[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of Write Act Repertory’s Holiday Express 2024 playing through December 22.
Write Act Rep always makes an extraordinary effort to create shows for the holidays. Christmas is of course the perfect excuse to gather family and friends and watch something funny and warmhearted, quirky and hopeful and ultimately life affirming. This year’s offering of Holiday Express is all those things and more.
The cast is wonderful and they clearly thoroughly enjoy their journeys through these odd and highly entertaining characters’ lives. There is also a rather splendid host who guides us, cajoles us and entertains us while she acts as a glamorous go-between from play to play.
Gathering together, as artists creating and performing and as audience members delighting in the uniqueness of live theatre is more vital to us humans than ever. As we enter into a new year full of uncertainty we need theatre and the thrill of personal in-the-flesh connection. Art of all kinds is a kind of rebellion against the machine of autocracy and the relentless grind of a darkening world. It’s not just a distraction to see a play, it’s a reaffirmation of life. The Write Act Repertory is a group of charming, disparate souls with a need to come together and perform.
These silly, funny and heartfelt short plays are a gift. They remind us that we are all pretty similar in the end, far more similar than different, and that therefore there is hope and light and possibility. That is the gift of art and this lovely holiday celebration with all its quirks, twists and frivolity is exactly what we all need right now.
Thank goodness for live theatre!!! Bravo!
Tickets:
https://holidayexpress24.brownpapertickets.com
Where:
The Brickhouse Theatre
10950 Peach Grove St., North Hollywood, CA 91601
When:
Running through December 22.
The Plays:
No Resolution – Four friends celebrate New Year’s Eve – a time for new starts and a few smarts.
Coulda Sworn – On Christmas Eve in a lonely highway diner, Johnny confronts his troubled past with Minda, who just might be the long-lost girlfriend he thought was dead.
The Hallmark of a Lifetime – On Christmas Eve, Kristin meets her family for a night in the town square.
Steve’s Christmas Day – After Steve receives an unexpected gift on Christmas Eve, he spends Christmas Day with his estranged mother.
Twas A N!@ht – ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and nothing went right.
The Writers:
Written by Susan C. Hunter, Thomas J. Misuraca, Jorge A. Pulido, Katie Bogart Ward and Darrin Yalacki.
The Directors:
Directed by Carla Cacowski, Susan C. Hunter, Katie Bogart Ward and Darrin Yalacki.
The Cast:
Alicia Agramonte, Oraldo Austin, Kyle Blumenthal, Justin Bristow, Joshua Gill,Veli Gonzalez, Narissa Johnson, Tony Kim, Ceci Laiche, Nneka, Jamie Pasquinelli, Jorge Pulido, Katie Ward, Adam Wasser.
The Team:
Producing Artistic Director: John Lant
Producer: Darrin Yalacki and Susan C. Hunter
Associate Producer: Anne Mesa
Lighting Designer: Zad Potter
Operations and Technical Manager: Jonathan Harrison
Publicity and Marketing: SANDRA KUKER PR (Sandra Kuker-Franco)