“How to Survive Your Family at Christmas” is a fun romp into the Nutt Family Christmas.
~Photos and review by Dana Nollsch~
“How to Survive Your Family at Christmas” is a new play by William Missouri Downs, so new that it has yet to be published. This is quite an honor for Reno Little Theater to be the first to produce this new work.
Downs also wrote The Exit Interview; Reno Little Theater produced The Exit Interview in 2016 to critical acclaim. Here is a link to my photos and review of The Exit Interview; https://thisisreno.com/2016/05/photos-exit-interview-reno-little-theater/
The story
Loretta Nutt avoids going home for Christmas, feeling no connection to her mom and dad; she wants to avoid them. But try as she might, it seems that the fates are conspiring to bring her home to learn the lessons of “How to Survive Your Family at Christmas.”
Jerry and Rosy Nutt, Loretta’s parents, are preoccupied with their own challenges. Jerry Nutt owns a hat store, but the business has been off since President John F. Kennedy refused to wear a hat at his inauguration. Rosy Nutt is working on completing her 9th step in AA.
Adding to the season’s complications are the memories of Loretta’s brother, who died in a car accident some years before. There is also a new minister at the Nutt’s church with a secret he wants to unburden himself of. And if this was not enough, Loretta has a secret of her own that she is sure her parents won’t be happy with.
There are plenty of laughs as the Nutts explore what Christmas means to them. You may also come away with some revelations of your own about the true meaning of the holiday. You may also find a new appreciation for soup and hats.
Will all of this come together to make a happy family holiday?
Be sure to see “How to Survive Your Family at Christmas.” and find out.
Written by: William Missouri Downs
Directed by: Yassi Jahanmir
Cast
B Falk as Loretta Nutt
Claudia Cortez as Rosy Nutt
Jim Winkler as Jerry Nutt
Patrick Mink as Langdon Kennedy
Ryan Corrigan as Father Ramona
Brian Ault as Caroler
Jackie Green as Caroler
James Vigil as Caroler
Crew
Assistant Director: Erich Goldstein
Stage Manager: Gage Bailie
Assistant Stage Manager: Luis Galvez
Scenic, Lighting, Sound Design: Chad Sweet
Accent & Dialect Coach: Rosie Brownlow-Calkin
Intimacy Direction: Adi Cabral
Costumes: Moira Bengochea & Jazzy Miller
Props: Jesse Spooner
Schedule
December 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17 @ 7:30 pm
December 4, 11, 18 @ 2 pm
For more information and to purchase tickets, go to Reno Little Theater’s website: https://www.renolittletheater.org/
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