November 15 – December 31
No holiday season on the Central Coast is complete without seeing The Holiday Extravaganza, at the Great American Melodrama in Oceano. The annual production features the timeless classic A Christmas Carol, a hilarious fractured fairytale, and a vaudeville revue featuring the song, dance, and comedy of the season. Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, The Holiday Extravaganza is a perfect for any holiday wish list.
The show opens with a one-act version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, directed by Melodrama Artistic Director Dan Schultz. Miserly Ebenezer Scrooge (Billy Breed), who thinks Christmas is a “humbug,” is visited by spirits who teach him the true meaning of the holiday season. These magical encounters lead to heart-warming scenes of redemption, punctuated with songs and laughter.
Following A Christmas Carol is the comedic operetta Rapunzel, or Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow by Eric Hoit and Marian Partee. This hysterical musical lark, directed by Hoit, follows Rapunzel (Annali Fuchs Wackowski) and a wacky cast of characters as they let their hair down. They sing classical music with fractured-fairy tale lyrics in a 30-minute production sure to delight one and all.
The evening concludes with the company’s traditional vaudeville revue. This year’s show is based on children’s letters to Santa Claus. Enjoy musical numbers like the ever-popular “Reindeer Rap,” the famous Water Glass Orchestra, and Five Golden Rings Chorale. Musical direction and accompaniment for The Holiday Extravaganza is provided by Mike Wilkins with choreography by Sydni Abenido and Zach Johnson.
Many performances are added to the Melodrama’s regular schedule to accommodate demand for this Central Coast favorite. A performance calendar can be found at www.americanmelodrama.com//show-calendar. This is the Melodrama’s most popular show of the season, and tickets are sure to sell out soon. The Melodrama’s in-house snack bar features great food and drinks served before the show and during intermissions. Tickets are $26 and $30, with discounts available for seniors, students, active military, and children.
The Melodrama also announces that their affordable 2019 season subscriptions are on sale now. The theatre is offering a slate of seven comedies, musicals, and melodramas – all followed by ever-popular vaudeville revues. The complete lineup will be available at www.americanmelodrama.com/2019-season. Those purchasing passes to all seven shows receive a 30% discount off of the top ticket price.
For more information and to purchase tickets or passes, call the Melodrama Box Office at 805-489-2499, or visit their website at www.americanmelodrama.com. The Great American Melodrama is located on Highway 1 in Oceano, just three miles south of Pismo Beach. The Melodrama has been providing professional family entertainment on the Central Coast since 1975.