Everybody's favorite holiday bitch is back and she's meaner then ever in the return of CHRISTMAS DEAREST, Hell in a Handbag Productions' Joan Crawford-infused parody of A Christmas Carol by David Cerda, directed by Steve Love. CHRISTMAS DEAREST plays now through December 30, 2015 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. The press opening is tonight, December 4 at 7:30 pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
David Cerda returns as Joan Crawford with co-star Ed Jones as Carol Ann, Joan's trusted maid and confidante. The cast also includes: Frankie Leo Bennett, Chazie Bly, Kristopher Bottrall, Alexa Castelvecchi, Grant Drager, Rachel Hadlock, Chad Ingold, Shiv Mann, Christina Parent, Jamie Smith and Robert Williams with Caitlin Jackson as Bette Davis.
'Twas the night before Christmas and MGM's biggest star, Miss Joan Crawford, is filming the title role in "Oh Mary," a splashy new musical biography about The Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Poor Joan needs a drink. And a REWRITE! Jesus has all the best lines, the costumes aren't sexy at all, and the guy playing Joseph is a big clumsy oaf! If they will just do it Joan's way maybe she can salvage the picture. Join Handbag as Joan visits her shady past, her appalling present and her eye-popping future -- in a tale of glamorous redemption set to music.
Tickets are available at www.handbagproductions.org.
Photo Credit: Rick Aguilar Studios
'A Holiday Kickline' - Joan Crawford (David Cerda, center) and the cast of 'Oh Mary,' the new MGM musical adaptation of the Virgin Mary's close their opening number with a big Broadway kick-line
'A Manger Spectacular' - Flanked by The Wise Men and barn animals, Joan Crawford (David Cerda, center) sings 'I'm Mary,' the opening number of her latest film, a musical adaptation of the life of The Virgin Mary
'Mary's Got Gams' - Surrounded by all of her biblical extras, Joan Crawford (David Cerda, center) shows off her gams as The Virgin in the opening number
'Two Old Broads' - Joan Crawford (David Cerda) and Bette Davis, the Ghost of Christmas Future (Caitlin Jackson) bemoan the fate of women in Hollywood
'Merry Christmas, Christina' - Vernita (Robert Williams) looks on as Christina Crawford (Frankie Leo Bennett) opens her Christmas present from her beloved Mommie Dearest, Joan Crawford (David Cerda) as Carol Ann (Ed Jones) watches
'Puppet Family Values' - Teeny Teena (Frankie Leo Bennett) with her Mama's Vernita (Robert Williams) and Carol Ann (Ed Jones) sing a holiday tune with puppeteer Rachel Hadlock
'The Beast Christmas Ever' (clockwise from top) - The shepherd (Kristopher Bottrall), Lamb #1 (Frankie Leo Bennett), Ass (Caitlin Jackson) and Lamb #2 (Alexa Castelvecchi) are singing Joan Crawford's praises in a musical holy manger scene
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