SEQUIM — Olympic Theatre Arts’ latest musical highlights unlikely voices and unexpected miracles this Christmas.
First-time director Dan DePrez presents Sean Grennan and Leah Okimoto’s “Another Night Before Christmas” for two weekends, running Friday through Dec. 22 in OTA’s Gathering Hall at 414 S. Sequim Ave.
The curtain will rise at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, as well as 20-21, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, as well as Sunday, Dec. 22.
Talk back shows are Sundays and a special pay-what-you-will show is planned for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $12 for students online, at the door or between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the box office.
E.J. Anderson III and Christy Holy headline “Another Night Before Christmas” at Olympic Theatre Arts where they make up the cast and perform a dozen comedic and dramatic songs. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Christy Holy stars as social worker Karol who has a chance encounter with the mysterious Guy, played by E.J. Anderson III.
“They end up being forced to spend time together,” thanks to a cheap security system, DePrez said.
He said he purposefully leaves plot elements out to capture the surprise of the show.
“When you first hear about the show or see it at the beginning, it’s a story about a social worker trying to convince a homeless man he’s not who he thinks he is,” DePrez said, “and then by the end of the show, it’s the other way.
“That’s part of the beauty of the play seeing these two people clash,” he said. “The person who you thought was going to come out on top doesn’t.”
DePrez said the reason he cast Anderson and Holy was because of the effect of seeing short and blond contrasted with tall and dark.
At its heart, Anderson said the musical shows the reality for many adults at Christmas: depression and loneliness.
“It looks at what it means to be an adult and alone at the holidays,” he said.
OTA’s “Another Night Before Christmas” shares the reality of depression and loneliness for many adults at Christmas, said cast members E.J. Anderson III and Christy Holy. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Holy said it’s a common feeling around the holidays that people aren’t encouraged to express “because we’re supposed to be happy at Christmas.
“That’s the fun part of this show. It exposes the reality of what it means to be around family and all the expectations, do you have a boyfriend, etc.,” she said.
“[With Karol working as a social worker] it shines a light on the fact that there are people out there all year freezing in the cold.”
While “Another Night” confronts some taboos, Anderson said it manages to be fun and light-hearted.
“It does a good job of balancing the heavier moments with joyous laughable moments,” he said.
Steven Humphrey directs the show’s songs — all sung by Anderson and Holy. He said they’ve done a good job learning the music, done in classical and classic Broadway styles, as the tone alternates between internal and dramatic to comedic.
“Part of the story shies away from traditional Christmas carols, with one song all about getting away from it all,” Humphrey said.
“Another Night Before Christmas” features more than 45 sound cues.
Funny encounters compose much of ‘Another Night Before Christmas’ with a good mix of drama, too, Director Dan DePrez said. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Choreography was led for two songs by Naomi Alstrup.
Drawing from his career as a stand-up comedian and actor, DePrez said he appreciates the musical’s tone.
“If you have a lot of good funny moments and then throw in something serious it has a lot more impact,” he said.
“Every time you think you have this show pinned down, you realize there’s more going on.”
Both Anderson and Holy said they love the music.
“[I love] the way [Okimoto] shows both characters singing but talking about completely different things,” Holy said.
Disingenuous Christmas music is a large part of why Anderson said he’s not a big fan of the holidays. The music for “Another Night Before Christmas,” however, is deeper and well-written, he said.
“It kind of does poke fun at some of the tropes of the holidays that I don’t like a lot,” Anderson said. “It takes a frank look at that and does it in a way that’s lighthearted and has a positive message and being joyous.”
Director Dan DePrez said ‘Another Night Before Christmas’ at Olympic Theatre Arts starring E.J. Anderson III and Christy Holy is ‘a story about a social worker trying to convince a homeless man he’s not who he thinks he is and then by the end of the show, it’s the other way.’ (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
In his adult life, DePrez said Christmas hasn’t been something he’s been intentional about with decorating and presents due to his work schedule.
“What this show has done has put me back in touch with all the great Christmases I had growing up,” he said.
“It made me think a lot about the way [Portland, Ore.] used to look at Christmas time 50 years ago, and the traditions and family things going on back then. I’m eternally grateful I had those experiences.”
“Another Night Before Christmas” checks off a goal he’s held since high school to direct a play, too.
“When I learned OTA was going to do it, I saw it was a comedy, which is my background, and a musical, which is my background,” DePrez said. “I thought, ‘This is right up my alley.’”
The experience has been a positive one, he said, comparing it to the acting equivalent of doing a triathlon for Anderson and Holy.
“It’s just as many lines to remember if they were the leads in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and ‘Of Mice and Men,’ ” he said.
Anderson said it’s been a lot of hard work and he’s asked himself why he took on such a large project.
“I get on stage and sing one of the songs and say, ‘There it is. That’s why!’ ” he said.
For more information, call Olympic Theatre Arts at 360-683-7326 or visit www.olympictheatrearts.org.
________
Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
