Jeremy Konopka, Curt Foy and Matthew Hardy, the cast of “The Ultimate Christmas Show (Abridged).” Photo credit: Aleksey Photography
If you can’t take one more Christmas carol or glowing homage to the wonder of the season, then the “The Ultimate Christmas Show (Abridged)” written by Reed Martin & Austin Tichenor is your antidote. It’s the annual holiday show at St. Everybody’s Non-Denominational Universalist Church. A snowstorm has shut down the Garden State Parkway and prevented the scheduled acts from arriving. So the three performers must present the entire variety show before the audience erupts in frustration.
Directing the three madcap performers is Roy Steinberg. Steinberg said he “wanted to try something different this year to show audiences a more comedic program celebrating all holidays.” He also stated that this show “is flippant, politically incorrect and just a jolly good time.”
The three-man team includes Jeremy Konopka, a proud graduate of the University of the Arts with credits that include “This Wonderful Life” and “Lend Me A Tenor” at Cape May Stage, “Spring Awakening” and “Shrek The Musical.” Also returning to Cape May Stage is Matthew Hardy. Matthew was in “Boeing-Boeing” at Cape Stage and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity and the Dramatist Guild, and is a member of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop. He wrote the book and lyrics for the musical comedies “Flambé Dreams,” “Bonnets & Bling!,” “The C Word” and “Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas.”
Rounding out the team is Curt Foy, a newcomer to Cape May Stage. A proud member of Actors’ Equity, Curt played over 40 characters in 20 Shakespeare plays and various musicals, including 10 national tours and multiple productions of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).”
This irreverent yet heartwarming trip through the holidays runs through Dec. 30. On Nov. 25, we will be celebrating Small Business Saturday with a Best-Value Matinee. Tickets for the matinee will be $28.
On Dec. 14 from 4 to 8 p.m., join Cape May Stage at Cold Spring Brewery for Thankful Thursday, where part of the proceeds will be donated to Cape May Stage. On Dec. 15, join cast and crew at the Talkback, and on Dec. 23, take advantage of a Best-Value Matinee. For added fun, bring a wrapped Christmas gift of $5 value or less and participate in the audience gift exchange. Let Cape May Stage restore the enjoyment, inner-child and dysfunction inside all of us this holiday season!
Adult tickets are $40, senior tickets are $35, and active duty military and students receive the best value price of $28. For more information, visit capemaystage.org or call (609) 770-8311.