The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical returns to Venice A show with spray snow, beer-can ornaments, garden gnomes, 12 days of amnesia, Christmas Spam, a Christmas curse and a dream ballet … It’s everything a holiday musical should be!
(Venice, FL) The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical will return to Venice Theatre’s Pinkerton Stage Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. This “preposterously zany” musical (EntertainingU.com) will run through Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $29 for adults, $15 for college students and $13 for students through grade 12. Group rates are available for parties of 20 or more. Because the show contains strong language and adult situations, audience discretion is strongly advised. Tickets for The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical are on sale now at 941-488-1115 or at www.venicestage.com.
Over the past few seasons, Venice Theatre has presented three productions of The Great American Trailer Park Musical and last year’s Christmas version to sold-out houses. Allan Kollar, producer of Venice Theatre’s Cabaret Series, says, “Even though the Trailer Park musicals are silly and raunchy, they have a ton of heart and characters we care about. So, as long as you can handle a little ‘language’ and off-color humor, come on down to Armadillo Acres and get in the holiday spirit.”
BroadwayWorld.com described the recent Houston production as a, “… frivolous holiday confection that expertly mixes the trashy with the splashy to create a story that is cute, charming, and an absolute riot.”
Kelly Wynn Woodland returns to direct a brand-new Venice Theatre cast. Alana Opie takes on the role of Betty, the manager of Armadillo Acres. Acting as a Greek chorus of sorts, Betty and “the girls” narrate the melodrama in three-part harmony. Rachel Knowles as Lin and Lauren Ward as Pickles join Opie to bring to life the bluesy, country-rock score.
The story, loosely based on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, introduces audiences to Darlene Seward, (played this year by Caitlin Ellis) who is equal parts Grinch and Scrooge. An unusual accident gives her a case of amnesia along with some new-found Christmas spirit. Will she maintain her joyful attitude long enough for “Armadillo Acres” to win the Better Homes and Mobile Gardens award for best-decorated trailer park in North Florida? And what about her love life? Will she stay with Jackie (David Walker), the materialistic owner of a thriving “breastaurant” chain who is as mean as she is (was) or explore her surprising feelings for Rufus (Patrick Tancey), her redneck neighbor with a heart of gold and a penchant for designing Christmas ornaments out of bleach bottles and mud flap girls?
Audiences can find out all this and more at Venice Theatre, located at 140 W. Tampa Ave. on the island in Venice. Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. The box office also opens one hour before all performances.
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The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical
Music and lyrics by David Nehls
Book by Betsy Kelso
Production Staff
Director – Kelly Wynn Woodland
Music Director – Peter Madpak
Choreographer – Jasmine Deal
Stage Manager – Brian Hale
Scenic Designer – John Andzulis
Costume Designer – Chelsea Sorensen
Lighting Designer – Ryan Mueller
Sound Designer – Dorian Boyd
Cast
Darlene Seward – Caitlin Ellis
Rufus Jeter – Patrick Tancey
Jackson “Jackie” Boudreaux – David Walker
Betty – Alana Opie
Linoleum “Lin” – Rachel Knowles
Donna “Pickles” – Lauren Ward
Venice Theatre
140 W. Tampa Ave
Venice, FL 34285
TICKETS: 941-488-1115 | www.venicestage.com
Venice Theatre is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to making a dramatic impact on all stages of life. The second-largest of 10,000 community theatres in the United States, it is located at 140 W. Tampa Ave. in Venice, FL. Its MainStage offers seating for 432 patrons and features musicals, plays, concerts and special events. Its Yvonne Pinkerton Theatre seats 90 patrons and is home to the theatre’s “Generations,” Stage II and Cabaret Series. In addition to providing entertainment to the community, Venice Theatre offers a wide range of education and outreach programs for children and adults.
