Will she get her wings?

A hairdresser is put to the do-a-good-deed test in this holiday production.

By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN, Arts and Entertainment
Published November 16, 2007

Over the years, the Show Palace Dinner Theatre has produced several kinds of holiday shows, with varying success - musical revues, book shows, gospel-themed shows, variety shows.

But by far the most beloved has been the 2005 show, Christmas in New York - not (surprise, surprise) because it was set in New York but because it had an endearing story about an angel trying to earn his wings by bringing a soldier home for Christmas, with lots of singing and dancing woven seamlessly into it.

This year's A Show Palace Christmas is an all new story of another would-be angel, a brassy hairdresser named Bobbi Melody (Susan Haldeman, Vera in Mame; Domina inA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) who won't be allowed to pass through the pearly gates until she does a totally unselfish good deed.

St. Michael (Michael Lundy, Ken in Rumors) gives Bobbi just one week to help a needy family during the holiday season.

Bobbi meets Mom, Dad, Daughter and Son (Lisa Katt Watson, MacGregor in South Pacific; Eric S. Kuhn, a Show Palace newcomer; Amanda Carlisle, Katie in Swingtime Canteen; and P.J. DiGaetano, title role in Oliver! at Stage West Community Playhouse) and slowly learns that she can be happiest when she's doing something for someone else.

As she does, she and the family encounter some typical characters in atypical situations: the Cop (Tyler Fish, Cosmo in Singin' in the Rain); the Hot Dog Vendor (Jared Miller, Lt. Cable in South Pacific); the Bum (Luke Bridges, Professor in South Pacific); and a trio of Red Hat Ladies (Erin Romero, Nellie in SouthPacific; Karen Webb, Lulu in Cabaret; and Stefani Wells, Dora in Singin' in the Rain).

There's also a snippy department store clerk (Troy LaFon, Juror in Chicago) and a toyland full of singing, dancing toys, including the Ballerina (Ashley Furlong, ensemble in Victor/Victoria), as well as a quartet of dancing toy soldiers (LaFon, Webb, Bo Price, and Andi Sperduti, Norma in Victor/Victoria and Kathy in Singin' in the Rain).

The show includes classic holiday tunes such asCarol of the Bells, Joy to the World, Silver Bells, O, Holy Night and the Bette Midler swing tune hit, Cool Yule.

The director is Matthew McGee, the choreographer is Katie Kerwin, and the music director is Gary Wyatt, with lights and set by Tom Hansen and costumes by Angela D. Hoerner.

If you go

'A Show Palace Christmas'

Where: Show Palace Dinner Theatre, 16128 U.S. 19, Hudson

When: Thursdays through Dec. 25. Shows are at 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and some Thursdays; 3 p.m. Sundays (doors open two hours earlier for cash bar and buffet); 1:15 p.m. most Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (opens at 11:30 a.m. for cash bar and buffet).

Tickets: Dinner and show, $44; show only, $32.95; ages 12 and younger, $26.45 and $21.45, all plus tax and tip. Call (727) 863-7949 in west Pasco; toll-free elsewhere at 1-888-655-7469.

[Last modified November 16, 2007, 01:22:12]