1 WELCOME Dear Virtual Friends, Yes, we are back with our second virtual entertainment, The Snow Must Go On! When we created our first streaming projects for all three of our companies (ISF’s Gala, GLT’s Ghost Light Cabaret and LTSF’s Happy Hour) we were all somewhat ambivalent about pivoting from live theater to streaming content. Most of us had little or no experience in creating video content, editing and mixing for electronic media rather than our theaters, working remotely with our acting company, and most challenging of all – sending our performance out into the ether rather than meeting our audience eye to Charlie eye for opening night! Would we find any joy working in this new form? Would our audience find any pleasure in watching us on a computer? The answer to both questions is a resounding “Yes, and...” Actors love to improvise, artists crave a challenge and the feeling of being on a tight rope without a net. And it turns out, theater patrons are much the same. Nobody goes to the theater because it’s safe and predictable. We go because it’s a risk. From the first day of work on our new projects, we could feel how thrilled the entire artistic team was to be back to work, creating something new. And from the minute we reached out to you, our audience, donors and friends, you were right there with us. Attendance far exceeded our expectations and the feedback we received was overwhelming. Thank you all so much for your generosity and warmth. And… we immediately began looking for our next project. We were all painfully aware that we would Mark, have to cancel our beloved production of A Christmas Carol at Great Lakes Theater for the first time since artist rendering Gerald Freedman created our award-winning production in 1989! The holidays were starting to look bleak and a bit lonely. And that’s when Associate Artistic Director, Sara Bruner, stood up (on Zoom) and said, “the snow must go on.” It was either the lamest joke, or the most brilliant idea. We decided to go with brilliant! We would create something for the holidays, something cheerful and heartfelt, reminiscent of better times and hopeful for better times yet to come. If you’re reading this you are about to watch our virtual-cabaret fundraiser, The Snow Must Go On! Thank you, once again, for inviting us into your home and sharing your holiday with us. We miss you. Best, Charles Fee Mark Hofflund Bob Taylor Producing Artistic Director, ISF, GLT, LTSF Managing Director, ISF Executive Director, GLT, LTSF Bob DIRECTOR’S NOTE Faithful Friends, Tonight, your home becomes our theater. Your screen is our stage. Thank you for choosing to be part of our virtual audience! With the Holiday Season upon us, it was important to us to reach out and send a little love, a little hope, and a little entertainment your way. It’s our deepest desire to stay connected to you, and to keep the creative fires of our artists burning while we are in this extended intermission. From our families to yours - Happy Holidays, and, our immense gratitude for the spirit of hope and love you have infused us with over this year. Wishing you comfort and joy, Sara Sara Bruner, The Snow Must Go On Director 2 The Snow Must Go On Artistic Company Director: Sara Bruner Assistant Director: Jaclyn Miller Music Director: Matthew Webb Video Editor: Nicki Cathro Director of Photography/Additional Editing: Mack Shirilla Video Graphics: Kacey Shapiro Wardrobe: Small Fire Vintage Hosted By: Jillian Kates Performances By: Adrian Grace Bumpas, Jodi Dominick, Marcus Martin, Jessie Cope Miller, Colton Ryan, Alex Syiek Featuring: Jacob Fjeldheim, orchestration That’s Just Christmas Tim Miller and the Angel City Big Band And Rupert the Dog FEATURE SPONSORS: 3 1. LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! — Jillian Kates 2. JINGLE BELLS — Jodi Dominick 3. THAT’S JUST CHRISTMAS — Alex Syiek 4. MAN WITH THE BAG — Jillian Kates 5. JUST FOR NOW — Jessie Cope Miller 6. LOVE IS CHRISTMAS — Jillian Kates with Adrian Bumpas, Marcus Martin & Colton Ryan 7. SLEIGH RIDE — Marcus Martin 8. MERRY CHRISTMAS, DARLING — Colton Ryan 9. SISTERS — Jillian Kates & Adrian Bumpas 10. HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS — Jillian Kates The Snow Must Go On Performance (via private streaming link) 4:00 PST, 5:00 MST, 7:00 EST | Pre-show welcome slides 4:30 PST, 5:30 MST, 7:30 EST | Virtual stream of The Snow Must Go On performance VIP PASS After-Party Celebration (via private Zoom link) 5:45 PST, 6:45 MST, 8:45 EST | Live After-Party including engaging conversation and festive surprises with the cabaret’s artists, hosted by Producing Artistic Director Charles Fee 4 Dean Martin released a version of the song in 1959, as part of his album A Winter Romance, and a re-recorded version in 1966, as part of The Dean Martin Christmas Album. LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! 1 LET IT SNOW! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (1945) was written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne during a Los Angeles heat wave, and was first a hit for big bandleader Vaughn Monroe. Not actually a Christmas tune but the romantic evocation of a night for two before a roaring fire during a winter storm, and Jillian Kates with Adrian Bumpas, Marcus Martin who doesn’t enjoy one of those? JILLIAN KATES A young Jillian Kates with Santa Select roles include: Marian Paroo in The Music Man, Donna in Mamma Mia!, Jane in Pride and Prejudice, Eliza in My Fair Lady, Lily in The Secret Garden, Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Texas (Sally u/s) in Cabaret. Jillian also appeared on the road with the Broadway National Tour of Wicked as the Glinda and Nessarose u/s. She is a very proud graduate of Baldwin Wallace University’s Music Theatre Program. So many thanks go out to Vicky, Charlie, Sara, Matt, Jackie, the entire cast, crew and company that make up this magic-filled festival that has become my artistic home. All my love to my parents, sibs, squeebs and Mack! @smallfirevintage 5 2 JINGLE BELLS Jingle Bells (1857) was written by James Lord Pierpont, and originally titled“ One Horse Open Sleigh.” Its true origins have been obscured by history; whether conceived to be sung by a children’s choir, as a raucous tavern sing-along, or as a celebration of the local sleigh races in 19th-Century Massachusetts. Somewhat racy for its time, the lyrics describe an unchaperoned ride between two unmarried people! Sleigh racing in Medford, Mass inspired James Lord Pierpont to write Jingle Bells JODI DOMINICK Select roles include: The Music Man, Julius Caesar, Witness for the Prosecution, Wait Until Dark, Seven-month-old Jodi Dominick Mamma Mia!, Pride and Prejudice, under the Christmas tree Les Miserables, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Sweeney Todd, The Mousetrap, Cabaret, Into the Woods, Twelfth Night, An Ideal Husband, The Imaginary Invalid, My Fair Lady, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Richard III. Other theaters: New World Stages, Hudson Backstage Theater, The Beck Center, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, The Hayworth Theatre, Dobama Theatre and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Jodi is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music. Special thanks to Matt Koenig, videographer 6 THAT’S JUST 3 CHRISTMAS That’s Just Christmas (2020) is composed and performed by beloved acting company member Alex Syiek. This original new song is a wistful nod to the present moment, with a hopeful refrain for better times to come. A big fan of the works of Irving Berlin, Syiek has written many holiday tunes, even some that are a bit on the naughty side. For tonight’s performance he created something light and hummable, for the whole family to enjoy! Alex Syiek as the Ghost of Christmas Present in GLT’s production of A Christmas Carol. ALEX SYIEK Select roles include: Harold Hill in The Music Man, Casca/Messala in Julius Caesar, Inspector Hearne in Witness for the Prosecution, Bill in Mamma Mia!, Fitzwilliam in Pride and Prejudice, Clopin in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Snout/Cobweb in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Pistol in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Factory Foreman/Claquesous/Grantaireion Les Misérables, Richmond in Richard III. Other favorite credits: Andrew Jackson in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Color and Light Theatre Ensemble), Bob White in White Christmas (Northern Stage), Mr. Franklin in Passing Strange (14th Street Theatre). BM in music theatre performance from Baldwin Wallace University and an MFA in musical theatre writing from NYU. Proud member of Actors’ Equity. He would like to thanks his mother, father and sister for their support. www.alexsyiek.com Alex Syiek, bottom center, with his Special thanks to Colleen McLaughlin, videographer extraordinaire family at Christmas 7 Judy Garland and Margaret O’Brien in Meet Me in St. Louis THE MAN WITH 4 THE BAG (Everybody’s Waiting For) The Man with the Bag (1950) is a swingin’ holiday classic made famous by jazz hit-maker Kay Starr, and written by her husband Hal Stanley, with Irving Taylor and Dudley Brooks. It has been covered in recent years by Brian Setzer Orchestra, Zooey Deschanel (She & Him), and “Family Guy” creator and swing interpreter Seth MacFarlane. Kay Starr’s version regularly appeared on Billboard’s list of popular Christmas songs in the early 1950s. JILLIAN KATES, bio p. 5 Jillian Kates in Santa’s sleigh 8 Kelly Clarkson 5 JUST FOR NOW Just for Now (2005) was written by English pop star Imogene Heap (Frou Frou) for a holiday episode of the young adult soap opera “The O.C.” though it was not used.