A special holiday cabaret called CHRISTMAS KAROL: A HOLIDAY INTERVENTION CABARET will play over two weekends: Thursday, December 9 through Sunday, December 12; and Thursday, December 16 through Sunday, December 19 at the Broadway Theatre, Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway.Tickets are $30.00 and will be on sale soon at www.pridearts.org.
Worried about the supply-chain crises and rising cost of Christmas trees, Karol decides to cancel her famous holiday party. It's up to her friends and family - and a few carolers - to save the tradition. Armed with their favorite songs of the season, the friends gradually win over the reluctant hostess. Artistic Director Jay Españo and Christa Retka have conceived and will co-direct this alternately funny, warm, and heartfelt cabaret.
CHRISTMAS KAROL: A HOLIDAY INTERVENTION CABARET will feature two different casts (to be announced) of Chicagoland musical theatre performers – each playing a separate weekend. Performers will include PrideArts favorite Scott Gryder (pictured) – a 2019 Jeff Award winner for his solo performance of BUYER AND CELLAR - along with talented newcomers.
Cast A will play Thursday, December 9 through Sunday, December 12. Cast B, including Gryder, will play Thursday, December 16 through Sunday, December 19.
CHRISTMAS KAROL: A HOLIDAY INTERVENTION CABARET will feature two different casts (to be announced) of Chicagoland musical theatre performers – each playing a separate weekend. Performers will include PrideArts favorite Scott Gryder – a 2019 Jeff Award winner for his solo performance of BUYER AND CELLAR - along with talented newcomers. Cast A will play Thursday, December 9 through Sunday, December 12. Cast B, including Gryder, will play Thursday, December 16 through Sunday, December 19.
Press is invited to review any of the performances.
Flex Passes of 6 tickets that can be used for any PrideArts live production are available for $144.00. Tickets can be used any way you like. Use one, bring a friend, or use all six at once.
LISTING INFORMATION
CHRISTMAS KAROL: A HOLIDAY INTERVENTION CABARET
Devised and Directed by Jay Españo and Christa Retka
December 9 - 19, 2021
Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 3 pm
The Broadway, Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago
All seats $30.00. $5.00 discount for seniors and students
More information and tickets at www.pridearts.org or by phone at 773-857-0222.
Jay Españo (Artistic Director, Production Director). Born in Manila, The Philippines, he joined the prestigious Tanghalang Pilipino’s Actors Company in 1998, where he trained with acclaimed Filipino director Nonon Padilla. He acted in several commercials, television series and films. Notably, he was a regular cast member of Koko KwikKwak - a spin-off of Batibot (Philippine SESAME STREET). He toured The Philippines with that show’s mascots, performing for kids throughout the country. In 2000, Jay was one of many Filipino actors who were cast in the Action Theater Singapore’s hit musical CHANG AND ENG, which toured Asia for several years.
Since moving to the Chicago area, Jay has worked with storefront theater companies such as Silk Road Rising, Prologue, Ghostlight, Halcyon, and PrideArts. He has played the role of the King in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I with various theater companies in the US and in Canada.
ABOUT PRIDEARTS
PrideArts tells queer stories on a variety of platforms, including both live and virtual performances. Since its founding in 2010, PrideArts has had several chapters, including operating as an itinerant theater for their first six seasons, and as the developer and primary tenant in the Pride Arts Center from 2016-21.
The company produces full seasons of plays and musicals, as well as events including cabaret, film, and more. PrideArts has earned 39 Jeff Awards and nominations, and six nominations in the most recent (2019) ALTA Awards from the Alliance of Latinx Theater Artists of Chicago. Programming has reflected the diversity of queer communities by including work made by and illuminating the experiences of women, gay men, transgender people, and BIPOC.
PrideArts is supported by The MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at The Richard Driehaus Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council, City of Chicago’s City Arts Fund, the Elliott Fredland Charitable Trust, The Pauls Foundation, The Heath Fund, The Service Club of Chicago, the AmazonSmile Foundation, Arts and Business Foundation, Tap Root Foundation, Arts and Business Council, and Alphawood Foundation.
PrideArts is a member of the Smart Growth Program of the Chicago Community Trust. PrideArts is a member of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, Northalsted Business Association, Lakeview East, Uptown United, and The League of Chicago Theatre.
For more information and to donate, visit www.pridearts.org or call 1.773 857 0222.