'Another Night Before Christmas'

Deck the Halls and Laugh in the Aisles  

Gulfshore Playhouse opens its season with the Florida Premiere of the new holiday musical, "Another Night Before Christmas," December 11^th-21^st at the Norris Center in Downtown Naples.           

This new holiday musical by Sean Grennan and Leah Okimoto, the creators of Gulfshore Playhouse's hit "Married Alive!" centers around a disillusioned woman Karol, with a lack of holiday spirit and an intruder claiming to be Santa Claus.  Is he just a burglar or is he really the right jolly old elf determined to help her find the true meaning of Christmas?  Audiences will find out as they enjoy this holiday show for the whole family.  

Kristen Coury, Founder and Producing Artistic Director says, "After the success of "Married Alive!" last spring I am sure our audiences will enjoy this touching, heart-warming and funny new musical by the same writers.  We are excited to be the second theatre in the country to produce this great new musical and continue to support the growth of new playwrights and composers in our country."           

The two person cast includes New York based actors Paul Romero and Ashley Puckett Gonzales. 

Paul Romero plays "the Guy" and has worked extensively in regional theatre across the country and on television on programs like Spin City, Law & Order, 100 Centre Street, Chappelle's Show, All My Children, Guiding Light and several late night talk shows.  Ashley Puckett Gonzales, who portrays Karol, has many regional credits, including locally at the Jupiter Maltz Theatre as Kathy in "Full Monty," has been seen in the 30^th Anniversary national tour of "Annie" and does voice over work for a handful of programs on Cartoon Network.  Both actors are making their Gulfshore Playhouse debut.    

Kristen Coury, Founder and Producing Artistic Director of Gulfshore Playhouse, will direct.  Previous productions under her direction for Gulfshore Playhouse include "Romeo and Juliet: Redefined," "Oleanna," "Life (x) 3" and "Married Alive!"  Her feature film, "Friends and Family" has been released worldwide and is available on DVD.  Kristen has directed countless readings and new works, including mounting the World Premiere of a new musical by Tony Nominee Brian Lane Green, "Waiting for the Glaciers to Melt" in New York City, as well as productions for the Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy series in Raleigh, NC.  She has worked for the English Shakespeare Company, in press and marketing, Disney Theatrical on international productions of "Beauty and the Beast" and for Andrew Lloyd Webber's production company, Really Useful, on the Broadway production of "Sunset Boulevard" and the National Tour of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." 

Rounding out the creative team are: Curtis Jones Set Designer, Lisa Soverino Lighting Designer, Jamie Carmichael Props Master, and Jackie Morelisse Costume Designer.  

"Another Night Before Christmas" features the Musical Direction and accompaniment of Justin Hatchimonji.  Based in Manhattan, Justin trained at Yale and most recently served as Assistant Musical Director for workshop productions of a revival of Cole Porters "Can Can" and "Catch Me if You Can," the new musical based on the film of the same title, with music and lyrics by "Hairspray" authors Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. 

"Another Night Before Christmas" will be presented exclusively at the Norris Center, 7558^th Avenue South Naples, December 11^th through 21^st.  Tickets start at $30 and are available by calling (866) 811-4111 or at www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org.  Rush tickets are also available for $10 one hour before the performance, subject to availability.

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