(BRISTOL, PA) -- Bristol Riverside Theatre brings back a holiday favorite and welcomes audiences home this holiday season. An American Christmas Songbook, the theatre’s first concert in the theatre since 2019, gathers audiences December 9-19 for a heartwarming evening of favorite carols and songs performed by a cast of BRT favorites. Former BRT Artistic Director Keith Baker returns to lead the BRT Concert Band. Tickets are $32 to $47, with discounts available for students and military.
For this show, audience members must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test (PCR or Antigen) taken within 48 hours of the performance start time. You must also wear a mask.
“Christmas makes everybody feel happy during the entire month of December,” said BRT Producing Director Ken Kaissar. “I’m looking forward to having all of that happiness and cheer back in our theatre. BRT is a place where people can come and feel happy. So I’m looking forward to presenting a show that spreads that joy and gears everybody up for a wonderful holiday season. After the last two years, we’ve earned the opportunity to be happy again. With the sound of eight singers and a five piece band, we’re going to create a lot of joy. I can’t wait for our audience to experience it.”
The chill of winter is in the air as Keith Baker and the BRT Concert Band, along with fabulous entertainers, take the stage to perform your favorite carols and heartwarming holiday songs. Audiences will not want to miss this opportunity to celebrate the holidays in style! Each holiday season, BRT creates an evening of holiday favorites performed alongside a full band. Audiences can expect songs like “Twelve Days of Christmas,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Wizards in Winter,”and “Last Christmas.” The cast includes BRT favorites: Demetria Joyce Bailey, Meredith Beck, Elyse Langley, Gary Lumpkin, Jon Reinhold, Dominick Sannelli, Michele Sexton, and Keith Spencer.
Keith Baker returns to lead the BRT Concert Band and play piano. The band also features Rob Gargiullo on bass, Kathy Goff on percussion, Neil Nemetz on guitar and Claudia Pellegrini on violin. Andrew Deppen is designing the holiday themed set for the concert. Joe Doran is the Lighting Designer setting the festive mood. The cast will be dressed in their holiday best with costumes from BRT Resident Costume Designer, Linda Bee Stockon. This joyous evening was originally conceived by Baker.
“One of the biggest blows to our audience during COVID was the fact that we couldn’t do our annual Christmas concert,” said Kaissar. “It is one of our most beloved programs. We got so many calls last year asking if we’ll be able to do An American Christmas Songbook. Keith Baker and our singers were heartbroken to disappoint the audience. Instead they volunteered to come together and record a special concert which they released on YouTube last December. So this year, they are so excited to be back in person and fill the audience with Christmas Cheer in person! We’re all very excited.”
Demetria Joyce Bailey is excited to be back at BRT after being the u/s for God and making her debut as Assistant Director in An Act of God starring Kim Wayans. Stage: Woodstock 50 BRT; Regional: Nurse in The Sunshine Boys BRT, Mrs. Phelps in Matilda The Musical Walnut Street Theatre; Working: A Musical BRT; Mama Morton Chicago starring Justin Guarini Media Theatre; Electra in Gypsy starring Tovah Feldshuh and Robert Newman BRT. TV: California Rep. in Netflix’s House of Cards, Pearlene Scott in HBO’s The Wire, The Nurse in CBS’s Hack. Take home more than just memories, pick up a CD-"Let The Good Times Roll" and/or "Takin’ a Chance..." in the lobby.
Meredith Beck is thrilled to return to the BRT stage after performing in Cabaret right before the shutdown. She most recently performed as Sally in Cabaret, Sheila in A Chorus Line, & Eliza in My Fair Lady At the Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts. Other regional credits include LIZZIE (11thHour),1776 (Media), National Pastime (Bucks County Playhouse), Marvelous Wonderettes( Merry Go Round), & ‘F’ Word (Radiant Bloom).Meredith tours with Ethel & Mary:Together Off-Broadway!-recreating the roles of Mary Martin. She is the founder/flautist of the Celtic Trio,The Galway Girls! Meredith serves as Vice-Chair of the Philadelphia Liaison Committee for Actors Equity Association.
Elyse Langley is thrilled to be back at BRT singing some of her favorite songs! She most recently performed in Broadway Spectacular along with many other seasonal concerts at BRT. Regional Credits:1776 (Abigail Adams, Media Theatre), Man of La Mancha (TUTS, TX), Kiss Me, Kate (Kate, NJPAC), A Fireside Christmas (Fireside Theatre, WI) Sweeney Todd (NJPAC). In addition to studying at the William Esper acting studio in NYC, Elyse holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Rider University. Elyse is a proud member of AEA. Other favorite credits include:Legally Blonde (Vivienne, Mac-Haydn),Ragtime (Emma Goldman, Princeton Univ.), Midnight Madness (Titania, NYMF). All my love always to James.
Gary Lumpkin returns to BRT. He is a recent graduate of Wagner College. Some of his favorite previous roles include: Cornelius in Hello, Dolly! (Clear Space Theatre Company), Martin Van Buren in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Wagner College), and Leaf Coneybear in 25th. Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Wagner College) to name a few. Many thanks to his amazing friends and family.
Dominick Sannelli: Regional: Crazy For You (Mingo) at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Jesus Christ Superstar (ensemble) The Producers (Scott/Ensemble) Sunshine Boys (Patient U/S Benjamin) Pirates Of Penzance (ensemble) at Bristol Riverside Theater, Sign of the Seahorse (Finny/Dance captain), Kennedy Center. Tours: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Wizard of Oz (Ensemble/U/S Uncle Henry). Other Theater credits: Madagascar (Dreamworks workshop) “21” the musical (World Premiere), Pittsburgh Playhouse. TV: Hairspray Live Philadelphia (NBC/Universal) Film: silver Linings Playbook. Love and gratitude to the best family in the world.
Michele Sexton is excited to be back on the BRT stage! Michele has performed extensively with opera companies, festivals, theaters, and musical groups throughout the United States, Europe,and Asia, including a six-week concert tour of China as the soprano soloist with the Hollywood Concert Orchestra and critically acclaimed portrayals of the Beggar Woman in Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd with the Hawaii Opera Theater and the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. Other recent engagements include appearances with the Metropolitan Opera Guild at Lincoln Center in NYC, and the Garden State Symphonic Band. Earlier this year, Michele made her debut with the St. Petersburg Opera Co. in Florida, receiving rave reviews for her portrayal ofLili/Kate in Kiss Me Kate.
Keith Spencer is thrilled to be back on the BRT stage. Favorite roles: Coalhouse Walker, Jr. (Ragtime); Joe (Show Boat); The Abolitionist (For the Glory: The Civil War Musical); Audrey II (Little Shop of Horrors); Leading Player (Pippin); Billy (Carousel). Over the past number of years, Keith has developed a series of programs celebrating the African-American cultural experience and music performed by renowned African-American artists. Keith presented his one-man show, Brothers on Broadway-Celebrating the African-American Leading Men of Broadway In partnership with the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey to record-breaking attendance at the Patriots Theatre at the War Memorial. Thanks to Amy, Penelope, and wonder twins, Zachary and Vivian, for their love and support.
HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS
All audience members will be required to wear masks at all times when inside the theatre and show proof of full vaccination* with a matching ID (a photo or copy of your vaccination card is acceptable) OR proof of a negative COVID-19 test (PCR or Antigen) taken within 48 hours of the performance start time.
*Full vaccination means the performance date must be at least 14 days after the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine, or at least 14 days after a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. For future shows, please stay tuned for continued updates that follow CDC, state and local guidelines.
For continued COVID protocols, BRT has upgraded its filtration to a MERV-13 as recommended by the CDC. The theatre will continue thorough and more frequent disinfection with CDC recommended products and special attention to high-touch areas. The theatre has installed touchless paper towel dispensers in all bathrooms. Hand sanitizer will be available in the lobby at all times. Updated health and safety protocols will be updated on the website during the season for each show and special event.
Since 1986, Bristol Riverstide Theatre has continued to bring acclaimed theatre to Bucks County. The theatre is the recipient of over 71 Barrymore Award nominations. Now under the direction of Producing directors Amy and Ken Kaissar, and General Manager David J. Abers, the theatre serves as a cultural hub for the community. In addition to its mainstage productions, BRT offers the William Penn Bank Summer Music Fest, the holiday tradition An American Christmas Songbook concert, the new play development series America Rising, the summer theatre arts camp ArtRageous, and a range of education programs for local youth.
