The Phoenix Theatre Presents A VERY PHOENIX CHRISTMAS

Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis announces the premiere of A Very Phoenix Xmas X: O Come, Let Us Adore Us opening November 27, 2015 on the Steve and Livia Russell Stage. This production runs through December 20, with Bryan Fonseca serving as director.

ABOUT THE PLAY

It's year 10 of A Very Phoenix Xmas, and this year will be X-tra special! We're back with another round of all new sketches, songs, and dances, and in honor of this anniversary year, we may even bring back a few favorites. We've got everything on your list: traditional holiday music, madcap comedy skits, and some very talented people to help you celebrate this most joyful-and stressful-time of year. An Indy favorite!

THE DIRECTOR

For 33 years, Bryan Fonseca has served as the Producing Director of the Phoenix Theatre. He previously worked in Indianapolis as the Producing Director of the Broad Ripple Playhouse and the assistant to the Producing Director at the Civic Theatre of Indianapolis. He was a founder and first Artistic Director of The Company Players in his hometown of Gary, Indiana. Bryan has directed for the MFA Playwrights Workshop at the Kennedy Center, The Human Race Theatre, Indiana University, Ball State University, and the Civic Theatre of Indianapolis. Over the years, he transferred six Phoenix shows to Chicago. Bryan has received an Achievement and Service award from the Indiana Theatre Association, two Artist Fellowship awards from the Indiana State Arts Commission and two Creative Renewal Fellowships from the Arts Council of Indianapolis/Lilly Endowment. He is the first recipient of the Transformational Impact Fellowship from the Arts Council of Indianapolis, with the generous funding support of Lilly Endowment Inc. In addition to his work at the Phoenix, he is an adjunct professor at IUPUI and lectures frequently at Butler University and the University of Indianapolis. He has served on the board of the National New Play Network and developed and served as the first president of the League of Indianapolis Theaters.

THE CAST

The cast includes Scot Greenwell, Paul Hansen, Olivia Huntley, Rob Johansen, Eric J. Olson, Sara Rieman, Lincoln Slentz, Gayle Steigerwald, and special appearance by Deb Mullins.

Scot Greenwell has appeared in more than 20 productions at the Phoenix over the last nine years, including five editions of A Very Phoenix Xmas.

Paul Hansen is returning to the Xmas cast after A Very Phoenix Xmas 8: Angels We Have Heard While High, though he most recently appeared on the Phoenix stage in Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play.

Olivia Huntley was a part of Phoenix Theatre's production of American Idiot, as well last year's A Very Phoenix Xmas 9: Flashing Through the Snow.

Rob Johansen returns to the Phoenix stage after his most recent appearance as Harry Dangle and Alfie in the 2015-16 season opener One Man, Two Guvnors. Rob was also a member of the cast in A Very Phoenix Xmas 9: Flashing Through the Snow.

Eric J. Olson, also now the Phoenix's Director of Development, is back after his most recent roles in American Idiot and Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play, but Phoenix Xmas enthusiasts may also recall him from A Very Phoenix Xmas 8: Angels We Have Heard While High.

Sara Rieman is returning for her sixth Xmas show, and appeared most recently on the Phoenix stage in Rancho Mirage and Love, Loss, and What I Wore.

Lincoln Slentz was a part of last year's A Very Phoenix Xmas 9: Flashing Through The Snow, as well as American Idiot.

Gayle Steigerwald returns to the Phoenix stage yet again after her most recent role in Love, Loss, and What I Wore. Her most recent Xmas show was A Very Phoenix Xmas 6: Our Goose is Cooked.

THE CURATORS

Along with Director Bryan Fonseca, A Very Phoenix Xmas X: O Come, Let Us Adore Us is being curated by Playwright-in-Residence and Contributing Writer Tom Horan. This will be his third year curating and contributing to A Very Phoenix Xmas. Recently his play, Typhoid Mary, received development help from Stage West Theatre, The Lark Play Development, the 2014 NNPN Showcase and went on to premiere at the Phoenix. This season he will be developing two productions: Acid Dolphin Experiment, a kaleidoscopic look at the life of John C. Lilly and Leyenda, a collaborative creation with Bryan Fonseca based off Latino Folk Tales.

TICKETS

Tickets for A Very Phoenix Xmas X: O Come, Let Us Adore Us are on sale now. Tickets are $30.00 per person on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, $35.00 per person on Fridays and Saturdays, and $22.00 for anyone 21 & under. During CheapSeats Weekend, November 27-29, all tickets are $22. Tickets for A Very Phoenix Xmas X: O Come, Let Us Adore Us may be purchased by calling the box office at 317.635.7529 or visiting phoenixtheatre.org. Curtain times for the production are: Wednesdays at 7 pm, Thursdays at 7 pm, Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm.

ABOUT THE PHOENIX THEATRE

The Phoenix Theatre is Indiana's only professional contemporary theatre, and has presented productions to challenge and entertain the Indianapolis community for over 32 years. An Equity house, the Phoenix presents the Midwest and Indiana premieres of many popular Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, and has presented more than 96 world premieres. The Phoenix operates the 130-seat proscenium Livia and Steve Russell Theatre as well as the 75-seat cabaret-style black box Frank and Katrina Basile Stage.

Both venues are housed along with administrative offices in a renovated 1907 church in downtown Indianapolis' historic Chatham Arch neighborhood - part of the Mass Ave Arts and Culture District. The Phoenix Theatre is a founding member of the National New Play Network and the League of Indianapolis Theatres, and is supported by the Indiana Arts Commission, the Arts Council of Indianapolis, and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as local corporate and foundation funders and more than 400 individual donors.

To post a comment, you must register and login.