Michael J. Whitney

    Synopsis

 

"Christmas with the (Almost) Stars" is a backstage musical comedy packed with howlingly irreverent tunes, hilarious misunderstandings and heart as full as Santa's sleigh.

 

 It's Christmas Eve, 1963 and all of America is ready to watch "Christmas with the Stars"- a TV special broadcast live from the fabulous Snowbird Hotel and Casino at Lake Tahoe. TRUDY-a young producer getting her first big shot- has planned everything perfectly and stacked the show with big-name celebrities like Bing Crosby, Eartha Kitt and Henry Kissinger. The only problem: a blizzard forces every single star to bow out of the special at the last minute!

​

So it's up to Trudy to pull together a cast using whoever's hanging around the hotel. Aided by her adoring floor manager DEL and pretentious music director LONNY, Trudy digs up a motley crew of performers including sleazy lounge singer TOMMY PALERMO, Soviet Marilyn Monroe impersonator MIRJANA MONROESKI and dimwitted aspiring teen idol KIP CONROY- whose overbearing stage mother happens to be reclusive former film star (and Tommy's old flame) IRENE CONROY.

​

As the live broadcast progresses in real time, hijinks abound. There's lost love rekindled, a surprise paternity reveal and even some espionage involving a Faberge egg and a Croatian hunting knife.  

​

Through it all, Trudy learns to let go of what she thinks a "perfect Christmas" looks like and embrace the crazy spirit of the holidays. 

With a single set, a small cast and a comic sensibility somewhere between "Kiss Me, Kate" and "Waiting for Guffman", "Christmas with the (Almost) Stars" is the high-spirited (and low-budgeted) holiday hit you've been waiting for!