Virginia Rep to Open THE CHARITABLE SISTERHOOD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR at Hanover Tavern

Virginia Repertory Theatre opens the World Premiere of The Charitable Sisterhood Christmas Spectacular: A Mystery Play, Friday, December 2, at Hanover Tavern. The show runs through the holidays and closes January 1.

Christmas Spectacular is the sequel to 2014's hilarious hit Charitable Sisterhood of Second Trinity Victory Church, both written by Richmond playwright Bo Wilson. Wilson reunites the same beloved characters from the original Charitable Sisterhood. With their trademark sense of humor and wit, the ladies put their good works behind the Christmas Spectacular to solve a Christmas Eve mystery.

The production is directed by Joe Pabst, seen in last year' s The Fabulous Lipitones at Hanover Tavern, and in Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tartuffe, Equivocation, and V anya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at the November Theatre. Pabst's directing credits for Virginia Rep include Driving Miss Daisy, The Odd Couple, Greater Tuna, and Always... Patsy Cline.

From the original cast are: Jan Guarino (Busytown, God of Carnage, Lend Me a Tenor, Nunsense, with Virginia Rep) Donna Ma rie Miller (The Golden Goose at Virginia Rep, Caroline, Or Change with Cadence Theatre in partnership with Virginia Rep, Rapture Blister Burn with 5th Wall Theatre, and Much Ado About Nothing with Quill Theatre), Catherine Shaffner (Steel Magnolias, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and N unsense for Virginia Rep, and 'night Mother with Firehouse Theatre) and Debra Wagoner (Always... Patsy Cline, Tartuffe, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at Virginia Re p). Jody Smith Strickler (Mame for Virginia Rep, August: Osage County for Cadence Theatre in partnership with Virginia Rep) joins the cast as Lucille Orton.

For tickets, contact the Box Office at (804) 282- 2620 or go online at www.virginiarep.org. Full Price Tickets: $38. Discounted Group Rates available. Evening performances at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Matinee performances at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Virginia Repertory Theatre is the regional professional theatre in Richmond, Virginia. With a budget of $5 million, four distinct venues, an educational touring arm, and an annual audience over 530,000, Virginia Rep is one of the largest performing arts organizations in Central Virginia. Virginia Rep stages four seasons annually: the Signature Season at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, Theatre Gym Season in partnership with Cadence Theatre Company, Virginia Rep's Children's Season at Willow Lawn, and the Hanover Tavern Season.