The Gateway Theatre holiday season musical is always one of my favourites. However, like everything this year, the show will be a bit different but I’m sure it will be a can’t-miss hit.
As current pandemic restrictions are keeping us from social gatherings, Gateway Theatre has curated the aptly titled Home for the Holidays. Premiering December 18 and streaming until January 1, Home for the Holidays plucks favourites from Gateway’s 35 years of beloved and most successful productions. Moving the theatre’s traditional year-end extravaganza from the stage to stream, it takes us on an intimate online tour into the homes of the artists themselves.
Kicking it all off is Lauren Bowler’s take on “Wouldn’t it Be Loverly”—revived from Gateway’s 2007 production of My Fair Lady. From there, director Barbara Tomasic has assembled a who’s who of Gateway alumni including Tom Pickett, Meghan Gardiner, David Adams, Chelsea Rose, Scotia Browner and many more, reprising timeless favourites from Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music, Annie, The Music Man, The Wizard of Oz, and last year’s acclaimed Gateway classic Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat.
This best-of package of the big-production hits is crossed with an intimate warmth and togetherness that everyone could use a little of this holiday season. During intermission, Home for the Holidayspauses to present its Jingle Bell (Scotch on the) Rocks recipe for the adults and a Holiday Hot Chocolate for the kids. Comic asides, behind-the-scenes visits and so much more fill this variety show-style program. Since it’s coming to your living room, don’t hold back – sing-along with all the tunes even if you’re not in tune.
Tune in to the Opening Night Watch Party on December 18 at 8 pm to gather virtually and chat with fellow audience and cast members during the show. Following the Watch Party, ticket holders will be able to view the show on demand with unlimited access until January 1. There will also be accessible viewing options available including audio description provided by Vocal Eye, ASL interpretation, and captioning in English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese.
Tickets are on sale now at gatewaytheatre.com/home-for-holidays. This also makes the perfect holiday gift – vouchers are available for loved ones so you can spend time “together” to watch the show at a distance.
Gateway Theatre’s Home for the Holidays streams December 18, 2020 until January 1, 2021 and features the talents of: David Adams, Angela Beaulieu, Lauren Bowler, Scotia Browner, Oliver Castillo, Bridget Esler, Meghan Gardiner, Tiana Jung, Lalainia Lindbjerg Strelau, Timothy Liu, Alison MacDonald, Ranae Miller, Gregory Pember, Tom Pickett, Chelsea Rose, Jason Sakaki, Michael Wilkinson, Makena Zimmerman and Marlowe Zimmerman. The production is directed by Barbara Tomasic with music supervision by Christopher King