CHRISTMAS BY COMMITTEE Premieres at Garden Theatre Tonight

The Garden Theatre will present the original world-premiere of Christmas by Committee: A Musical presented by Florida Hospital Winter Garden, showing tonight, December 5 - 21, 2014. Christmas by Committee is also sponsored by Insight Credit Union, Duke Energy, Foundation Academy and Toole's ACE Hardware.

"Christmas by Committee was inspired by Winter Garden," said Rob Winn Anderson, director and writer of the musical. "It's a new story but the heartbeat comes from the people here."

In Christmas by Committee: A Musical, the annual Citrus Village Christmas show is in a slump. With just the right amount of spunk and holiday know-how, a newcomer in the town may just have what it takes to get things back on track. But first she must convince the town's quirky Christmas committee - a surly band of misfits - that the season is more than just personal agendas and citrus-themed activities. In an original world premiere musical overflowing with song, dance and laughs, our holiday heroine must come to the rescue before it's too late!

"The Garden Theatre connected me with the folks at Winter Garden Heritage Foundation to meet with and gather stories from Christmas past," continued Anderson. "Some of those stories are in this show. And, some of the characters are sketches of people who have, and still do, inhabit this amazing town."

Anderson is a nationally-renowned local playwright. Last season, patrons were awed by his original, world-premiere drama Alice Lost in Wonderland and delighted by his direction and choreography of the Broadway musical, Hairspray. Anderson is a past winner of SART ScriptFEST, Southern Playwrights Competition, Christopher Brian Wolk Award for Playwriting and the 2013 Stanley Drama Award. His plays have appeared throughout the country including S. Appalachian Rep Theatre (North Carolina), Jacksonville State University (Alabama), GueriLA Theatre (California), Abingdon Theatre (NYC), and Clockwise Theatre (Illinois).

The cast of Christmas By Committee includes:
Shelby Griswold as Amy Reed
Reca Oakley as Mary Bee
Beryl Rochatka as Faye Webber
BambiEllen Fadoul as Patty Andrews
CK Anderson as Alex "Slam" Massey
David Chernault as Gus Campbell
Kevin Zepf as Mack Rayburn

Those who have previously appeared on the Garden Theatre stage include Beryl Rochatka (The Music Man, The Wizard of Oz) and CK Anderson (The Diviners and Biloxi Blues with Beth Marshall Presents, The Wizard of Oz, Hairspray).

Tickets are $29 for adults, $25 for seniors and students, and $12 for ages 12 and under on Saturday matinees. Show times are Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm and 8pm, Sundays at 2pm. There will be an Industry Night performance on Monday, December 15 at 8pm with $15 tickets.

For tickets, visit gardentheatre.org or contact the Garden Theatre Box Office at 407-877-GRDN (4736). Groups of 10 or more are eligible for discounts of up to 25% by contacting group sales manager Jana Goupil at 407-877-4736 x208.

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