By Kylie Masznicz | Photos: Bob Conrad
This holiday season Reno Little Theater presents “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!),” the perfect play to spark Christmas spirit.
This three man show begins with the classic tale of “A Christmas Carol.” However, this gets interrupted by the other actors wishing to put on a different play. The three then ask for audience feedback about what they’d like to see and attempt to satisfy everyone’s requests, causing for a scripted and improv play which allows for a unique experience every time.
The show featured every Christmas classic under the sun. They covered traditional films like It’s A Wonderful Life, reenacted the annual Macy’s Parade, and sang every Christmas song known to man. My personal favorite was the original rendition of Frosty the Snowman, but a close second was the impromptu Nutcracker ballet performance.
Audience interaction is a huge aspect for this play — be prepared to be summoned on stage.
This feature was hilariously fun. It opened up the possibility for inside jokes to be made between the actors and the audience.
Children will enjoy the slapstick humor and follow along with their Christmas favorites while adults will find pleasure from the innuendos and Reno jokes sprinkled throughout the performance. A trend of the show all will appreciate is the “Christmas Around the World” segments where the actors would share oddball traditions celebrated by other countries. Not only were they educational, but also entertaining.
Adding to the warmth one feels during the holiday season, Reno Little Theater is running a clothing drive along with the show to support Step 2, an organization that assists women overcoming substance abuse. The integration of charity with the show is phenomenal, with the actors rushing around collecting the clothing as the audience throws them towards the stage. This charity drive is held at every show, and clothes are being sold at the door if you forget to bring any from home. If you’d like to learn more about the organization check out www.step2reno.org.
The Details
- Web: http://renolittletheater.org/events/event/every-christmas-story-ever-told/
- Written by: John Alvarez, Michael Carleton, James Fitzgerald, and Will Knapp
- Directed by: Libby Bakke
Dates
- Evening Show Dates: 11/23, 11/24, 11/29 (tt), 11/30, 12/1, 12/6 (tt), 12/7, 12/8, 12/13 (tt), 12/14, 12/15 @ 7:30 PM
- Matinee Show Dates: 11/24 (PWYC), 11/25, 12/2*, 12/9, 12/16 @ 2:00 PM
(tt) = Thirst Thursday- FREE drink with ticket purchase, PWYC denotes Pay-What-You-Can performance, * denotes post-show talk-back
Tickets
- Adults: $25
- Senior/Military: $20
- Students: $15
- Kids 12 & Under: $12
Cast
- Ryan Costello as himself
- Kirk Gardner as himself
- Bryce Keil as himself
Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) contains mild language and “The Santa Talk,” which concludes with the agreement that Santa does exist. Recommended ages 10 and up.
