A PARK AVENUE CHRISTMAS By Ed Dixon to Make World Premiere

Maplewood thespian turned producer has caught the bug! Late June, Gregory Omar Osborne produced a rousing production of FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE. It was a successful first for Osborne, with ticket sales at 70% over a four show weekend. Less than six months after closing FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE Osborne will present the world premiere of A PARK AVENUE CHRISTMAS written by Ed Dickson at The Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, December 20th - 23rd, 2018, in Maplewood, NJ.

A PARK AVENUE CHRISTMAS, the new musical by Ed Dixon, takes place on December 24th, 1929 in the Hollingsworth Mansion on Park Avenue. At their annual party, Mr. Hollingsworth is dressed as Santa, but then so is a notorious jewel thief, and so is the hit man sent to dispatch Mr. Hollingsworth for his gambling debts... and who is that guy coming down the chimney? With its tuneful and whimsical score, gangsters, the stock market crash and mistaken identity, A PARK AVENUE CHRISTMAS is a very untraditional and very funny holiday romp.

Gregory Omar Osborne (Director/Choreographer) is a proud resident of Maplewood. A PARK AVENUE CHRISTMAS is Gregory's second production and is proud to bring this hilarious masterpiece to life with the help of his cast.The production is made possible by the township of Maplewood. He aims to continue to produce work and be the change he wants to see in theatre. What's a better way than to lead by example? He started his studies at Montclair State University. Since then Gregory worked with many choreographers most notably; Doug Elkins', the late Donald McKayle, & David Gordon. Gregory is a member of Actors Equity and Midtown Direct Rep here in Maplewood. His choreographic credits include: Once Upon A Mattress, Carrie, MEMPHIS, Children's Letters to God, and Two Gentlemen of Verona & FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE.

Ed Dixon (Playwright) won the Drama Desk Award last year for his one man play, GEORGIE: MY ADVENTURES WITH George Rose, directed by Eric Schaeffer.  This followed Ed's: CLOAK AND DAGGER, a musical, at the Signature Theatre in DC, also staged by artistic director, Eric Schaeffer, and L'HOTEL, his new play, at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre, produced for their 40th Anniversary Season by artistic director, Ted Pappas. Ed is the author/composer/lyricist of SHYLOCK (The York Theater) which garnered him his first Drama Desk Nomination. He wrote RICHARD CORY with the great American playwright, A. R. Gurney, on a Steinberg Grant from the Manhattan Theater Club. It was nominated for a Leon Rabin Award for best new work and at the NYMF Festival in New York it won the Festival Award and the Audience Prize. His FANNY HILL opened at Goodspeed Musicals and then the York Theater where it won a Dramalogue Award, two Dean's List Awards and was nominated for two Drama Desk Awards. CATHER COUNTY which opened at Playwright's Horizons won him a Leon Rabin Award at Lyric Stage in Dallas. And was voted one of the artistic highlights of the 2000 season. Ed's comic thriller, WHODUNIT... THE MUSICAL has had numerous productions all over the United States

Gregory brings together 15 diverse actors from New York and New Jersey for the event. Members of the cast includ: Jake Blakeslee, Dixie Carroll, Liesl Sabina Collazo, Lawrence Dandridge, Hans Peter Ericson, Kira Geiger, Michael Giorgio, Clair Rachel Howell, Jacob Martinez, Kat Moser, Chad Navarro, Justin Phillips, Samantha Randolph, & Chanel Teaboú & Duane Banks.

Produce, Director/Choreographer: Gregory Omar Osborne

Music Direction: Mark Schenfisch

Costumes: Lynne Oliver

Gregory Omar Osborne Inc., GOO, Inc., is dedicated to creating opportunities for minorities under the umbrella of arts and entertainment.

Tickets start at $20

Date: December 20th - 23rd, 2018

Venue: Burgdorff Center for The Performing Arts

10 Durand Rd, Maplewood, NJ 07040

Purchase tickets: visit www.gregoryomarosborne.com/parkavenue or call (862) 283-1235.