Copyright M Live Michigan
KALAMAZOO, MI — The Farmers Alley Theatre is ringing in the holiday season with a satirical love letter to holiday rom-coms filled with local references about Kalamazoo. “A Very Kalamazoo Christmas,” written by Michigan playwright Robert Hawlmark, opens Thursday, Nov. 20, at Kalamazoo’s box theater at 221 Farmers Alley. The Hawlmark show is tailored to the Kalamazoo community and spoofs a traditional Hallmark Christmas movie plot. In Hawlmark’s show, the lead is career-focused Felice, who travels from her big city corporate world back to her charming hometown on an important deal that must be done by Christmas, a news release states. While home, and under the overbearing eye of her nagging mother, Felice runs into a high school acquaintance and frequenter of endless flannel shirts, the handsome George. But Felice is on a business trip and has no time for love. That won’t stop the widowed George and his adorable son Danny, who are determined to melt Felice’s heart (and save the local business) by Christmas Eve. Sound familiar? It’s anything but, promises Jeremy Koch, Farmers Alley’s managing artistic director. The show, a 90-minute comedy, is like “Love Actually” and “The Holiday” morphed with the craziest episode of “Saturday Night Live” performed on stage, he said. “Our audiences will have a chance to leave their troubles at the door, get swept up in a corny, cheesy romantic story and laugh so hard they won’t need to do stomach crunches at the gym for a while,” Koch said. The comedy is filled with snappy one-liners, quick costume changes, cheesy montages and a dash of Christmas spirit, he said. The play will feature the usual mix of local and out-of-town talent, along with a surprise cameo or two, Koch said. It is being directed by Kevin Theis, who appeared on the Farmers Alley stage last spring as Chuck in “A Jukebox for the Algonquin.” University of Michigan alumna Kait Auburn stars as Felice alongside Chicago actor Steve Peebles as George. The remaining roles in the show will be filled with Joe Dempsey (formerly of The Second City Touring Co.) and native Michigander Emma Brock. “A Very Kalamazoo Christmas” opens Thursday, Nov. 20 and runs through Sunday, Dec. 14. Nightly performances are at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday through Saturday, with no performance on Thanksgiving. Matinees are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The performance on Friday, Nov. 28, will be an ASL-interpreted performance. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit farmersalleytheatre.com or call the box office at 269-343-2727. Discounts are available for students, military/veterans and teachers.
