Theatre NOVA presents “I’m Streaming of an Alright Christmas”

It’s the week before Christmas, 2020. The reindeer are on strike; the Elves haven’t made any toys; and Santa can’t figure out the darn “Unmute” button. And it’s all because of the evil Rona Monster menacing the North Pole. Will the Elves save Christmas? Will Rudolph fly again? This year, Theatre NOVA presents a socially distant panto performed live on Zoom (no mask required). Audiences can expect an interactive, fun, and much-needed escape for the whole family this holiday season!

Co-directed by Carla Milarch and R. MacKenzie Lewis, with music direction by R. MacKenzie Lewis, “I’m Streaming of an Alright Christmas” features David Moan, Mike Sandusky (DJ WHITTINGTON’S KOOL KAT) and Monica Spencer. The design team includes Monica Spencer (scenic design), Carla Milarch (costume design), Becky Fox (properties), and Briana O’Neal (stage manager).

“I’m Streaming of an Alright Christmas” will be performed live on Zoom from Dec. 19 through Dec. 27, 2020.  Remaining showtimes are 2:00pm and 7pm on Saturday (Dec. 26); 5:00 pm on Sunday (Dec. 27); and 7:00pm on Wed., Dec. 23 and Thurs. Dec. 24.

Tickets are $10 for one person streaming, $15 for two streamers, and $25 for a family of streamers. Tickets will be available beginning November 16, on our website: www.TheatreNOVA.org.  Ticket holders will receive a link to click on to view and maybe even participate in the fun.

THEATRE NOVA is Ann Arbor’s resident professional theatre company. Its mission is to raise awareness of the value and excitement of new plays and playwrights and provide resources for playwrights to develop their craft by importing, exporting, and developing new work. This activity is supported by Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and National Endowment for the Arts.CARLA MILARCH (Playwright/Director) is a former Artistic Director of the award-winning Performance Network Theatre, whose passion for new plays led her to found Theatre NOVA.  This is her sixth Panto for Theatre NOVA as playwright. As a dramaturg, director and artistic director, she has brought over 25 brand new plays to world premieres, as well as hundreds to staged readings, including those at the Michigan Playwrights Festival, the Fireside New Play Festival, the National New Play Network (NNPN) National Showcase of New Plays, and the Kennedy Center’s MFA playwright’s showcase. She served as a board member on the NNPN for 10 years and co-founded the Michigan Equity Theatre Alliance, on which she served as Board President from 2011-2014. Some awards include “Best Overall Season/Artistic Direction” from the Oakland Press, “Outstanding Contributions to an Ensemble” from The Detroit Free Press, “Most Valuable Performer” from the Oakland Press, and the Between the Lines “Angel” award for outstanding contributions to the LGBT community, as well as numerous awards for acting and direction.R. MACKENZIE LEWIS (Composer/Co-Director/Music Director) is composer and music director for EMU’s School of Theatre Arts, and lecturer and accompanist with its School of Music and Dance. Some favorite projects include orchestrating/music directing the national tour and Off-Broadway premiere of The Berenstain Bears LIVE! in Family Matters, the Musical; orchestrating/music directing Gypsy at the Hangar Theatre in New York (Broadway World Award: Best Music Direction); music directing A Little Night Music at the Performance Network in Ann Arbor (Wilde Award: Best Music Direction and Best Musical); music directing Legally Blonde as a guest artist for MSU (Pulsar Award: Best Music Direction); composing Irrational (Wilde Award:­­ Best New Script); associate music directing the workshop of Romance in Hard Times with William Finn at the Barrington Stage Co.; composing music for Mockingbird (two Helen Hayes nominations), Wings of Ikarus and Jason Invisible-all of which were commissioned and premiered at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.. He also composed the musicals Video Games: The Rock Opera, Treasure Island, Pinocchio, Soaring on Black Wings-a world premiere with Ben Vereen, and all of Theatre NOVA’s Pantos.

FACT SHEET
WHO:
Cast:
David Moan
Mike Sandusky
Monica SpencerProduction Team:Playwright/Co-Director: Carla Milarch
Composer/Co-Director/Music Director: R. MacKenzie Lewis
Scenic designer: Monica Spencer
Costume designer: Carla Milarch
Properties Designer: Becky Fox
Stage Manager: Briana O’Neal

WHAT:
“I’m Streaming of an Alright Christmas” by Carla Milarch and R. MacKenzie Lewis
Tickets: $10/One person; $15/Two people and $25/Family
Available for purchase online beginning November 16, 2020: www.theatreNOVA.orgPERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: I’M STREAMING OF AN ALRIGHT CHRISTMASSat, Dec 19      11am and 2pm
Sun, Dec 20      5pm
Wed, Dec 23     7pm
Thurs, Dec 24   7pm
Sat, Dec 26      2pm and 7pm
Sun, Dec 27       5pm