Blackfriars Stages Original New Play by Local Comics

Blackfriars Theatre rings in the holiday season with The Flight Before Christmas, an original comedic play by three of Rochester's most beloved comics. This laugh-out-loud piece was conceived and written by the creative team of Abby DeVuyst and Kerry Young, who created Rochester Fringe Festival favorites Bushwacked and Hot Tub: The Musical, together with Jeff Andrews, who has been heralded by CITY Newspaper as a "supremely gifted comedian."

Ladies and gentlemen, put your seats in their full and upright positions, stow your worries in the overhead compartment, and fasten your seatbelts for a comedic descent into the real meaning of Christmas. When a group of eccentric passengers are stranded in a not-so-winter wonderland, they pool their resources, skills, and bags of salty nuts to make the most of their seemingly hopeless situation.

The trio of comics star in this fast-paced show, backed up by an equally hilarious ensemble, causing the audience not only to belly laugh, but also to reflect.

The show's director, Stephanie Roosa, is thrilled to be involved in the creation of a new work. "We are the first to mold it-to make it what it is, and to be the reference back whenever it is performed again, she says. "The opportunity to work with this immensely talented cast, on this well-written hilarious play, is a director's dream come true."

Kerry Young, one of the writers and stars of the show, adds that writing with fellow improvisers was especially rewarding. "By using the tenets of improvisational theatre to guide our work together, we were able to set aside egos and build off each other's ideas," she said. "We used improvised dialogue to develop ideas, so having three of us to do that was different from a solo writing experience. And as an actor, seeing and hearing it come to life from that vantage point is terrifying and thrilling at the same time.

The cast features the talents of Jeff Andrews as Mr. Kim Wong, Abby DeVuyst as Dr. Ann Quinn, Abby Kate Herron as Mary Ruth Martha Sarah Hannah Miriam Shrock Yoder, Megan Mack as Helen Cleaver, BJ Scanlon as Rudy Butnik, John Forrest Thompson as Deke Slider, and Kerry Young as Carol. The show is directed by Stephanie Roosa.

The Flight Before Christmas will play at Blackfriars Theatre beginning December 16 through December 30. Performances are Fridays, December 16, 23, and 30 at 8:00 p.m; Saturday, December 17 at 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, December 18 at 2:00 p.m.; Wednesdays, December 21 and 28 at 7:30 p.m.; and Thursdays, December 22 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $28.50-$36.50 and available in person at Blackfriars Theatre, online at www.blackfriars.org, or by calling 585-454-1260. Senior and student discount tickets are available online or through the Box Office. If available, tickets can be purchased at the door beginning one hour prior to performance. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover are accepted at no additional charge.

There will also be a special New Years Eve performance of The Flight Before Christmas on at 8 p.m. on Saturday, December 31st. Tickets are available for $45 and include a pre-show reception with wine and snacks.

Blackfriars Theatre, a professional, not-for-profit theatre, is located at 795 East Main Street. Parking is available on site. Handicapped seating is available. For more information regarding Blackfriars Theatre, please visit www.blackfriars.org.

Pictured: Megan Mack, Abby Kate Herron, Jeff Andrews, Kerry Young, John Forrest Thompson, BJ Scanlon and Abby DeVuyst.

Photo by Dan Howell

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