Area talent will all be home for Christmas

By Shari Goldstein Stern

Original, refreshed and re-worked Christmas music is a joy to hear when the air gets nippy, as when Mannheim Steamroller rolled its way into the season’s classic repertoire. But there is always that special way traditional holiday songs warm your heart.

MainStage Theatre USHERS OUT 2020, gratefully, gracefully and with a sigh of relief with classic holiday music and some unexpected numbers when it presents “A Broadway Christmas Cabaret” through December 31. MainStage’s “on demand” feature sets this show apart from most other streamed offerings.

There’s no place like home for the holidays, so the production is available to theatergoers in a virtual format through the end of the year. Performances can be screened at your leisure on demand. There are no scheduled performances. After you purchase advance tickets at a reasonable price, MainStage will email a code to sign in. Then, you are ready to enjoy the show on your computer, laptop, phone or Smart TV whenever you are in the mood.

A few of the area’s beloved talents are featured in a cabaret format performing traditional Christmas favorites like “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” A few Broadway tunes are mixed in, including, “Meet Me in St. Louis.”

Leading the cast are theater veterans Amy Stevenson and Craig Boleman. These two talents not only host the show, but Stevenson sings tunes including “You’ve Got a Friend,” which she introduces as “A special song for 2020.”

Always a Dallas standout, Kim Swarner sings a melting rendition of “White Christmas” with her more than special surprise guest. The duet is from Garland. From Vickery Meadows in East Dallas, Aubrey and Ian Ferguson perform an upbeat duet of “Little Drummer Boy.”

Boleman opens the show along with Stevenson singing “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Boleman has appeared in the North Texas area in “CATS” at The Firehouse Theatre, “Annie” with the Bryan/College Station theater company, and in “Noises Off” at MainStage Theatre. He has also been seen at Theatre Coppell, Plano’s BrickRoad Theatre and ONSTAGE in Bedford. 

Originally from Bryan-College Station, Boleman said: “The streaming work theaters are doing is so inspiring and, through my day job as CEO of SoloShoe Communications, I’ve been proud to help several theaters and other non-profits continue to deliver performances virtually. But nothing beats the energy of a live audience.”

Nicole Neely, who is a creative associate with SoloShoe Communications, performs a duet of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” with Boleman. Some of Neely’s work as a playwright has appeared in readings at Theatre Three, Imprint Theatreworks and Lily and Joan Theatre Company. Neely wrote the script for “Broadway Christmas Cabaret.” 

An exceptionally talented MacArthur H.S. Music Director Clinton Blanco sings an exquisite treatment of “Believe” from “The Polar Express.” Blanco’s voice is like velvet. 

Also featured in the cast are Clayton Cunningham, Andrew Pfaff, Kristal Seid, Brandon Wilhelm, Andrew Pfaff, David Pfaff, Quintin Jones, a few surprise guests, and, at the leader board, Sky Johnson. Access codes are $10 (single) and $15 (group/family) and are on sale now at MainStageIrving.com or call 972-594-6104.