It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas was a 2017 original Musical Theatre Production with a "variety show" twist, produced in partnership with Cue The Lights Productions, written and directed by Liana Del Mastro, musical direction by Darnell Thomas, with choreography by Tamerra Herres. It premiered on Saturday 17th December, 2017 at The City Playhouse Theatre in Thornhill, ON.
Synopsis:
The theatre will be transformed into a lavish estate where a ritzy "Christmas House Party" is being held. The show breaks the "4th wall" by providing an immersive and sensory experience for the audience. Christmas sights, smells, sounds and tastes will transport the audience into the life of the story. Audience members, essentially, become the "guests" of the house party and are treated to a Pre-Show Soiree where they are allowed to tour the house (theatre) and even step onto the stage and get a drink at the bar. At show time, the "guests" will take their seats and more "guests" (the performers) arrive on stage. The hosts, two old childhood friends, do their best to bring everyone into the Christmas spirit and even treat all guests to food and drinks and "live entertainment".
But just when it’s really beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas, the party mood begins to change and things take a turn for the worse. The morale and Christmas spirit is tainted as the guests are asked to decorate the tree as part of the festivities and share a Christmas memory. The party guests begin to dig deeper and realize they all have issues with each other and with the Christmas season itself. Like a bad smell, the annoyance starts to spread, leading to slapstick and comical moments. Through all this, the guests talk about the memories of Christmas past, many hilarious and annoying family antics. Much to the dismay of the hosts, the parties’ positive Christmas vibe changes, taking a turn for the worse, and hilarity ensues as the guests begin to bicker and lose all Christmas spirit. Frantically, the hosts try to regain control of their party and restore the spirit of the season. The hosts draw on the fondest of memories with the guests, and every time their spirit is lifted, the Stage Christmas tree lights up. By the time all the "on-stage guests" come around and the Christmas Spirit is restored, the tree is fully decorated, lit and the story of the meaning of Christmas is told.
