Broadway Onstage to Present CHRISTMAS BELLES, 12/6-21

The twentieth season of Broadway Onstage Live Theatre and the thirty-third, and final, season of Dennis Wickline Productions, Inc. continues with the return of CHRISTMAS BELLES, a delightful Holiday Comedy by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten when it opens on Friday, December 6 at the Eastpointe Theatre. Running Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm through December 21, the production will also be offered during two special 2pm Sunday Matinees on Sunday, December 8 and Sunday, December 15.

Broadway Onstage Live Theatre is located at 21517 Kelly Rd. at Toepfer (8 ½ Mile Rd.) in Eastpointe. The theatre is the home of the patented TeeVeeStage Presentation system, which employs cameras above the audience and monitors above the stage to provide audience members with different viewing perspectives of the live stage performance. Broadway Onstage Live Theatre is also the home of Dennis Wickline Productions, Inc., which began producing Non-Equity professional Live Theatre on the Eastside of Detroit in February of 1980.

CHRISTMAS BELLES takes place in the town of Fayro, Texas, and the Futrelle Sisters-Frankie, Twink and Honey Raye-are not exactly in a festive mood. Frankie is weeks overdue with her second set of twins. Twink, recently jilted, is in jail for inadvertently burning down half the town. And hot-flash-suffering Honey Raye is desperately trying to keep the Tabernacle of the Lamb's Christmas Program from spiraling into chaos. But things are not looking too promising: Miss Geneva, the ousted director of the previous twenty-seven productions, is ruthless in her attempts to take over the show. The celebrity guest Santa Claus-played by Frankie's husband, Dub-is passing a kidney stone. One of the shepherds refuses to watch over his flock by night without pulling his little red wagon behind him. And the entire cast is dropping like flies due to food poisoning from the Band Boosters' Pancake Supper. And when Frankie lets slip a family secret, all hope for a successful Christmas program seems lost, even with an Elvis impersonator at the manger. But in true Futrelle fashion, their hilarious holiday journey through a misadventure-filled Christmas Eve is guaranteed to bring joy to your world!

A great cast of area professionals and Broadway Onstage favorites will make this a very festive Holiday Production once again. Portraying the Futrelle sisters are Elizabeth Rager, Sarah Lynn Oravetz and Sharron Nelson as Honey Raye, Frankie, and Twink respectively. Ms. Rager and Ms. Nelson were just seen in THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES at Broadway Onstage. Ms. Rager was also seen as Honey Raye in last season's production of CHRISTMAS BELLES. Ms. Oravetz appeared in THE PROBLEM OF CELL 13 and THE BROADWAY ONSTAGE MURDERS several seasons seasons ago as well as creating the role of Frankie last season. Rick Mason will return as Dub and Don Couture will appear as John Curtis once again. Mr. Mason was also seen as Michael in GOD OF CARNAGE at the Eastpointe theatre last season and Mr. Couture took on the role of Max in DIAL "M" FOR MURDER last season as well. Broadway Onstage favorite John Arden McClure will again be seen as Justin, the local minister and CeCe Reuter Lesner will appear as Patsy, the local busybody. Mr. McClure was just seen as Sherlock Holmes in THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES and Ms. Lesner has appeared at Broadway Onstage on numerous occasions, frequently taking on the role of Dorothy in the original Christmas Comedy THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS. Kate Dickinson returns to the role of Gina Jo, Dub and Frankie's older daughter, and Jane Burkey will again be seen as Geneva, the former director of the Christmas Program. Ms. Dickinson was seen in Grosse Pointe Theatre's production of HAIRSPRAY several seasons ago and Ms. Burkey has directed a number of shows at Broadway Onstage, including the recent HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES. The cast is completed by Stella Woitulewicz returning as Rhonda Lynn and Dan Woitulewicz returning as Raynerd, the wagon-pulling shepherd. Mr. and Mrs. Woitulewicz have appeared at Broadway Onstage on several occasions, as well as with Eastpointe Players and Matrix Theatre. The production is under the able direction of veteran director Beverly Dickinson. Ms. Dickinson has directed a number of productions for Grosse Pointe Theatre, Stagecrafters, and Birmingham Village Players. Ms. Dickinson recently said of her involvement in directing the production, "I had to chuckle last year when Dennis first produced CHRISTMAS BELLES. I had more fun than anyone on the stage. This show is a riot and the cast lives up to it! Actually, Dennis and I have known each other for over 25 years. I've performed for his company and he and I have worked together at Grosse Pointe Theatre." Ms. Dickinson will also be directing GPT's production of LES MISERABLES this coming spring.

Tickets for Opening Night Friday, December 6 are $15. Tickets for all other performances are $18. Group Rates and Performances are available. Again, Broadway Onstage is located at 21517 Kelly Rd. at Toepfer (8 1/2 Mile Rd.) in Eastpointe, Michigan. Ticket Reservations are recommended by calling (586) 771-6333.

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