VALDOSTA – Putting his Grinch back on has been fun for Andrew Thomas.
He reprises the Scrooge-like role in “A Christmas Spectacular,” the Theatre Guild Valdosta holiday show opening Dec. 14 and running through Dec. 17.
“There are some changes but it’s come back,” Thomas said during a photo shoot Monday evening at The Dosta Playhouse.
Thomas is one of a few cast members to perform in both the 2023 “Spectacular” and the 2017 version.
Patti Robertson, 2023 show director, said 33 cast members perform 24 Christmas songs in the latest production. She said the show is about 90% the same as the 2017 production but she has added some new scenes. The latest version includes more songs, too.
The show is dedicated to the memory of Grant Brown, a Theatre Guild member who penned “A Christmas Spectacular.” In 2017, Brown said he proposed presenting a holiday revue show based on something he and the Phoenix Writing Crew created in 1978 in Arizona.
Brown died last December. He was 74.
Robertson said the show follows Brown’s set-up of songs built around a framework of holiday classics such as “A Christmas Carol’s” Ebenezer Scrooge and “The 12 Days of Christmas.”
“The show captures all of the emotions of Christmas,” she said, ranging from the spirit of the season, family, stress of shopping, etc. Even revenge as a man learns a lesson about having too many girlfriends at Christmas.
Robertson is comfortable in directing the Christmas show. She is a long-time Theatre Guild performer, director and board member. In the past, she and others worked with Brown to write other original Theatre Guild Christmas shows – creating an original revue show is a Guild tradition during the holidays.
She also has a familiar assistant director for “Spectacular.”
Josh Robertson, her husband and Guild regular, helps with directing duties. Patti Robertson said Josh handles the details of making her concepts a reality.
And they have needed to consolidate their talents in a short period of time. “Spectacular” auditions were held in early November. Rehearsals began Nov. 19, with a break for Thanksgiving.
The Robertsons say the show is ready but like many details at this time of the season, “Spectacular” needs just a few last-minute things before the big Christmas opening.
THE CAST: Caleb Andrus, Olivia Barbour, Lori Bennett, Janell Brown, Riley Browning, Isabel Campos, Tasha Conrad, Rebecca Elkins, Dot Gatchell, Austin Gilbert, Jayden Gilbert, Melissa Glasscock, Casey Griffith, Lennox Groh, Brawdy Gupton, Tanner Hager, Ben Hawley, Frances Ann Layton, Sunny Lee, Lemon Meeks, Sandi Parrish, Adyson Peterman, Anna Roney, Molly Rountree, Kamari Samuels, Taylor Sharfner, Lane Smith, Andrew Thomas, Valerie Torres, Marilyn West, Jonathan Wiggins, Aiden Williams, Isabel Williams, Jamie Workman.
Theatre Guild Valdosta presents “A Christmas Spectacular,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 14-16, with two matinees, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 16, 17, The Dosta Playhouse, 122 N. Ashley St. Ticket: $10. More information, reservations: Visit www.TheatreGuildValdosta.com, email tgv.bellsouth.net or call (229) 247-8343.