A CHRISTMAS SURVIVAL GUIDE comes to the Crossroads Theater

Stepping Out Productions proudly announces the Chicago-area premiere of their smash holiday hit "A Christmas Survival Guide." The show is an offbeat, contemporary cabaret-style musical comedy show that promises to help anyone get through the holiday season with a smile on their face. The show will be performed at the CROSSROADS THEATER (22 East Chicago Avenue, Naperville, IL - 1-630-428-4730), every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from December 5th through December 20th. For this production, Tom and his staff have assembled a cast featuring some of Chicago's top performers - Keith Cornell, Joan Curto, and Sara Davis. $25 for Single Tickets, $20 for groups of 10 or more.

Written by Broadway veterans James Hindman and Ray Roderick, "A Christmas Survival Guide" was developed four years ago in New York targeting cabaret-style venues looking to do a holiday show. The show consists of holiday standards, as well as new songs written specifically for this show. Among the contributing composers are Ragtime composers Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Julie Gold, who wrote "From A Distance," Barry Manilow, and Jason Robert Brown. A concept CD of the music was released during the 1999 holiday season with 23 Broadway stars participating in the recording. Three workshop productions of the stage show were performed two years ago, with one show in Boston, one in New York and also Stepping Out Productions version in Milwaukee. The show continues to evolve, and Stepping Out will be presenting a slightly modified version again this holiday season, which will include as a brand new song written especially for the show by Ann Hampton Callaway

Stepping Out Production's Artistic Director Tom Stajmiger has been a part of this show since its initial workshop in New York City in September 2000. He is thrilled to be able to bring this new musical revue to the metropolitan Chicago area. With the added attraction of the new CROSSROADS THEATER, many of the tickets have already been sold for private holiday parties, but tickets do remain for most performances. Bar service is available at all performances beginning one hour prior to curtain time.

Keith Cornell has been performing and directing community theater in the western suburbs of Chicago for over 20 years. He has worked primarily with The Tempo Players. Some of the musical productions Keith has directed include: "Brigadoon," "Baby" "Wizard of Oz," "Jerry's Girls, Nun sense", "Godspell," "Is there Life after High School?", " Cinderella," "The Sound of Music" & "Mame." Keith has performed the roles of: The King in "The King and I," Daphne/Jerry in "Sugar," The Mysterious Man/Narrator in "Into the Woods," The Boatman in "Sunday in the Park with George," King Harrod in "Jesus Christ Superstar," Ben in "The Secret Garden," Agwe in "Once on This Island," and Mr. Mesoconch in "Little Shop of Horrors" to name a few. Keith is part of a vocal quartet "KMC & Co." that has performed at Davenport's as well as being a part of the Cabaret series at CROSSROADS THEATER in Naperville. Keith also serves as the West Suburban Coordinator for Season of Concern.

Naperville resident Joan Curto has quickly established herself as one of the leading ladies of Chicago cabaret. The winner of the 2003 After Dark Award for Outstanding Cabaret Artist, she is also a favorite at Chicago Humanities Festival Concerts and Mabel Mercer Foundation Cabaret Conventions. Joan has performed all over the country, including New York City's Judy's Chelsea, The Royal Room in Palm Beach, and Stackner Cabaret in Milwaukee. Information can be found about this and other appearances at http://www.joancurto.com/.

Sara Davis has appeared at cabaret venues across the Chicago area including Davenport's, Maxim's, Royal George Cabaret, Gentry on State, Theatre Building Chicago, Chicago Cultural Center, the Chicago Humanities Festival, and Metropolis Performing Arts Center as part of their "Leading Ladies of Chicago Theater" series. Her solo shows have been named among the Top 10 of the Year in 1999, 2001, and 2002 in Cabaret Scenes. Also a Jeff Award-winning actress, Sara has appeared at many Chicago area theatres, including Auditorium Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Apple Tree, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Drury Lane Evergreen Park, Theatre at the Center, Bailiwick Repertory, and Candlelight Dinner Playhouse. For more information please visit http://www.saradavismusic.com/.

 

Back to CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE Home Page

If you would like to receive a free e-mail subscription to CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE, please e-mail cabarethotline@svhamstra.com and place the single word "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line. Note: Your subscription will be sent to the e-mail address you subscribe from - and please include your real name along with the city where you live.

NOW YOU CAN JOIN CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE!