Yule love this fresh approach

‘The Christmas Show’ returns with all-new format

Red Octopus Theatre Company’s annual holiday tradition, “The Christmas Show,” has been completely reimagined for 2024, opening this Friday, Dec. 20, at the Newport Performing Arts Center.

This year’s event features a brand-new, sketch comedy-style show, written and directed by Darcy Lawrence and starring more than 30 local actors.

Lawrence, a staple in the local theatre community, previously wrote “It’s a Wonderful Carol, Actually,” which debuted locally two years ago and has since been picked up by a production company in Las Vegas and will be performed at Vegas Theatre Company this December. Lawrence directed the world premiere production in Newport in 2022, along with other hits such as “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Lend Me a Tenor,” “The Full Monty” and “The Taming of the Shrew.”

Red Octopus Theatre Company initially created “The Christmas Show” to offer an annual holiday theatre tradition in Newport, except instead of presenting the same show every year, they thought they’d mix it up to keep things fresh. Some years, it was a series of short plays; others, it was a full-length play.

The idea came from a good place, and many audience members expressed joy in knowing there would always be something new to see, but others became attached to certain plays and were disappointed when those plays didn’t return.

So, the company went back to the drawing board. Could they present something that was both new and the same each year? The surprising answer is yes. The show has been reimagined as a family-friendly, sketch comedy-style production; think Saturday Night Live, but holiday-themed and free from politics and adult humor.

The show begins each year with a cold open, followed by an opening number and a series of comedy sketches and guests. The audience’s favorite sketches will return the following year, intermixed with fresh, new sketches. So, each year, there will be something familiar and something new — the best of both worlds.

What won’t change are the things the company’s audiences have come to love best and count on: an appearance by Santa Claus, snow inside the theater, hot cocoa and the real star of the night — homemade Christmas cookies. Thousands of cookies are made by hand each year and donated by local baker, writer and theater patron Kate Boyes. When first presented, the cookies were an instant hit and quickly became so popular that audience members were taking full trays of them home to their families, so they are now distributed by hand in individual baggies. Any leftover cookies are given to local charities.

Once again, in keeping with the spirit of the season, the theater company is sponsoring a food drive to support Food Share of Lincoln County. Save $5 per ticket when purchasing tickets in-person at the box office and bring two food donations per ticket. Please, no glass, perishables or soon-to-be expired products.

“My vision for The Christmas Show is a great, holiday-themed sketch comedy that is free of political humor and adult themes,” Lawrence said. “I believe clean is not anathema to funny, and anyone who can’t write comedy without politics and profanity isn’t really trying. In my sketches, Santa will always be real, and the comedy will never be crude or divisive. I want everyone to be able to enjoy this holiday tradition together!”

So, grab your friends and family, don your favorite ugly Christmas sweater, eat your green beans (if you know, you know) and head down to Newport Performing Arts Center for this annual holiday tradition.

“The Christmas Show” runs from Friday, Dec. 20, to Sunday, Dec. 22. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7 pm and Sunday at 2 pm at the Newport Performing Arts Center, located at 777 W Olive Street. Tickets, $20, are available at coastarts.org or by calling 541-265-2787.

 

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