FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HELL IN A HANDBAG PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS
THE RETURN OF CHICAGO’S FAVORITE TRANSVESTITE REINDEER CELEBRATING IT’S 15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!
RUDOLPH, THE RED-HOSED REINDEER 2012
Book and Lyrics by David Cerda
Music by David Cerda w/ Scott Lamberty & Taylor E. Ross
Directed AJ Wright
Where: Mary’s Attic , 5400 N. Clark St.
Previews: Thursday and Friday Nov. 29, 30
Opens Saturday, Dec. 1
Runs: Thurs. – Sat. until Dec. 29
Showtime: 7:30
Add’l show : Dec. 22-Saturday 5pm
Admission: $12- $22 VIP Tickets- $35-$100 Group Rates- $15 w/10 or more tickets
Reservations: (800) 838-3006 or go to Brown Paper tickets online http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/131657
Hell in a Handbag Productions is proud to remount Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer, David Cerda’s parody of the classic children’s television special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. Now celebrating it’s 15th year, Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer is the longest running holiday show featuring a transvestite reindeer in the history of Chicago, and quite possibly THE WORLD.
“The Rankin Bass version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer has always been my favorite childhood holiday tale and I think peoplein the LGBTQ community feels the same way because it’s really the first kid’s story that encourages you to “just be yourself,” says Artistic Director and playwright David Cerda. “It’s a tale about MISFITS, and I could totally relate to Rudolph, and all the residents on the Island of Misfit Toys. I wanted to live there!” says Cerda. “There were no anti bullying- campaigns when I was growing up. In my day, if you were picked on in your parents usually told you to stop acting differently- just like Rudolph’s parents. Rudolph is the pre-cursor to the It Gets Better campaign”, adds Cerda.
Cerda is thrilled the show has become a staple holiday ritual for people seeking a tonic from traditional holiday fare. “We’ve been going ‘full steam ahead’ for so long that it never occurred to me that it’s been 15 years and we’re still at it” Cerda says.”I still love doing Rudolph bevause it changes every year which I believe is one of the keys to it’s success. It’s really a reflection of popular culture events of the year. I think doing the exact same show every year would be terribly boring, and I think our fans appreciate the fact that we keep it fresh”, says Cerda.
Santa is undergoing a major image crisis. Nobody believes in him anymore and he’s desperate for government bailout money. Elves have been laid off and the morale and morals are at an all time low. Santa (Michael Hampton) devises a calculated media campaign to help save his tarnished image but his deeply troubled wife, Ruth Claus (Ed Jones) seems hell-bent on destroying herself and everything they both worked so hard to create.
Can Rudolph, the North Pole’s biggest misfit (Alex Grelle), Herbie (Chad Ingold) the ‘not gay enough’ dentist wannabe elf , as well as Yukon Cornelia (Lori Lee returning for her 9th year!), the butch prospector with a deep, dark secret —accidentally save Christmas?
Also returning to the show are Katherine Glavin, Barbara Figgins, Billie Bryant, Terry McCarthy, Michael S. Miller, Joshua Peterson, Eli Branson, Christopher Carpenter as Sam the Snowman and David Cerda. New to the Rudolph this year is John Cardone last seen with Hell in a Handbag in the hit show Sexy Baby. Ensemble member AJ Wright is once again directing Rudolph, The Red-Hosed Reindeer.
In celebration of our 15th anniversary there will be special cameos from friends of Hell in Handbag and even some old Rudolph cast members who have are living in the North Pole Home for the Aged.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve been naughty or nice this year… you definitely want to catch the show that Chris Jones (Chicago Tribune) dubbed “an ideal holiday escape for anyone who detests the commercialism of traditional Christmas shows”. And remember… “Being Normal Isn’t Normal At All!”
Hi –res digital press photos are available here
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CAST
TOM DONNER/KING MOON RACER…….ELI BRANSON
JANE DONNER/DOLLY……BILLIE BRYANT
SPIKE/MISFIT TOY………JOHN CARDONE
SAM THE SNOWMAN………CHRISTOPHER CARPENTER
GLADYS DASHER………DAVID CERDA
HERBIE……CHAD
ELFINA/MISFIT TOY……BARBARA FIGGINS
CLARICE COMET……..KATHERINE GLAVIN
RUDOLPH………ALEX GRELLE
SANTA CLAUS……….MICHAEL HAMPTON
RUTH CLAUS/DRAGBEAST……….ED JONES
YUKON CORNELIA…………LORI LEE
CONNIE VIXEN/TRAILER TRASH BARBIE……..TERRY MCCARTHY
COACH COMET/CHARLIE IN THE BOX……MICHAEL S, MILLER
SCORE/MISFIT TOY……….JOSHUA PETERSON
PRODUCTION TEAM
DIRECTED BY AJ WRIGHT
BOOK & LYRICS BY DAVID CERDA
MUSIC BY SCOTT LAMBERTY, DAVID CERDA W/ TAYLOR E. ROSS
CHOREOGRAPHY…..STEVE LOVE
COSTUME DESIGN BY KATE SETZER KAMPHAUSEN
VIDEO PRODUCTION BY PETER NEVILLE FOR ICU
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR…….DEREK VAN TASSEL
STAGE MANAGER……….R. CHRISTOPHER MAXWELL
SCENIC DESIGN……….STEPHEN HERMANN
SOUND DESIGNER……….MARIE QUINN
WIG DESIGN……….JACOB GREEN
VIOLENCE DESIGNER……..CHRISTOPHER CARPENTER
MAKE-UP ADVISOR….SYDNEY GENCO
PROP DESIGNER…….JEFF SHIELDS
GRAPHICS…….MICHAEL S. MILLER
DANCE CAPTAIN………..KATHERINE GLAVIN
PUBLICITY PHOTOGRAPHER…..RICK AGUILAR
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER………AJ WRIGHT
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER……..DAVID CERDA
tickets for sunday afternoon show……………is there a sunday afternoon show?