TEEN SANTA Opens This Week in New Haven

Pantochino Productions Inc, Connecticut's brand new, non-profit theatre company will open it's new holiday musical "Teen Santa!" on Thursday. The limited engagement of seven performances, December 15 - 18 will play at The Off-Broadway Theatre on Broadway in New Haven, Connecticut.

The cast features Evan Faram, Adrienne Griffiths, Jimmy Johansmeyer, Shelley Marsh Poggio, Marci Bing, Stavros Koumbaros, Hillary Perrone and Scott Redmond.

"Teen Santa!" is a wildly inventive new work featuring book and lyrics by award-winning playwright Bert Bernardi and a rock musical score by Justin Rugg. The musical chronicles the life of Chris, a seventeen year old boy, who discovers his super-hero powers of faith, hope and charity turn him a teenage Santa Claus. His belief in saving the spirit of Christmas changes the lives of his family, friends and the world!

The new musical also the talents of Connecticut's up and coming teen band, Nothing2Simple. The pop rock band features Nathaniel Schull (keyboards), Matt Velardi (guitar) and Marc Prescott (percussion). Bernardi directs the show, while Rugg serves as musical director. Pantochino's Jimmy Johansmeyer will not only appear in the musical, but will also serve as costume designer.

Pantochino recently debuted in New Haven with the wildly popular "Cinderella Skeleton, the Musical" in October, and also tours Connecticut schools with "The Bookworms."

Bernardi and Johansmeyer, founders of Pantochino are best known throughout Southern Connecticut for their inimitable brand of theatre for young audiences. Along with composer Simonelli, their work includes "Halloween High School," "Auntie Claus," and "Beau and the Beast" among others. Johansmeyer, who will also appear in the show, has designed costumes for off-Broadway, summer, regional and educational theatres across the country. Bernardi is not only a playwright, but also an actor and director who is recipient of the Connecticut Critic's Circle Tom Killen Award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre and has been called "The quirky, campy king of children's theatre in Connecticut."

"Teen Santa!" will be performed at The Off-Broadway Theatre located at 41 Broadway (behind the iconic Toad's Place), in New Haven. Performances are Thursday and Friday at 7:30pm, Saturday at Noon, 2:30pm and 5:30pm and Sunday at Noon and 2:30pm. All Seats are $15.00. Parking is available in the municipal lot on Broadway and Elm. More information and tickets are available at www.teensanta.com.

Photo: Evan Faram as Teen Santa

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