Gloucester Stage to Present EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME!)

Gloucester Stage proudly presents the holiday comedy, Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) by Michael Carleton, Jim FitzGerald and John K. Alvarez with original music by Will Knapp from December 3 through December 20 at Gloucester Stage, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA. The Grinch, Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, Charlie Brown, and George Bailey-and just about every other holiday character-make an appearance in this hilarious comedy when three actors decide to retell every Christmas story ever told in only 90 minutes rather than perform yet another rendition of A Christmas Carol. This fast-paced and funny romp for all ages features holiday traditions from around the world, a sing-along of every carol ever sung, audience participation and all your holiday favorites reshaped into something entirely new. Directed by 2015 Directing Apprentice Allison Benko in her professional directing debut with a set design by 2015 Scenic/Construction Apprentice Rogin Farrer, Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) features three actors: Brady Adair, Arthur Gomez and Suzan Perry all making their Gloucester Stage debut in this comic holiday treat. Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm. from December 3 through December 20. Tickets are $26 for Adults and $11 for Children 12 years old and under. For more information and to purchase tickets, call the Gloucester Stage Box Office at 978-281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.com.

Director Allison Benko makes her professional directorial debut with Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!). She is currently completing a residency with Gloucester Stage as the theatre's inaugural Directing Apprentice. During her Gloucester Stage residency she has directed the staged readings of 2015 Playwriting Apprentice Lucas Baisch's The Scavengers, Sarah Ruhl's In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) as well as the Gloucester Stage events: The Arthur Miller Centennial and PRIDE. Ms. Benko served as assistant director on every Gloucester Stage mainstage production during the 2015 season, and also understudied the role of Rose in The Flick. She holds a B.A. in Drama from Tufts University, her directing experience at Tufts University includes A Doll's House: An Opera, She Loves Me, and Twelfth Night. Ms. Benko has studied puppetry with master puppeteer Faye Dupras, and acting at the British-American Dramatic Academy.

Massachusetts native Set Designer Rogin Farrer is a theatrical designer and carpenter. A recent graduate of Vassar College, he is currently completing his residency at Gloucester Stage as theatre's inaugural Scenic/Construction Apprentice. As a lighting and scenic designer, Mr. Farrer approaches his work with a holistic sensibility and an interest in all elements of the production working together as a unified whole. His design credits include lighting design for Passion Play, and Arcadia at the Vassar College Experimental Theater, scenic design for The Mousetrap with the Philaletheis Society, and assistant lighting design for Red at Portland Stage.

Massachusetts native Suzan Perry was born in North Dighton, Massachusetts. Currently she can be seen as Sonja in the NETFLIX Original Series, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and in a TD Ameritrade commercial Some of her favorite roles are Helga ten Dorp in Deathtrap, Aida in Over the River and Through the Woods, Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit, Betty Meeks in The Foreigner, and Abby in Arsenic and Old Lace.

Prior to appearing at Gloucester Stage Arthur Gomez played B in Rough for Theatre at Salem State College, Flick in Violet with Marblehead Little Theatre, Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing with The Actors Company, and Mitch Mahoney in The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee at the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport , MA.

Actor Brady Adair most recently played Duncan in Leading Ladies with The Millbrook Playhouse in addition to developing the role of Julian for a 2016 NYC production of the new play, Wigfield. During his career Mr. Adair has played more than 55 roles in a wide range of theatre and film productions. His New York credits include: Our Town with Tongue in Cheek Theater, Dulcy at Zephyr Repertory Theatre and Troilus and Cressida with American Theatre of Actors as well as new works with Manhattan Children's Theatre. Mr. Adair's regional credits include: The Santaland Diaries at Cape May Stage, The 39 Steps and Singin' In The Rain at Lees-McRae Summer Theatre, The Foreigner and Dial M for Murder with The Millbrook Playhouse, The Taming of the Shrew at New England Shakespeare Festival and the world premiere of All Quiet on the Western Front at the Roxy Regional Theatre. His film and television credits include The Oracle, Mistaken Identity, Law and Order, and The Forensic Files.

Playwright John K. Alvarez is the ninth out of ten children and he was raised by two parents who encouraged him to write. Coming from a large family, it was not hard for Mr. Alvarez to know practically every Christmas story, since he has heard them many times over the years. In addition to Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!), Mr. Alvarez has collaborated with other writers on other plays, such as The Trial of Blackbeard, The Pirate (with The Shaky Pudding Players) and Cape May on Fire (with Eric Hissom and Michael Laird) as well as writing plays all by himself, such as A Voice in the Mist, Uncle John's Christmas Story, and Losing Myself (in palaces of sand). Playwright Michael Carleton is the Artistic Director of Cape May Stage in New Jersey. He directs frequently at regional theatres around the United States. As a playwright his plays include Michelangelo's Ladder, Anais Nin: An Unprofessional Study, and Hyde, in the Shadows. He is a lifetime member of the Actors Studio in New York. Playwright James FitzGerald is a Chicago-based actor who has earned two Joseph Jefferson Awards for Best Supporting Actor, a Jeff Citation for Best Actor, and has appeared for 16 seasons with Chicago Shakespeare Theater as well as many other theaters in the Chicago area. Mr. FitzGerald is also a co-author of...Two for the Show..., a rollicking musical vaudeville, and winner of the 2006 After Dark Award for Best New Work.

Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) by Michael Carleton, Jim FitzGerald and John K. Alvarez with original music by Will Knapp runs December 3 through December 20 at Gloucester Stage, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm. Tickets $26 for Adults and $11 for Children 12 years old and under. For more information and to purchase tickets, call the Gloucester Stage Box Office at 978-281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.com

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