Wayside Theatre Presents Glory Bea! ~A Shenandoah Christmas Story

Wayside Theatre Artistic Director Warner Crocker announced the cast and schedule for this year's holiday musical of "Glory Bea! ~A Shenandoah Christmas Story~." Wayside Theatre's Shenandoah Valley holiday tradition continues with the world premiere of "Glory Bea! ~A Shenandoah Christmas Story~ written by Rich Follett and Larry Dahlke. Rich Follett is a local author, writer, performer, musician, director, drama instructor, and High School Drama teacher and Larry Dahlke was a local performer and musician and now lives in Chicago. "Glory Bea! ~A Shenandoah Christmas Story~" production is sponsored by, McDonald's and Country Inn and Suites and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.

It is 1930's in the Shenandoah Valley and the Depression has hit hard the valley residents. Families need work and the CCC is providing jobs creating the Skyline Drive on the Blue Ridge. Promises are made. The Pineville Christmas Eve pageant will not be complete without its Christmas Cedar Tree. But, the blizzard of '33 is causing havoc on the family members trying to get home for Christmas through the blinding snowstorm. It's Christmas Eve - anything is possible on Christmas Eve. Hard times, an argument over a tree, a baby born at Christmas, a little girl lost in the snow, redbirds and angels...and a miraculous homecoming. The Christmas Tradition continues at Wayside Theatre for the Holidays.

The performances for "Glory Bea! ~A Shenandoah Christmas Story~ will begin on Saturday, November 26. The holiday extravaganza will run through December 24. There will be evening performances on beginning Wednesday, November 30th WINC Chain of Checks Night, Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm. Saturday matinee at 2:30pm and Sunday performances are 2:30pm and 6:30 PM. Week Night performances various from week to week, please check the calendar on the website. The week of Christmas there will be a Wednesday/Thursday/Friday Evening performance at 7:30 PM and Thursday and Friday, Christmas Eve matinee at 2:30 PM. Several performances are Sold Out.

This year's cast will be highlighted by Wayside audience favorites and will share roles: Robbie Limon (Southern Crossroads: A new Orleans Adventure, Southern Crossroads, The Buddy Holly Story, Hank Williams), Steve Przybylski (Striking 12, Shenandoah, Cotton Patch Gospel, Southern Crossroad musicals, Smoke on the Mountain Trilogy), Thomasin Savaiano (Steel Magnolias, Southern Crossroads, Smoke on the Mountain Trilogy, Buddy Holly Story, Shenandoah, A Murder, A Mystery, A marriage, A Christmas Carol), Katherine Yacko (Southern Crossroads, Smoke on the Mountain Trilogy, Buddy Holly Story, Shenandoah, A Murder, A Mystery, A marriage, A Christmas Carol), Andrew Crowe (A Christmas Carol), Matthew Baldoni (MacBeth, A Christmas Carol, Miracle on 34th Street, Southern Crossroads), Forrest Sassaman (A Christmas Carol, MacBeth), Jody Lee (Reunion, The Nerd, The Woman in Black), Dana Colagiovanni (Reunion, Steel Magnolias, The Nerd) Theresa McGuirk (A Christmas Carol), and newcomer Jason Labrador.

Each year's holiday production features a cast of local children: Patrick Bauserman (MacBeth, A Christmas Carol), Thomas Bauserman (A Christmas Carol), Forrest Limon (The Nerd, MacBeth, A Christmas Carol, Miracle on 34th Street), Jake Adams (MacBeth, Harry Houdini), Amanda Willis (A Christmas Carol), Audrey Nakagawa ( A Christmas Carol), Abby Buchholz, Lydia Hisey, Jessica Shostek, Dan Kurzenknabe, and Jordan Armel.

The musical is directed by Warner Crocker, Musical Director Steve Przybylski, Set design by Wes Calkin, Costumes by Tamara Carruthers and the Lighting and Projection Design by Wes Calken.

According to Crocker, "I'm excited to see an original musical on the stage about an actual event that happen in our area during the Great Depression and excited about the great cast we have assembled this year." Warner Crocker said, "Of all the programming we do at Wayside Theatre, in many ways "Glory Bea! ~A Shenandoah Christmas Story~ epitomizes how we see ourselves. Families come together to see the holiday productions year in and year out. Families also participate in the production. There is a terrific blend of professional actors and local performers. The only word I can use to describe the atmosphere at the theatre during this show may seem like a cliché, but that word is magical."

"Glory Bea! ~A Shenandoah Christmas Story~ will begin performances on Saturday, November 26 with one special discounted performance on November 26 for the 2:30 PM matinee performance with $20 Adult tickets available. Opening night is Sunday, November 27 at 6:30pm. Ticket prices are $25 to $30 with discounts for full-time students, seniors and groups of 20+ upon request. There are no discounts for Saturday night performances. Children (ages 5 - 17) are $10.00 for any performance. WINC Chain of Checks Night is Wednesday, November 30 at 7:30 PM. Single tickets and group packages can be obtained by calling the box office at (540) 869-1776. Additional information can be obtained on the theatre's website at www.waysidetheatre.org. Wayside Theatre is located in Middletown, Virginia on Route 11, Main Street, just north of the intersection of I-66 and I-81.