When it comes to holiday shows at The Legacy Theatre in Tyrone, lightning can strike twice. The full-time, professional theater has consistently offered its patrons holiday–themed sequels to many of its most successful shows. “Plaid Tidings,” “A Tuna Christmas,” and “Sanders’ Family Christmas” were hilarious follow-ups to “Forever Plaid,” “Greater Tuna” and “Smoke on the Mountain,” respectively. Even last year’s smash hit, “The Andrews Sisters: A Christmas of Swing,” was a sequel (which will return to the Legacy next year with the Godwin sisters reprising their roles). This year the Legacy will continue this popular tradition of presenting sequels by bringing audiences “Winter Wonderettes,” the follow up to 2011’s ode to the 50’s and 60’s “The Marvelous Wonderettes” which LA Weekly called “the perfect musical revue!”
“When a show is a huge hit for us like ‘The Marvelous Wonderettes,’ it’s an easy choice for us to allow our audiences to revisit their most beloved characters in a Christmas setting,” said Mark Smith, the Legacy’s Artistic Director. “Even though you definitely don’t have to see the first show to appreciate the second, a lot of the fun is seeing how the characters have changed or sometimes stayed the same.”
“Winter Wonderettes” takes place in 1968 and finds the four female high school singing sensations entertaining at the annual Harper’s Hardware Holiday Party. When Santa turns up missing, the girls must use their talent and creative ingenuity, plus some great Holiday tunes such as “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”, “Jingle Bell Rock”, “Run, Rudolph, Run”, “Winter Wonderland” and twenty other season favorites to save their holiday party. The result is a hilarious send up of the TV Christmas specials of the 60s that is fun for the whole family. Watch out, though, if you have been especially naughty, you might be asked to join the girls on stage.
The theater will celebrate its sixth year and seventh season with this production of “Winter Wonderettes,” an achievement that is not easy for professional theaters in this day and time. In all those years, it is still the holiday season that continues to be one of the Legacy’s “most wonderful times of the year.”
“This time slot is one of our most popular,” said Bethany Hayes Smith, Executive Producer. “The theater just looks beautiful with the professionally done Christmas decorations, and it’s a great date night or terrific escape when you have relatives in town. However, it’s really due to the quality of the show and the abundance of talent on the stage that keeps patrons in the seats.”
“Winter Wonderettes” promises to be no different, as four very talented Atlanta actresses will take the stage. Alexandra Duncan (Legacy’s “Jane Eyre” and “Nunsense”) will play the hometown vixen, Cindy Lou. Amanda Wilborn (“Jane Eyre”) will portray the practical joker, Betty Jean. Legacy favorite, Mandy Mitchell (“Joseph…Dreamcoat,” “Nunsenese”) will play the happy homemaker, Suzy, and newcomer to the Legacy, Katie Patterson, will bring to life the self-designated leader of the Wonderettes, Missy. With a not-to-be-missed combination of nostalgia, comedy, music and dancing you will want to make this Legacy Holiday sequel a new tradition for your family for years to come.
“Winter Wonderettes” plays Nov. 23-Dec. 16; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. For tickets call the Legacy box office at 404-895- 1473 or go online at www.thelegacytheatre.org
