SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO MOTOWN is at the Garry Marshall Theatre, through December 24, 2021. Presented by the fantastic folks at the Troubadour Theater Company, it’s a new version of their wildly popular spoof of the classic TV Christmas special. At the helm is Matt Walker as writer, director, star, and purveyor of laughter. Thanks to Walker the Troubies, as they are affectionately known, offer a large dose of their signature zaniness that is delighting the basically sold-out audiences. Some tickets are still available, so don’t miss out.
Their twisted yet affectionate take on the origin tale of Santa Claus features classic Motown tunes with hysterical new lyrics. It takes place in the land of Smokey Miracles and Supreme Temptations, because at the North Pole there “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” to keep the Troubies from romping through the sassy songs as they spin their story.
Played by the terrific Terron Brooks, Santa/Kris Kringle looks and sings like a mega-hot combination of Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson. Along the journey that turns Kris into Santa is the schoolteacher Jessica, with the beehive coiffed Cloie Wyatt Taylor emerging gowned and crowned supreme, with a diva voice that fills the theater.
The entire ensemble offers big laughs with everyone taking on the rockin’ roles with gusto, including Malynda Hale, Luis Martinez, Tiffany Daniels, and Rick Batalla as the villainous Burgermeister, plus a special appearance by the Winter Warlock (Troubie producer Beth Kennedy). The Garry Marshall Theatre’s artistic director/producer Joseph Leo Bwarie was called into service to play a plethora of roles. Showing off his uber-talent, the audience even got a taste of “Walk Like A Man” à la Frankie Valli, who Bwarie played forever on Broadway in Jersey Boys.
Among the great songs included in show-stopping numbers are “Baby Love,” “ABC,” “Dancing in the Street” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” and “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” Motown style.
The music was in the good hands of music director Ryan Whyman and his band John Bigham, Thomas Drayton, Frank Fontaine, and Kevin Stevens on stage to help the Troubies put the “ho, ho, ho” into the holidays!
The Garry Marshall Theatre is located at 4252 West Riverside Drive, Burbank. Through December 24. Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00. Saturdays at 4:00 and 8:00. Sundays at 3:00 and 7:00. Also Tuesday December 21 and Wednesday December 22 at 8:00.For information and tickets call (818) 955-8101 or visit GarryMarshallTheatre.org.
MORE from The Garry Marshall Theatre (GMT):
HOLIDAZE HARMONY A Soulful Christmas
LIVESTREAM WORLD PREMIERE
ON DECEMBER 15, 7PM PST VIDEO ON DEMAND DECEMBER 16, 2021 – JANUARY 3, 2022
Holidaze Harmony is pure heart and soul – for the whole world!
Terron Brooks and Kamilah Marshall are back with a NEW show full of music and laughter that will fill homes around the world with Christmas JOY!
Terron is starring in Troubador Theater Company’s Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Motown, and Kamilah just sang on SNL (in a 10-minute musical appearance), but these Broadway best friends and a phenomenal film crew took over the GMT stage for a live filming!
Holidaze Harmony is an annual Christmas concert event that blends stunning vocals, big laughs, and two best friends who have deemed themselves the “Black Donny and Marie.” This year, they are STREAMING so families and friends around the globe can celebrate the season with Kamilah and Terron – the surprises, the banter, the bloopers and of course… the signature, soulful harmonies.
The streaming concert event premieres on Dec 15, 2021 on Stellar Tickets and streams right to your home. Plus, with the virtual Premiere Household Ticket, you get Holidaze Harmony for 20 days (through Jan 3)!
So light up the Christmas tree, set up your snacks, and cozy up on the couch with your loved-ones for this year’s Holidaze Harmony.
Joseph Leo Bwarie (who grew up with Kamilah and Terron) directs for a second year, and highlights a behind-the-scenes intimate conversation with the two stars about the song selection, the past year and the origins of Holidaze Harmony. At the forefront of the project is friendship. God bless us, everyone!
For information and tickets call (818) 955-8101 or visit GarryMarshallTheatre.org
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