THE ASPHALT CHRISTMAS Begins Tonight at Theatre Row

Gracye Productions will bring back THE ASPHALT CHRISTMAS, the campy parody of all those wretched 40s and 50s Christmas films you watched as a kid. Author Todd Michael said "THE ASPHALT CHRISTMAS is The Bells of St. Mary's meets The Exorcist meets Going My Way with The Singing Nun thrown in too, in this insane spoof of Hollywood Christmas films. We tell the story of St. Celestine's annual holiday pageant, a 'possessed' 15 year old girl, her long-lost burlesque queen mother with a heart of gold, a singing priest with a past, and a couple of nuns who must deal with the devil within their convent walls. Betrayal, lust and eggnog - what more could anyone want at Christmas?"

First presented in 2011 at Theatre Row's Studio Theatre, this year THE ASPHALT CHRISTMAS will return to the larger Lion Theatre at 410 West 42nd Street. The Equity production will play Thursdays through Sundays with $18 tickets available through TeleCharge.com or (212) 239-6200.

TODD MICHAEL, who also plays Dixie, has written and appeared in Bad Dames Go To Hell, The Poverty Row Double Horror Show, The Cobra Lady Strikes, Say Your Prayers, Mug!, and Right Cross Rhapsody (Horse Trade Theatre Co.) The Greatest B-Movie Ever Told, Buddy Becker's Big Uncut Flick, and Vice Girl Confidential have all been seen at FringeNYC with the latter play winning the FringeNYC 2006 Overall Excellence Award for Outstanding Ensemble. Todd also played Saul in the first NYC revival of William Hoffman's As Is (The Studio Theatre/Theatre Row).

Directed again by LAWRENCE LESHER, the cast of THE ASPHALT CHRISTMAS includes CHRIS KATEFF (Father O'Day), DAVID L. ZWIERS (Sister Bernadette), MEG MARK (Veda), TIMOTHY J. COX (Moose/Ziggy/Eddie), MATT HARRIS (Mickey), COURTNEY COOK (Torchy/Sister Joseph/Bubbles/Heloise), and ALEX PAPPAS (Warden/Willard/Joe/Father McLaughlin).

Costume design is by David L. Zwiers with sound and light design by Louis Lopardi. Samantha Stratham is the Stage Manager.

The play runs 90 minutes without intermission. It is appropriate for audiences age 16 and older.

Martin Denton of Indie Theater Now said of the original production: "THE ASPHALT CHRISTMAS, the new holiday-flavored comedy/parody/satire by Todd Michael, will NOT remind you of the True Meaning of Christmas. Unlike the umpteen dozen December shows in NYC, THE ASPHALT CHRISTMAS is happy to simply do one thing extremely well: give the audience a rip-roaring fun and funny evening. I highly recommend it for anyone who is od'ing on Christmas Spirit in any form."

For additional information about THE ASPHALT CHRISTMAS go to www.theasphaltchristmas.com.

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