BWW Exclusive: Starry Holiday Traditions with Vanessa Williams, James Barbour and More

Happy Holidays to all of the readers at BroadwayWorld.com! No doubt this has been quite the year for everyone, including me. With so many changes in our lives due to social and economic issues all over the world, this is a time of year when we have to look inside ourselves and find the simple things in life that we have to be thankful for and celebrate the joy of the season. Family and friends gathering and sharing some very special time with each other, reminiscing of times past and creating new ones.

It's also a time for traditions and I have asked some very special folks to share with us some of their own individual holiday traditions. And here they are...

Jerry Mitchell (Tony Award Winning Choreographer, La Cage Aux Folles. His other credits include Legally Blonde The Musical, Hairspray, Peep Show and Catch Me If You Can.)

Christmas is and has always been about family. For ours we gather on Christmas Eve at my parent's farm house, which used to be my grandparents, around 6pm. Very relaxed we eat, drink and have a blast. Around 8, Santa shows up after some caroling encouragement and passes out gifts to all! The house is a field of ribbons, paper and laughter. My Grandpa Misuraca insisted on Santa for the kids but I think everyone gets a kick out of it. This has been going on for at least 80 plus years. Around 11:30 everyone starts heading out for MIDNIGHT MASS. Then My Mom and I are up first thing Christmas morning making the stuffing for Christmas dinner and we do it all again. The family getting together has always been an important part of my Grandpa Misuraca's Italian Christmas tradition. And now the tradition is carried on by my folks. The Italian side (my Mom) of the family mixed with the polish side, Mitchell (my Dad) and watch out. Lots of FOOD, FAMILY and FUN.

Vanessa Williams (Tony Award Nominee for revival of Into The Woods. Recent exciting news was released that Williams will be returning to Broadway, joining Barbara Cook, Michael Arden and Leslie Kritzer to take part in "Sondheim on Sondheim," a look at Stephen Sondheim through his music, film and videotaped interviews. Directed by James Lapine, "Sondheim" opens April 22, 2010 at Studio 54. Previews begin March 19. She can currently be seen in her Emmy nominated role as the scheming Wilhemina in ABC's critically acclaimed Ugly Betty. Earlier this year, she released a new album, The Real Thing, available on Concord Records. You can read more about Vanessa on her website at www.vanessawilliams.com.

It turns out that Vanessa has a few holiday traditions:
1. Travel to a foreign country as a family to enjoy new cultures and their traditions.
2. Decorate trees with old and new collectibles.
3. Make mulled wine or cider for invited guests during holiday time.
4. Make homemade lasagna to eat after returning from Christmas Eve mass/church service.
5. Everyone can open one gift on Christmas eve.

James Barbour (A Drama Desk Nominee for Tale of Two Cities, Barbour is currently performing his Holiday Concert thru December 19 at Bill's 90 on East 54 Street in New York City and Dec 21 in Los Angeles at the Colony Theatre. His new CD, A Gift of Christmas is now available on iTunes. Check out his website at www.jamesbarbour.com)

Well, we always put out cookies, milk for Santa and the Reindeer and cheese for Santa Mouse...yes Santa Mouse...(don't know where Santa Mouse came from) but it's a tradition in the Barbour household and one that I'm excited to keep going with our daughter.

Anthony "Tony" Crivello (Tony Award Winner Kiss of the Spiderwoman. He is currently starring as 'The Phantom' in director Hal Prince's version of Andrew Lloyd-Weber's "PHANTOM: The Las Vegas Spectacular". Check out his website at www.anthonycrivello.net)

Friday after Thanksgiving, my uncles (and my father) use to meet with all their nephews (including my brother Frank and me) for lunch ... and a ton of laughs. Usually it was at Milwaukee's Italian Community Center. We talk sports, family and the latest headlines.

Christmas meant the "Annual Briscola Tournament" for the 'Briscola Kings Crowns.' 'Briscola" is the Italian/Sicilian version of "Hearts" if you will. The uncles ... and even the aunts, played the nieces and nephews in a 'double elimination tournament.' My cousin 'Little Ant' Rondinelli (he is now 6'3" tall and towers over me) and I ('Big Ant' Crivello) were 'Reigning Champions' 3 years in a row ... until my Aunts Mary and Nina STOLE the crowns away!! (Yes, I know, poor sportsmanship!)

I love my family. Good food, a little wine, Italian cookies, a lot of laughter, family ... and "Briscola!" What more can you ask for from Santa? Happy Holidays to all!

Cortes Alexander Cortes Alexander (Alexander most recently appeared in Tony Award Winning Liza's at the Palace!. He will beperforming at Joe's Pub in NYC as part of the pop/jazz group The Tonics on February 28 through March 8. He also has an amazing CD called Swell which you can get through his website at www.cortesalexander.com)

This will be the first time out the last of 3 Christmases that I won't be spending it on the road with Liza (Minnelli), so my traditions are a little out of sync. BUT when I was home, my immediate family would never miss Xmas eve brunch at Marigold at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills where they serve the most festive Bellini's & scones. I have a big wreath that I put on the grill of my car every year & people honk & smile (when does THAT ever happen?). Then we come home, & build a fire by the tree & pretend we're freezing, when in reality, we're all actually sweating to death in cashmere sweaters in the 75 degree California sun.

Alec Mapa (Actor, writer and stand-up comedian. Mapa is currently appearing on ABC's Ugly Betty at Suzuki St. Pierre and Desperate Housewives as Gabrielle's personal shopper, Vern and LOGO's Rick and Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in the World as Uncle Bakla. Check out his website at www.alecmapa.com)

Every Christmas Eve my husband and I invite all our friends who have no place to spend the holiday. It's a big potluck affair and always fun because between the two of us we know every conceivable type of human being. Transgender activists, burlesque performers, conservative Christians, drag queens, single moms, gay dads, little people, and the freakishly tall all gather at our tiny little house and eat and drink everything in sight. One night each year we get a glimpse of what the world would look like if we all truly loved and respected each other the way we wish to be loved and respected ourselves.

Danny Burstein (Burstein is an Outer Critics Circle Award Winner and Tony Nominee for South Pacific at Lincoln Center where he is currently appearing as Luther Billis. He is also filming a pilot for new HBO series, Boardwalk Empire, directed by Martin Scorsese. Check out his website at www.dannyburstein.net)

I'm not sure we actually have any traditions in the normal sense. I tend to be lousy at surprises and waiting for things because as a child my family all gathered at my grandmother's house and all the adults insisted on not opening presents until very late on Christmas Eve. The anticipation was harrowing. We kids would have to wait all night long (we usually arrived at around 3) while waiting for my aunt to arrive (she was usually three hours late). When dinner was finally served it was usually cold & hard (having been reheated several times).

Then we had to wait for everyone to finish with their dessert & chatting (and sometimes fighting) and only when it was about 11 PM (and people were threatening to leave without opening presents because their kids were falling asleep) did my uncle Marco begin passing out the presents one by one. He would announce each person's name in his hoarse, raspy voice sometimes wearing a Santa outfit, sometimes not. By the time all the presents were passed out we kids lay in a heap of torn wrapping paper too tired to even play with our toys let alone move. Our parents had to get us ready to leave while we were groggy & moaning about the fact that we never even played with our toys. The next morning we'd wake up early to play with our toys and wind up crashing midday for lack of sleep as a football game blared in the background.

Ah, the lovely traditions. Ah, the happy X-Mas memories!

That's why my new tradition with my own kids is to give them their presents as soon as I buy them. To hell with waiting! Have fun! Dive in! Truth is, Becca and I do save one nice gift for X-Mas eve for my sons, Alex & Zach, to open. There's nothing like seeing their grateful faces when they open a present that they really wanted... and they are awake enough to enjoy it.

Ann Harada (This critically acclaimed actress is best known for her performance as Christmas Eve in Avenue Q. She most recently appeared in 9 to 5 and returned to be part of the final Broadway cast of Avenue Q.)

I always hang a stocking that my mom and dad made for me the year I was born, so of course it is old and fragile now! And it shows an elf dressed in a magenta sequin jumpsuit which I'm sure influenced my choice of career. Every Christmas Eve we go to my best friend's apartment and make totally elaborate gingerbread houses that go to these kids who live down the hall. We've been doing it for so long the kids are like in high school but they still love it. Every year, the houses get more crazy, with fishponds and landscaping, all made out of edible ingredients. Maybe this year my son will care about Santa -- he never really has in the past! So, we will put out cookies and milk and see if he even notices!!!

Donna Lynne Champlin (Champlin is an Obie Award winner for The Dark At The Top of the Stairs and appeared in the revival of Sweeney Todd with Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris. Her new solo CD debut Old Friends was recently released on December 1, 2009 and is available on CDBaby.com or through her website at www.donnalynnechamplin.com)

Christmas Eve, I make shepherd's pie for everyone who's helping to set up for Christmas dinner at Mom's. After everything is done, we all sit around the fireplace and visit until it's time to walk to church for Midnight Mass.

We also have a tradition in our family of giving 'treasure boxes' for Christmas. They are big presents that always contain something to eat, wear and play with- usually theme related. Treasure boxes are our favorite ways to welcome new friends/family to Christmas. You've officially a Champlin when you've gotten your treasure box.

Frances Sternhagen (Sternhagen is a three time Tony Award winning actress for herperformances in The Good Doctor, Equus and The Heiress. Television fans may recognize her from her appearances on ER as Noah Wylie's grandmother, on The Closer as Kyra Sedgwick's mother and her Emmy nominated role as Esther Clavin on the award winning comedy Cheers.)

I'm afraid I'm rather traditional, and I wish I could tell you something raucous and outré, like we all get together and drink too much and ridicule each other, but we don't. I have six children, and they all come home for the holidays, along with their mates and their children, and maybe some friends, and we eat and talk and hug and then we stay up late singing Christmas carols. We even go out into the neighborhood--we're all friends and have known each other for years--and we go up and down the streets singing. Actually, it does sound a bit raucuous, but rancor is non-existent. Thank God.up late singing Christmas carols. We even go out into the neighborhood-we're all friends and have known each other for years-and we go up and down the street singing. Actually, it does sound a bit raucous, but rancor is non-existent. Thank God.

Liz Callaway (Callaway is a Tony Award nominated actress for her role as Lizzie in the musical Baby and an Emmy Award winner for the children's television program, Ready To Go. Her newest CD, Passage of Time, is available through www.psclassics.com. Check out her website at www.lizcallaway.com)

While we trim our tree, we always watch Holiday Inn. I now have that movie memorized. "oh, Linda Mason !)  My new CD, Passage of Time is an eclectic collection of Broadway and Pop music featuring songs by Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein,Maltby & Shire, James Taylor, Carly Simon and more. (plus a duet with my amazing sister, Ann Hampton Callaway!) Wishing you all Happy Holidays!

January LaVoy (Lavoy most recently appeared at the MCC Theater in world premiere of new musical, Coraline. TV fans will recognize her as Noelle from One Life To Live. Check out her website at www.januarylavoy.com)

My mother is obsessed with the classic Christmas cartoon "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol", and as a result, my family watches it every year on Christmas. My sister and I know every word to every song, and sing them for my parents. They love it so much - it's been decades, and yet they laugh so hard it's like every time is the first time. Happy holidays and a safe and prosperous 2010 to all!!

Tiger Martina (Most recently appeared in Tony Award Winning Liza's at the Palace!, where he was also Assistant Choreographer and Dance Captain.)

I think the first thing for any Holiday Tradition is EGG NOG, must have EGG NOG! Living in NYC I break out the Fireplace DVD with virtual cracklin' sound and throw on the Carpenters Christmas CD. Everything else seems to fall into place! I'm not much into a lot of presents but I do try to get attached to some charity event. I almost always try to donate a jacket or two to the city mission. Lastly the season for me is a great excuse to make time to see friends and family. Time together is more precious than any gift!

Jeffry Denman (Most recently appeared in Irving Berlin's White Christmas. Denman is currently appearing with Marc Kudisch in The Holiday Guys at the Gotham Comedy Club at 208 West 23rd Street. Check out his website at www.jeffrydenman.com)

My wife Erin and I have only been married for a little over a year. And last year was taken up with show business responsibilities. This year we're spending with her family and will hopefully start making some Christmas traditions of our own.

Judith Ive (Ivey is a two time Tony Awardwinning actress for her work in Steaming and Hurlyburly. She is known by many as BJ Poteet from the final season of Designing Women. Most recently, she directed the off-Broadway production of Vanities: A New Musical.)

I love to bring out all the Christmas decorations, put on Christmas music and have hot chocolate while we decorate....I also leave a plate of goodies in our vestibule for all the delivery people and the mailperson during the holidays....and lastly, we always open our presents one at a time so it lasts for hours, and everybody thanks everybody.....I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!

Anita Gillette (Tony Award Nominee for Chapter Two, Gillette most recently appeared off- Broadway opposite Jamie Farr in Flamingo Road at New World Stages.)

I'm in London right now and just quickly looking at my messages. I always cooked a goose with prune stuffing for Christmas dinner. It had a plum gravy and it was delicious! Now, of course, being over here we do Christmas crackers and wear funny hats!

Nell Benjamin  (Benjamin was a Tony Nominee for the music and lyrics for Legally Blonde: The Musical)

Hey, TJ! Right now we're in London opening Legally Blonde on the West End which is so exciting that we'd like to make that a Christmas tradition, please.

We're unfortunately missing some of our usual NY traditions. A particular favorite is visiting the gorgeous Metropolitan Museum tree and creche and then xmas shopping at the Museum Store. They have the best gifts and members get a discount!

But there are many exotic London traditions we're trying for the first time. Hot spiced cider? That's a winner.

Bruce Vilanch (Comedy writer and actor. He last appeared in 2005 as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray on Broadway.)

My entire household enjoys going to Times Square on New Year's Eve and groping strangers.

 

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