Christmas Follies Celebrates the Season at WOB

Without question, the most popular show of the season is The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre's holiday production. More often then not, many of the scheduled performances sell out before the show even opens. Each year, the theatre, which has become known for producing area and regional premiere productions of some of the newest and hottest Broadway shows, presents an original Christmas production. On tap for the 2010 holiday season is Christmas Follies: The North Pole Revue.

Over the last five years, holiday audiences have found themselves in the audience of a 1950s radio station on Christmas Eve; spending time with a loving, yet sometimes quirky, family as they are snowed in for the holidays; center floor of a popular department store as the shopping season heats up; and, one year, behind the scenes watching the show come to life on the stage as the producers write the show. This year's Christmas installment transports Way Off Broadway's guests to the North Pole shortly before Christmas as Santa Claus is holding auditions for the next Christmas Character who will be the next symbol of the season.

It isn't just the traditional winter characters who show up to audition for the part however. Classic figures from all of the holidays appear, taking their chance at Christmas stardom. From Jack Frost to the Easter Bunny, a mischievous leprechaun to the Tooth Fairy, everyone wants in on the action. No Christmas show at Way Off Broadway would be complete though, without taking time to remember what the true meaning of the season is all about. As is tradition, a living nativity focuses the spotlight on the true "star" of the season.

Christmas Follies' wide array of characters will be played by some of Way Off Broadway's most familiar veteran performers. Joining the cast are Trey T. Kiska, Sarah Melinda, Shawn Nakia, Rebecca Faye Shorr, Jordan Stocksdale, Susan Thornton, Jeremy Trammelle, and Taylor Whidden, with a special appearance by Santa Claus, himself.

Christmas Follies: The North Pole Revue was conceived and written by the theatre's Creative Director, Jordan Stocksdale, and is directed by Way Off Broadway's Managing Director, Justin M. Kiska, who has been very involved with the Christmas shows at the theatre having been the one who wrote each of the shows for the last five years.

"Jordan had a great idea for this year's Christmas show," says Kiska, "and while I had thought about taking a bit of a break after the last five years, once I read his script, I knew I wanted to direct this one."
"Justin and I have always had a good time working together," adds Stocksdale. "We have the same sense of humor and can play off of each other."
The most popular show of the season, Way Off Broadway's Christmas shows are fun for the whole family. Blending songs from Christmases past to present, Christmas Follies: The North Pole Revue will fill everyone with the holiday spirit.

Christmas Follies runs November 19, 2010 through January 8, 2011, with performances every Friday and Saturday evening; matinees on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sunday of each month; as well as special added Thursday performances on December 9th, 16th, and 23rd; and special Sunday evening performances on November 28th and December 12th. Tickets are $43 on Fridays, $45 on Saturdays, and $41 on Sundays and Thursdays.

For more information on Christmas Follies, or The Children's Theatre's production of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, visit www.wayoffbroadway.com or to purchase tickets, call the Box Office at (301) 662-6600.

Following Christmas Follies: The North Pole Revue, Way Off Broadway will kick off its 2011 Season with the area premiere of the musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone.
The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre has been a leader in the region's performing arts community since it first opened in 1995. Under the direction of the Kiska Family since 2002, WOB has produced such productions as A Funny Thing . . . Forum, Guys & Dolls, Steel Magnolias, Oklahoma!, Grease, Fiddler on the Roof, The Odd Couple, A Chorus Line, The Sound of Music, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Evita, and Cats, as well as the regional and area premieres of Neil Simon's The Goodbye Girl - The Musical, Jerry Herman's La Cage aux Folles, the musical comedy The Wedding Singer, Mel Brooks' The Producers, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Located along Route 40 West, the Golden Mile in Frederick, the theatre also produces a one-of-a-kind children's lunch theatre, as well as countless special events throughout the year. Way Off Broadway's 2011 Mainstage Season features The Drowsy Chaperone, Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific, Hairspray, Chicago, and Christmas Tidings.

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