(WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- Put away the turkey, unpack the jingle bells and get into the holiday spirit with The MTM Players for a warm, fun, family-friendly musical revue "The Best Time of the Year – Music & Memories of Christmas" for one weekend and five performances, November 29-December 1, 2024, at the Kelsey Theatre on Mercer County Community College's West Windsor Campus.
Celebrate all the joys of the holiday season in song, dance, beautiful visual projections, snow—and even kazoos—featuring some of the most beloved carols and Christmas songs of all time. This kid and family-friendly show is only an hour, but the fun continues in the lobby with treats and pictures with Santa.
Dates and showtimes for the five live performances of “The Best Time of the Year” are Friday, November 29 at 7:00pm, and Saturday and Sunday, November 30 and December 1 at 1:00pm & 4:00pm. Santa will be available in the lobby for photos after each performance.
In addition, Kelsey Theatre is proud to be returning as a partner with the U.S. Marine Corps for the annual “Toys for Tots” campaign during performances at Kelsey during the holiday season. Patrons can add joy to a child’s holiday by donating a new, unwrapped toy in the Kelsey Theatre lobby.
The 1:00pm on November 30 performance will be presented in American Sign Language (ASL) for the hearing impaired by cast member and ASL coach Reba Dell’Angelo, with the cast performing one of the numbers in ASL for each performance. Special seating is available.
The enthusiastic cast includes Trinity Austin of Hamilton Township, Tom Bessellieu of Lawrenceville, Joseph Cutalo of Titusville, Reba Dell'Angelo (ASL coach) of Roebling, the father-daughter team of Carlos Gonzalez-Najera and Juliana Gonzalez-Najera of Burlington, Carey Hamilton of Medford, Barry Leonard of Monroe Township, Emma Noyelle of Lambertville, Philip Rieschick and Alexa Shifton of Hamilton Township, Norah Wasden of Pennington, and Eliana Winters of East Windsor, with a special appearance by Leonard Calabrese, III of Hamilton as “The Jolly Old Elf” himself.
The show is produced, directed and musically directed by Rob Michael Lasky. Other members of the production team are Stage Manager Christine Heffron, Lighting Designer M. Kitty Getlik, Sound Engineer Eric Collins, Costume Designer Rittzy Productions, and Assistant Stage Manager Aaron Jelinek, with select choreography by Emily O’Sullivan.
Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors, veterans, children and students and may be purchased online or by calling the Kelsey Box Office at (609) 570-3333. Contact the box office for special ASL seating for the November 30 at 1:00pm performance. Kelsey Theatre is wheelchair accessible, with free parking next to the theater. For a complete listing of adult and children's events, visit the Kelsey website or call the box office for a brochure. Kelsey Theatre is located on the West Windsor campus of Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road in West Windsor, New Jersey.
PHOTO: Eliana Winters of East Windsor, Juliana Gonzalez-Najera of Burlington, Emma Noyelle of Lambertville, Alexa Shifton of Hamilton, Carlos Gonzalez-Najera of Burlington, Trinity Austin of Hamilton, Joseph Cutalo of Titusville, Reba Dell’Angelo (ASL Coach) of Roebling, Philip Rieschick of Hamilton, Norah Wasden of Pennington, Tom Bessellieu of Lawrenceville, Leonard Calabrese, III of Hamilton, and Barry Leonard of Monroe Township
