as the Costume Designer for this year’s production of A Very Northville Christmas. They received their BFA in Theatre Tech & Design from Northern Michigan University in 2024 where Gi designed for many productions that have also received KCACTF Awards of Merit for Costume, Hair and/or Makeup Design. Recently they have costume designed shows such as 25th Annual… Spelling Bee and Million Dollar Quartet at Tibbits Summer Theatre as the Costume Shop Supervisor. Currently they pursue many creative personal projects in the constant effort to build skills and their portfolio.
Sebastian "Bash" Dahlgren
Scenic and Properties Designer
SEBASTIAN DAHLGREN is a props designer and artisan with experience in both technical direction and scenic fields. He has designed for collegiate shows, including The Rocky Horror Show and Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea with EMU Theatre as well as working with the Tibbits Opera House as a Technical Director. He has worked extensively as a scenic carpenter on shows such as Sweet Charity, A Year With Frog and Toad, and The Crucible, all with EMU Theatre. He has also dabbled in performance, appearing in The Crucible, Cyrano de Bergerac, and A Comedy of Errors during his undergraduate years. He is very excited to be working with Tipping Point this season.
Alison Dobbins
Projection Designer
ALISON DOBBINS Professor of Integrated Performance Media Design at Michigan State University, most recently designed projections for 900 Miles at Williamston Theatre, A Driving Beat at the Flint Repertory Theatre and is excited to be returning to the remount of A Very Northville Christmas at Tipping Point. Dobbins is the project director and creator of Dance Engine, Shark! The Interactive Musical, BranchOut, Mostly Human, The Poetic Dramas of Mina Loy and other interdisciplinary art projects that focus on audience engagement and creating community through performance.
Sonja Marquis
Sound Designer
SONJA MARQUIS is an award-winning actor, director, and sound designer. She has designed sound for many incarnations of A Very Northville Christmas and A Very Williamston Christmas and is thrilled to be on the team once again! Her most recent TPT credits include: Grand Horizons (sound designer), The Squirrels (sound designer), A Very Northville Christmas (Mom/Barb/Old Lady and sound designer), Steel Magnolias (Truvy), and Driving Miss Daisy (Wilde Award winner: Best Sound Design). Additional sound credits: Flint Rep, Williamston Theatre, Matrix Theatre Company, and Detroit Public Theatre. In addition to her time on stage and working on production teams, Sonja teaches sound design at Oakland University. Big thanks and gratitude to Dave, Tracy, Julia, Brian, and the entire AVNC team. Smooches to Mike!
Harley Miah
Lighting Designer
HARLEY MIAH is a freelance artist designing and programming lights for theatres, nightclubs, concerts and festivals across the country with IKO Global Productions. Harley is the resident Lighting Designer at Tipping Point Theatre, and Open Book Theatre where he’s earned Wilde Awards for Best Design – Lights for Red in 2014, and This Random World in 2022. His work can also be seen this season at the Williamston Theatre and The Inspired Acting Company. Harley spends his spare time with his loving partner Reyna spoiling their cats, traveling, and seeing as many shows as they can in this great theatre community we have in Southeast Michigan. He hopes you do the same.
SUBMIT UPDATES
Tipping Point Theatre Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
Tipping Point Theatre is at 361 E Cady Street, Northville, MI.
Lungs (5/7/25-6/1/25)
English (3/12/25-4/6/25)
Gene & Gilda (2/10/25-2/10/25)
Halftime with Don (1/22/25-2/16/25)
Little Women (11/20/24-12/21/24)
The Jigsaw Bride: A Frankenstein Story (10/28/24-10/28/24)
The Squirrels (4/10/24-5/5/24)
The Chinese Lady (2/7/24-3/3/24)
The Tipping Point is that one dramatic moment in an epidemic when everything can change all at once…and we’ve reached it in a BIG way! From operating as a “vagabond” theatre company under the umbrella of the Parks and Recreation department, performing in any empty space we could get our hands on and paying actors with smiles and applause – we opened in 2007 with big changes – tipping point changes! Incorporated as a professional, non-profit 501(c)3 organization in the state of Michigan, Tipping Point Theatre opened its doors as a professional Equity theatre company in our permanent facility in downtown Northville. TPT is currently under the direction of James R. Kuhl and led by Board President Nannette Ret. Join us in fulfilling our mission by continued participation as an audience member, actor, designer, donor and advocate for theatre in Michigan. Looking forward to seeing you “at the Point!”
Videos
 |
Scrooge in Rouge
The Inspired Acting Company (12/5 - 12/21) | |
 |
A Facility for Living
U of M Flint Theatre (12/11 - 12/21) | |
 |
Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812
Power Center for the Performing Arts (4/16 - 4/19) | |
 |
Disney's FROZEN
The Encore Musical Theatre Company (12/4 - 1/11) LIMITED TICKETS REMAIN
PHOTOS
VIDEOS
| |
|
Blue Man Group
Fox Theatre (2/20 - 2/22) | ||
|
Julius Caesar
Hilberry Gateway - Theatre and Dance at Wayne (2/6 - 2/15) | |
|
& Juliet
DeVos Performance Hall (3/10 - 3/15) | |
|
Musical Theatre Senior Showcase
Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre (5/3 - 5/3) | |
|
Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat — Live on Stage!
Miller Auditorium (4/4 - 4/4) | |
| VIEW SHOWS ADD A SHOW | ||
Get Michigan's #1 Theatre Newsletter
All the show news & discounts for Michigan & beyond.
