“It Happened One Christmas Eve” is the heart-warming story, about an infant left on the doorstep of an old brownstone rooming-house in Brooklyn on Christmas Eve, and the magic she brings to the lives of those who find her. The show features a book by Bob Fitzsimmons, original music and lyrics by Steven Silverstein and Barbara Campbell, and musical arrangements by Steven Silverstein. The story of “It happened One Christmas Eve” unfolds over several Christmas Eves. Told in flashback, it spans plenty
of time periods: 1989 to 1919 to 1929 to 1938, 1941, 1944 and 1952. Then back to 1989.
“‘It happened One Christmas Eve’ is the heartwarming story of a boarding house family—there are many kinds of families and sometimes we create our own based on trust, love and hope,” said Richard Stafford, the director. “Our characters had faith and they trusted in each other. They believed in charity, not the showy kind, but the quite kind that brings comfort to the soul. Isn’t that what the spirit of Christmas is all about?” There are plenty of story lines among a house full of interesting characters; an Irish cook, an English spinster, a Brooklyn showgirl who dreams of stardom, a proud Boston poetess and two Romanian brothers. Their lives are changed forever one Christmas Eve when a baby is placed on their Brooklyn doorstep.
That baby, they name her Dolly, grows in their love, a child of charity. There are also plenty of songs, some familiar, some penned just for this show: From “Silent Night” and “Holly Jolly Christmas” to a bouncy “We Haven’t Got Time for Christmas” that opens the show and a heartfelt “I’m All Alone in the World.” The cast features Devon Perry reprises her role of Dolly,
Elliott Litherland as Buddy Allyson Tucker as Millie, Jayson Elliott as Serge, Sarah Colt as
Elizabeth, Michael Farina as Sigmund, Amy Griffin as Bridget and Bonnie Fraser as Charlotte.
Aubrey Sinn is the Standby Young Dolly will be played, alternately, by local children; Haylie Shea and Delia Spiegelman.
Bob Fitzsimmons, a gifted actor, director and playwright, ran publicity for Westchester Broadway Theatre in its early days and shepherded successful children’s plays there. The graduate of Archbishop Stepinac High School directed school and community theatre shows across Westchester until his untimely death, at 37, in 1992. Each year, WBT gives a scholarship in his name to a Stepinac graduate who has excelled in theatre.
The production is directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford, who has been at the helm for several WBT productions including; “An American In Paris” and “Anything Goes.” Musical director is Bob Bray; set design is by Steven Loftus; lighting design is by Andrew Gmoser; sound design is by Mark Zuckerman; costume design is by Keith Nielsen; wig design by Gerard Kelly; the production stage manager is Victor Lukas; ASM is Aubrey Sinn; properties are by Grumpy Props. And, as with all our productions, Lisa Tiso is the associate producer.
(Submitted)
