Manhattan Theater Source Presents Five Holiday Shows 12/8

MANHATTAN THEATRE SOURCE PRESENTS FIVE HOLIDAY SHOWS DECEMBER 8 – 28, 2008

Manhattan Theatre Source (James Lawson, Artistic Director) announced its holiday line-up today.  The theatre will present work by Mac Rogers (2007 FringeNYC Outstanding Playwrighting Award winner), Sharon Fogarty (Chicago City Limits Touring Company), Jason Grossman, Greg Oliver Bodine and Julie Perkins throughout December.

It's A Wonderful (One Man Show) Life, A Christmas Carol, The St. Ignatius First Annual Hanakkuh Pageant, Witch Christmas! and Julie Perkins' OFF-White Christmas will perform in repertory December 8 through 28 at the Source's Washington Square Park home (177 MacDougal Street).

Jason Grossman's It's A Wonderful (One Man Show) Life, a solo adaptation of Frank Capra's classic film, kicks off the three-week holiday craze.  Grossman performs versions of each of Bedford Falls' events - morphing from Annie to Zuzu - to create an intimate portrayal of George Bailey's compromised dreams, financial ruin, suicidal turning-point and triumphant realization.  Sharon Fogarty directs.  It's A Wonderful (One Man Show) Life performs December 8, 10, and 12 at 8:00 pm and December 14 and 21 at 3:00 pm.

A Christmas Carol is based on the condensed version Charles Dickens used on his historic reading tours of the United States.  In this one-man play, Dickens' luggage is lost, and he regretfully announces that he will be unable to read from his beloved classic, "A Christmas Carol." All is not lost however; Dickens (Greg Oliver Bodine) delivers what he promised by performing from memory the magical story of Ebenezer Scrooge's journey from miserliness to redemption with warmth and humor.  Performances are December 9 and 11 at 8:00 pm.

The St. Ignatius First Annual Hanukkah Pageant comes from the team behind FringeNYC hits Fleet Week and Hail Satan, Mac Rogers and Sean and JorDana Williams.  In this ode to Hanakkuh, the Rosenblums move to Cricket Creek, North Dakota, and the townspeople hail their very first Jewish residents by celebrating the adorable Jewish version of Christmas called Hanukkah. After exhaustive research into Jewish history and humor, drama club president/playwright/director/auteur Arlene proudly unveils the St. Ignatius First Annual Hanukkah Pageant.  Performances are December 15, 16, 18, 19 and 22 at 7:00 pm.

Witch Christmas! is a holiday musical wicked enough for adults, yet appropriate for children.  Witch Christmas! features two evil hoarders, who fill their creepy, old house to the rafters with useless crap.  Determined to have a holiday soiree, but with no room to fit more witches in, the two harridans adopt three innocent children from the local orphanage to clean the house.  Only a seductive Santa Claus can save the day.  Witch Christmas! is written and directed by Sharon Fogarty. Performances are December17, 19, 22, 23, 27, 28 at 8:00 pm and December 20 at 3:00 pm.

Julie Perkins' OFF-White Christmas is a variety show homage to Irving Berlin's holiday extravaganza.  Equal parts irreverence and schmaltz, the show features 12 new holiday skits.  Performances are December 13, 14, 15, 16, 20 and 21 at 8:00 pm.

All tickets are $18.  Advance tickets are available at www.theatermania.com or by calling (212) 352-3101.  Manhattan Theatre Source is located at 177 MacDougal Street, between Waverly Place and West 8th Street.

Open since 2000, Manhattan Theatre Source (the Source) is an arts service and producing organization located in the heart of Greenwich Village. Recently named "one of the top five Off-Off Broadway theaters" by New York Magazine, the Source launched musical [title of show] and was home to the world premieres of Coronado by Dennis Lehane (Mystic River) and Richard Vetere's Machiavelli and the New York premiere of Keith Reddin's All the Rage.

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