BWW Reviews: Sensational FOREVER CHRISTMAS Plays Avon Players Through Dec 15

Now on stage at Avon Players in Rochester is an exquisite presentation of holiday cheer, Forever Christmas, conceived and directed by artistic and brilliant troubadour JD Deierlien. This show was, in a word, sensational!

This yuletide pageant features the mellifluous voices of five extraordinary singers interspersed with Saturday Night Live - style Christmas comedy sketches, bringing to stage a novel twist of the variety-show format.  Forever Christmas features Christmas carols, traditional works and contemporary works. New songs by Grammy and Dove Award-winning composer, arranger and orchestor David T Clydsdale, “Come On, It’s Christmas” and “Let’s have a Christmas Celebration” enjoyed their Michigan stage debut this year at Avon Players.  A new rendition of “Hark The Herald” by David Phelps has been included in this not-to-miss stage show.  All of the songs are new in some way – the traditional carols have arrangements that are fabulous.

The classy quintet delivers a pitch-perfect concert of glorious proportion; each is dressed conservatively, and perform on a stage that is elegant and understated (this is not a chaotic circus of spectacle).  I highly recommend this show to patrons with refined taste in silvery harmonics.

A fan favorite at Avon Players, Forever Christmas is an original full-length Christmas revue that has enjoyed several installments over the past two decades. While no two productions have been exactly alike, all have spotlighted beautiful Christmas music and talented performers.  This year, for the first time, hilarious and heart-warming scenes showing the lighter side of the holidays have also been added.

Friday and Saturday performances are at 8:00 PM and Sunday performances are at 2:00 PM. Ticket prices range from $16- $18 and may be purchased at our box office in person, by phone at (248) 608-9077 or online at the website: www.avonplayers.org. Student, Senior, and group rates are available. For tickets or for more information call the box office at (248) 608-9077 or visit www.avonplayers.org. 

The Avon Players Theatre is located at 1185 Washington Rd, Rochester MI 48306 and is a 501(c)3 non-profit community theatre serving Oakland and Macomb counties since 1947.

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM: Director and Show Creator: John (JD) Deierlein; Producer: Peggy Deierlein; Costumes: Michelle Manoni & Jan Pareyt; Properties: Mary Arvidson. CAST: Joseph Munem, Lesa Bydalek, Lori Smith, Matt Druminski, Matthew W. Smith, Jennifer Combs, John (JD) Deierlein, Laura Eich and Lindsey Rebhan.

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Dr. Anton Anderssen is a cultural anthropologist, specializing in "high culture." Visit his web page at Hartforth.com. Anton is a member of several high IQ societies, including Mensa, Triple 9, ISPE and Prometheus. He lives on the Italian Riviera, Milan, The Italian Alps, and elsewhere world-wide covering cultural events. Dr. Anderssen's articles are included in the United States Library of Congress as part of their Official Performing Arts Historical Web Archives.

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