A New Twist on a Holiday Classic

Oh, what joy when a new holiday production appears on the horizon. Not that we don’t all love Nutcracker—we really do. But when another beloved classic story moves to the children’s theater stage, and its world premiere is local, well, does it get any better than that? 

Ken Ludwig’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, based on the poem by Clement Clarke Moore, debuts Nov. 18 at Adventure Theatre. Ludwig is a three-time Tony nominee and Olivier Award-winning playwright, author of Crazy for You, Moon Over Buffalo and Lend Me a Tenor.  The show, running through Jan. 2, is directed by Jerry Whiddon and features Washington, D.C. actor Gary Sloan.

The play was commissioned by Adventure Theatre, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary season.

“This is my first play for children and I've enjoyed the chance to do something completely different," says Ludwig of his experience. "And since I took my own kids to children's plays for years and years, it's terrific to be involved in one." 

The production doesn’t stick entirely to the story you remember. In Ludwig’s version, there is a mouse stirring. “The story is about a girl named Emily who goes on an adventure with Amos the Mouse to the North Pole to save Christmas," writes the playwright in a blog. "It seems that a former elf—who once tried to sell Santa’s sleigh to Wal-Mart and was demoted--is trying to take his revenge by stealing the Naughty and Nice list.”

Director Jerry Whiddon directed If You Give a Pig a Pancake, the 2009 Helen Hayes Award recipient for outstanding production in theater for young audiences. Michael J. Bobbitt, Producing Artistic Director at Adventure Theatre, has always emphasized the need for new material in children’s theater, and promises, “This exciting holiday romp will be a fantastic experience for D.C. area families.” 

The show is recommended for ages 4 and up.

Sloan, an actor who is associate professor in the drama department at Catholic University of America, plays Uncle Brierly/Sir Guy.  The cast also includes Rex Daugherty as Amos the Mouse, Rachel Zampelli as Calliope the Elf, Emily Levey as the little girl Emily and Alex Perez doubling as Mulch the peasant and Santa.

As always, there’s a pajama party on opening night with milk and cookies, particularly perfect for completing the Christmas experience.  The theater will run its annual hat and mittens drive to benefit A Wider Circle, a local charity. Donations of new winter outerwear may be dropped off in the theater lobby during the run of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.

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‘Twas the Night Before Christmas runs Nov. 18, 2011- Jan. 2, 2012 at Adventure Theatre, 7300 MacArthur Blvd, in historic Tickets are $17 each. (Children under the age of 1 are free.) Box office 301-634-2270 or online at www.adventuretheatre.org.  There will be an American Sign Language Performance on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. and a Sensory/Autism Friendly Performance on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 2 p.m.