A CHRISTMAS CARMELLA Returns To Woonsocket

Seven years ago, the ANT'NY CLAUS series debuted at Theatre Works in Woonsocket. Now, they're back, with the third show in the series - A CHRISTMAS CARMELLA. And it's being presented at the RISE Playhouse, the former home of Theatre Works.

Four shows were produced in the series at Theatre Works before it's closure, and the show was movedto Academy Players in Providence for another two years.

A CHRISTMAS CARMELLA is a spin-off of the first two ANT'NY CLAUS shows, with Ant'ny's mother-in-law, Carmella Senior, retelling "A Christmas Carol" to her two grandkids, Holly and Sonny. Because she's telling it from memory and her memory's a little fuzzy, the story gets a little fuzzy too. It's more Monty Python than Dickens, with a little bit of "The Carol Burnett Show" tossed in for good measure.

This show will mark the retirement of Mark Anderson, who's been performing in Rhode Island for the past three decades. He's been an integral part of the ANT'NY CLAUS series from the start, and stars as Scrugini. Remember, Carmella's memory is a little fuzzy.

The show opens December 8 and runs for two weekends, closing December 17.