Photo Flash: A VERY PHOENIX XMAS 5: REGIFTED at the Phoenix Theatre

The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis will produce A Very Phoenix Xmas 5: Regifted as its annual alternative holiday production from November 26 through December 19, 2010. This year's "regifted" production, conceived and directed by Phoenix Theatre Producing Director Bryan Fonseca, is truly the result of work-shopping Phoenix Xmas shows for the past four years and coming up with a "greatest hits" selection of music, sketches, videos and dances from past shows.

The variety show format embraced by all productions in the A Very Phoenix Xmas series is unique in Indianapolis and was born out of a need for the theatre to fulfill its mission and celebrate local talent, including actors, designers and playwrights. "We had included a holiday-themed play in our season for many years," stated Fonseca. "They were successful, but we felt that with all the talent available to us locally, we could build our own production by having all these gifted local artists work together and be a part of the process."

From the response to the theatre's first posting for holiday-themed sketches, it was obvious the playwright talent was out there. Each year small plays, sketches and monologues would roll in covering every conceivable holiday-from the more expected Christmas and Hanukkah efforts to the less conventional Talk-like-a-Pirate-Day sketch. The components that make up this year's production were in part voted on by the public-90% being from past shows with some new surprises thrown in-but, each of these chosen favorites has been revamped in some way for the Regifted production.

The on-line survey gave Phoenix patrons a way to voice their opinions on sketches, songs and musical production numbers they wanted to see again. The most remarkable and rewarding part of the survey turned out to be the free-form section where participants could make individual comments about the past shows. Results showed that the variety show format with its combination of irreverent and edgy sketches was not just a refreshing change to most of the holiday programming-it has become an alternative holiday tradition that brings generations of families and friends together for the holidays.

"The survey comments turned out to be the most gratifying part of the selection process," says Fonseca. "Responses ranged from simply ‘I love this show!' and ‘This has become part of my holiday tradition' to ‘As long as there's tap dancing!'" One response included details about parents bringing their college-age children to the Xmas show and finding out that Saturday Night Live-style comedy is something they have in common. "We also discovered that the Phoenix Staff videos were one of the most popular additions to last year's show," says Fonseca. "My personal favorite was ‘I love the Xmas show at the Phoenix because it is unique, just like the theatre.'"

Sketches that made the cut for this year's Regifted show include: Balls by George Cameron Grant (2008) about five ornaments boxed together and getting on each other's nerves; Death of a Snowman by Jack O'Hara (2006) that compares the life of a snowman with that of the proverbial salesman; and Oy Vey Maria by Mark Harvey Levine (2008) that gives the nativity scene an entirely new look through the eyes of a doting Jewish grandmother.

In addition to these and other sketches, this celebration of theatrical vaudeville will round out the evening with production numbers that include Disco Nativity by Scott Warrender (2006) and The Baby by Jack O'Hara (2006). By popular demand, a tap number will be included in this year's show. As always, there will be lots of surprises, including new versions of Phoenix Staff videos!

The cast includes three veterans of all the Phoenix Xmas productions: Sara Riemen, Michael Shelton and Gayle Steigerwald; two veterans of at least one of the Phoenix Xmas shows: Jason Gloye and Stephen Hunt and one cast member who is new to the Phoenix Xmas show but no stranger to local theatre: Claire Wilcher.

For A Very Phoenix Xmas 5: Regifted, Bryan Fonseca directs, Lori Raffel is Assistant Director, Kevin D. Smith is musical director, Tim Brickley is designing sound, Michael McNamara is designing lights, Ashley Kiefer is the costumer, Amanda Lynn Meyer will stage manage and Bryan Fonseca and Lori Raffel are designing the set.

Photo Credit: Julie Curry