"A Christmas to Remember" Show Program

Merry Christmas!

Welcome to La Comedia Dinner Theatre and our very special presentation of A Christmas to Remember. We are grateful to have the opportunity to serve and entertain you once again and cannot thank you enough for your support. This production is a joyful reminder of what is really important this holiday season and what Christmas is truly about.

If you have visited us before, I’m sure you’ve noticed a few changes. Be assured that we are taking every precaution and are following all guidelines provided to us by the Warren County Health District to keep all our guests as safe as possible. We appreciate your cooperation in following these social distancing and face covering policies. Please wear a face covering at all times when you are not dining and maintain social distancing as much as possible when walking about the theatre.

We are committed to doing everything we can to keep our doors open during these difficult times. With the continued support from loyal customers like you, La Comedia will continue to provide “A Taste of Broadway” for many years to come. With our eyes on the future, we are very excited to announce our 2021 season and hope you will be able to join us again soon and often!

Our 2021 season begins with the popular musical comedy, The Church Basement Ladies from March 25 – April 18. One of our most requested shows ever, The Sound of Music returns to our stage from April 22 – June 13. Disney’s The Little Mermaid, runs from June 17 – August 15. The hilarious musical comedy A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder debuts from August 19 – September 19. The high-energy 80s classic musical Footloose appears on our stage from September 23 – October 31. We will wrap up our 2021 season with Ralphie Parker’s epic quest to get a Red Ryder BB gun in A Christmas Story: The Musical from November 4 – December 30.

Our 2021 season priority renewal for current season subscribers begins November 16, at 8:30 a.m. All tickets including new subscriptions and group reservations go on sale to the general public on November 30.

On behalf of my family, and the entire staff at La Comedia – thank you from the bottom of our hearts for celebrating the holidays with us. We wish you all a very merry Christmas!

Sincerely,

Joseph K. Adkins

Owner and Producer

La Comedia Dinner Theatre

Joseph K. Adkins,
Producer
presents:

“A Christmas to Remember”

November 5 – December 30, 2020

Director/Choregrapher: Chris Beiser

Music Director: Lloyd Butler

Scenic Designer: Dave Gabert

Scenic Painter: Daniel Dorney

Master Electrician: Timothy A. Guth

Costume Designer: A.T. Jones

Costume Coordinators: Emercita Erb & Anna Reed

Stage Manager: Kris Byerly

Backstage Assistant: Laura Feerer

Audio Engineer: Anthony Fende

No photography or recording equipment may be used during any part of this performance. All mobile devices must be turned off during the performance. Thank you.

List of Musical Numbers

“Sparklejollytwinklejingly” – Edgar & Elves

“We Are Santa’s Elves” – Edgar & Elves

“We Need A Little Christmas” – Mrs. Claus & Elves

“Gettin’ In The Mood For Christmas” – Company

“Run Rudolph Run” – Company

“Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” – Edgar & Santa

“Village People Carol Medley” – Male Elves

“This Is My Wish” – Company

“I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas” – Baby Doll, Hippo, Male Elves

“Hot Chocolate” – Mrs. Claus & Elves

‘Twas The Night Before Christmas” – Edgar & Santa

“Santa Baby” – Mrs. Claus & Elves

“Be A Santa Medley” – Company

“Silent Night” – Ladies

Nativity

“O Come All Ye Faithful”

“O Little Town Of Bethlehem”

“Away In A Manger”

“While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks By Night”

“Angels We Have Heard On High”

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

“What Child Is This?”

“We Three Kings”

“Joy To The World”

“O Holy Night”

**Take home a taste of La Comedia!**
Bring home a loaf of our mouth-watering Cheese Bread, a bottle of our delectable Papaya Chutney Dressing, and our delicious Cheese Spread. Order your favorites from your server to have them delivered to you before the show begins!
Cheese Bread – $3.00,
Cheese Spread – $5.00,
Salad Dressing – $5.00

Cast

Gallery

Cast

Actor Bio’s

Jennifer Barnaba

ROLE: Ensemble

Jennifer is happy to be back on the La Comedia stage after previously appearing in Peter Pan, and Mama Mia! Other favorite credits include: Natalie in Next to Normal, Wednesday in The Addams Family, Anne in A Little Night Music, Young Violet in Violet, Pauline in Saturday Night Fever, Footloose, The Producers, Oklahoma!, and Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. She is a graduate of Ohio Northern University with a B.F.A. in musical theatre. Much love to her friends and family.

Hannah Brown

ROLE: Ensemble

Hannah is excited to be returning to the La Comedia stage after most recently appearing in The King and I and as Sister Mary Leo in Nunsense. She has also been seen here in Almost Heaven: Songs of John Denver, as a Boylan Sister in Annie and Shelby in Steel Magnolias. Other favorite roles include Lola in Damn Yankees, Brooke Wyndham in Legally Blonde, and Meg in Crimes of the Heart. Hannah has been performing at Kings Island for the past two years during WinterFest and Grand Carnivale. She is a recent graduate of Miami University with a degree in middle childhood education and a minor in musical theatre. Hannah wishes to thank God, her family, and friends for all of their love and support.

Alex Cottle

ROLE: Ensemble

Alex is from Trenton, Ohio, and returning to the La Comedia stage after appearing in Disaster. He previously won an Orchid Award for his performance as Bernard in the Fairfield Footlighters production of Boeing Boeing. Other credits include Legally Blonde, Glen in The Wedding Singer, and Hero in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Ice Prince at Kings Island Winterfest.

Colin Cranstoun

ROLE: Ensemble

Colin is happy to be returning to the La Comedia stage after most recently appearing in The King and I. He has also been seen here as the operator of Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors, as LeFou in Beauty and the Beast, and in Sister Act, Fiddler on the Roof, A Christmas Story, The Addams Family, South Pacific, Miracle on 34th Street, Happy Days, Titanic, and A Christmas Carol. He has appeared in several productions with Cincinnati Christian Community Theatre including Broadway Showstoppers, Les Misérables, Hello Dolly!, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Music Man. Colin has also participated in the Honors Theater Program at Ohio University.

Chris Kramer

ROLE: Santa Claus

Chris returns to La Comedia after most recently appearing as Walter in Elf: The Musical, Tony in Disaster, Bill Ray in On Golden Pond, and Pulitzer in Newsies. He has also been seen here as Boolie Werthan in Driving Miss Daisy, Sam Carmichael in Mamma Mia!, Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Sam Phillips in Million Dollar Quartet, The Old Man in A Christmas Story, Emile De Becque in South Pacific, Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street, Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music, and Pastor Gunderson in four Church Basement Ladies productions. He studied theatre and acting at Northern Michigan University, New York’s HB Studio, CCM, and Xavier University. Regionally, he’s worked with Mad Anthony Theatre, New Stage Collective, Know Theatre, Miami University, New Edgecliff, Ovation, and Human Race Theatres. Chris has appeared in innumerable local, regional and national TV commercials, industrial videos, films and print ads. Much love to Cheryl.

Mallory Georgia Marie

ROLE: Ensemble

Mallory is thrilled to return to our stage after appearing as Maryann in Disaster, as well as Ring of Fire, All Shook Up, and our Lunch and Learn Children’s Theatre production of Frederick. She has also performed at Kings Island in its production of Down Home Country and Holly Jolly Trolley. She is also a worship leader and a mother! Mallory thanks God for his many blessings and sends much love to GT. Psalm 31:25

Karie-Lee Sutherland

ROLE: Mrs. Claus

Karie-Lee is happy to return to the La Comedia stage after recently appearing as Sister Mary Amnesia in Nunsense, Jackie in Disaster, and as Chelsea in On Golden Pond. Other favorite roles include Tanya in Mamma Mia!, Truvy in Steel Magnolias, Glinda in The Wizard of Oz, Mother in A Christmas Story, and Morticia Addams in The Addams Family. Karie-Lee has toured the world as a performer for the DOD-USO, and is a veteran of live shows at Kings Island, where she will be singing in this year’s WinterFest. She has worked as an actor, director, and choreographer at various theaters in Cincinnati including the Covedale Center, Warsaw Federal Incline Theater, and the educational outreach program at Playhouse in the Park. Karie-Lee is part-time faculty at CCM’s prep department and at Miami University, where she teaches dance. Love to Matthew, William, Aubrie-Lee, and Jeremy.

David Thomas

ROLE: Edgar the Elf

David returns to our stage after most recently appearing as Buddy in Elf: The Musical, Disaster, Shrek, and Joseph…Dreamcoat. He has also been seen here as Ralph Sheldrake in White Christmas, Mr. Boddy in Clue: The Musical, Flotsam in The Little Mermaid, Marty in It’s a Wonderful Life, Mara in Miracle on 34th Street, and many more. Other credits include Lancelot in Camelot, Caveman in The Addams Family, The Sound of Music, Children of Eden, Guys and Dolls, The Man Who Came to Dinner, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Moon Over Buffalo, and The Wedding Singer.

Dylan Turner

ROLE: Ensemble

Dylan is excited to be back on the La Comedia stage after appearing in Disaster, as Oscar Delancey in Newsies, Asher in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and the Lunch and Learn Children’s Theatre production of The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley. Dylan is a graduate of Edgewood High school and currently teaches dance at Turnout Dance Academy in Waynesville.

Chris Beiser

ROLE: Director/Choreographer

Chris has directed/choreographed over 40 of the theatre’s shows– most recently The King and I, Nunsense, Elf: The Musical, Disaster, On Golden Pond, Shrek, Newsies, Joseph…,White Christmas, Clue: The Musical, Driving Miss Daisy, Annie, Little Shop of Horrors, The Color Purple, Mamma Mia!, Beauty and the Beast, Sister Act, Away in the Basement: A Church Basement Ladies Christmas and Steel Magnolias. He has performed in La Comedia’s productions of Phantom, Miracle on 34th St., The Fantasticks, Love Sex and the I.R.S., and Honky Tonk Angels: Bubba’s Revenge. Chris is also the director of La Comedia’s Lunch and Learn Children’s Dinner Theatre, and the summer musical theatre program, Camp Comedia. Chris’ work with community theatres has been awarded over 75 honors for excellence in directing and choreographing at both the regional and state level. His work as a show choir choreographer and adjudicator/clinician is known all over the Tri-State area. The show choirs he has worked with are ranked amongst the best in the competition circuit. Chris is in his 26th year as the director of music for St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Fairfield.

Lloyd Butler

ROLE: Music Director

Lloyd returns to La Comedia after music directing Disaster, Clue: The Musical, Mamma Mia!, Beauty and the Beast, Sister Act, The Wizard of Oz, Grease, Fiddler on the Roof, A Christmas Story, The Addams Family, South Pacific, Pump Boys and Dinettes, and Miracle on 34th Street. He maintains an active schedule as a conductor, having conducted orchestras in 7 countries and throughout the United States. Mr. Butler currently serves as the conductor for the international sensation Celtic Women, acclaimed trio, The Irish Tenors, and “America’s Got Talent” 2010 finalist Alice Tan Ridley. Additionally, he is the conductor for Dr. Ronan Tynan of the Irish Tenors and has conducted several artists including Judy Collins, Petula Clark, and Neal Boyd. Other previous posts include, music director of the Ballet Theatre of Toledo, the founding conductor of the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra, and music director of the Lima Area Youth Orchestra. Lloyd is a member of the League of American Orchestras and holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Ohio Northern University and a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University.

Gallery

“Saw ‘A Christmas to Remember’ today. Loved it! my friends and I talked about it on the way home. Great show and the efforts of the staff were top notch. Social distance, the way the food was handled, and thank you for asking everyone to put their mask back on when the eating was finished and the performance was beginning.”

“Wonderful! Wonderful! Show! Children to 90 year old will love this show! Excellent job!!!!! Only sad part (of course of precautions) will were unable to greet the actors! They were outstanding! Story line was wonderful! Writers and actors outdid themselves!!!! Food was yum yum!”