GREAT AMERICAN MELODRAMA Opens Holiday Extravaganza, 11/18--12/31

Looking to add some zing to your nostalgic holiday traditions? Don't let this holiday go by without experiencing an evening at The Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville. Rejuvenate your holiday spirit with Ebenezer Scrooge in the classic timepiece, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, tickle your funny bone with a fractured fairytale, Sleeping Beauty, or You Snooze, You Lose, then find the rhythm inside with the heart-warming Holiday Vaudeville Revue. The Holiday Extravaganza runs November 18 through December 31, and this year features some twists in the three-part evening.
 
Those who have made the Melodrama a holiday tradition for the past few years will immediately notice the first twist - Billy Breed, who has played the role of Ebenezer Scrooge for the past five years, and Chuck McLane, who has played the role of Ghost of Christmas Present for the past five years, are switching roles this season!
 
A Christmas Carol is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge (Chuck McLane), a sour, greedy, penny-pinching, stingy old miser who cares nothing for people and especially detests Christmas. While everyone around him is filled with kindness, like his jovial nephew, Fred (Daniel Self), or brimming with compassion like his faithful employee, Bob Cratchit (George Walker) or giving to charity like the aide workers (Andrew Beck and Leah Kolb), Scrooge says "Bah Humbug!" He views Christmas as  "a time for finding yourself a year older, and not an hour richer."
 
On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the tortured ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley (Billy Breed). Marley, a miser himself, comes to Scrooge in hopes of freeing him from his own fate by sending three ghosts to help achieve Scrooge's transformation. First to arrive is the Ghost of Christmas Past (Katie Worley), who transports Scrooge back in time to reveal glimpses of his childhood and his sister, Fan (Kerry DiMaggio). Next the Ghost of Christmas Present (Billy Breed) swoops Scrooge off to witness the family feast of Scrooge's near-impoverished clerk, Bob Cratchit and his wife (Bree Murphy) and their children (played by Christine Delaby and Saige Gardner of Nipomo, Nathan Miklas and Andrew Miklas of Oceano, Luke O'Leary and Miranda Schwartz Bolef of San Luis Obispo, and Isabella Melsheimer and Kaity Calahan of Santa Maria.)  Finally, The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come takes Scrooge to a grave to reveal the "shadows of what may be" if he doesn't change his ways. Scrooge awakens from his three journeys a different man, and gains the reputation of someone who embodies the spirit of Christmas! A Christmas Carol is directed by Katie Mack-Montenegro, with set design by Eric Hoit, lighting design by Gary Adams and costume and wig design by Jim Tanner.
 
Following A Christmas Carol is the fractured fairy-tale musical, Sleeping Beauty, or You Snooze, You Lose, written by Brad Carroll.  The familiar story of the lovely Princess Allura is given a number of twists as the Melodrama fractures the familiar story and blends it with classical music.  On the day of Allura's birth, her father, the King (Andrew Beck), has invited three fairies - Insomnia (Leah Kolb), Somnambula (Billy Breed) and Narcolepsia (Bree Murphy) - to offer their blessings on the child.  But the evil fairy, Perfidious (Suzy Newman), arrives uninvited and curses the child to one day prick her finger on a spindle and die.  Sixteen years later, the grown up Allura (Katie Worley), constantly watched over by the fairies, yearns to escape the castle and find true love.  Meanwhile, outside the castle a handsome Prince (George Walker) and his Squire (Chuck McLane) are looking for a wife for the Prince.  The story proceeds along as expected, until the point at which the fairies lose track of the Princess, the Prince reveals his lack of self-confidence, and the evil Perfidious arrives right at the end to add one final twist.  Loads of laughs await the audience in this delightful blend of music and comedy, directed by Eric Hoit with musical direction by JorDan Richardson.
 
The finale to the triple bill is the Holiday Vaudeville Revue, highlighting musical arrangements by JorDan Richardson and choreography by Michael Jenkinson. A fantastic way to end the evening, audiences will find themselves whistling tunes as they leave the theater.  Don't miss annual favorites The Rappin' Reindeer and the famous Melodrama Waterglass Orchestra! All in all, The Holiday Extravaganza is a terrific musical and theatrical experience, perfect for friends and family of all ages.
 
The Melodrama offers great food, snacks, desserts, beer & wine at the in-house pub. Many shows are added to the regular schedule to accommodate the demand for this show.   A performance calendar may be found at www.americanmelodrama.com.  This is the Melodrama's most popular show of the season, and tickets are selling fast, so reserve now!  For information on show times and reservations, call the Melodrama Box Office at 489-2499.  The Great American Melodrama has been presenting professional family entertainment since 1975 at its location on Highway 1 in Oceano, three miles south of Pismo Beach.