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Alternatives to Christmas Classics

"Isn't it time for something fresh and innovative? While beloved stories like A CHRISTMAS CAROL and THE NUTCRACKER occupy a special place in our hearts, expanding the array of plays produced enriches our festive cultural experience. These alternative plays resonate with diverse audiences, honoring various backgrounds and beliefs, and have been crafted by playwrights from across the world. Some maintain the essence of more traditional works, yet all provide a unique perspective on the season. I hope you discover plays here that will enhance your holiday programming."—playwright Dana Hall

Yuletide Shakedown by Peter Fenton

The Christmas Commercial Conspiracy by Philip Middleton Williams

Under Multicolored Lights by DC Cathro

Renegade Elfs' Christmas Workshop by Francis RTM Boyle

LADY M'S CHRISTMAS by Monica Cross

Snowing In November by Jaxson Mackling

All is Calm by Scott Sickles

The Long Christmas Journey to Wellesley and Weston by John Minigan

Life on the Moon by Anna Tatelman

The Ultimate Christmas Question by Rachel Feeny-Williams

The [C]Han[n]uk[k]a[h] Play by David Lipschutz

Under A Watchful Eye by John Busser

New Year’s Eve at the Stop-n-Go by Samantha Oty

Not a Hallmark Christmas by Debra A. Cole

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Recently Recommended

Christopher Plumridge recommended Santa Noir: A Ten-Minute Play by James McLindon

“

Aw the perfect adult Christmas Noir! Dark and moody as any your should be,this Christmas night a rather unexpected story emerges to reveal a very different side of the big man and his presents.
Is this naughty or nice? I'd say both. But check it out for yourself, it's perfect!

”

Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend recommended There's Nothing to See Here So Just Move Along Already! by Scott Sickles

“

Oh my gosh. This short. There's been a murder, and as two law enforcement exes try to work out what happened, they discover the greatest gift to a sound designer ever, which reveals what happened and also had me in stitches. Then just a page later, the characters are commenting in a really beautiful, bittersweet way about how difficult it is after breakups, when you're left with all these people you love, but aren't really allowed to love. Within a PAGE of each other. Scott Sickles is a master.

”

Christopher Soucy recommended There's Nothing to See Here So Just Move Along Already! by Scott Sickles

“

Christmas Eve alone can be a bit of a drag, but luckily some law enforcement officials have a project to keep them occupied. This play odd a whodunnit turned howdunnit while two former partners awkwardly navigate the new normal. As ever, Scott Sickles proves to be a master of character painting and scenario building.

”

Lana Scott Stringer recommended Recent Impending Events by Nora Louise Syran

“

A lived-in, cozy but challenging parable of tolerance, active listening, and the spectrum of faith.

”

Featured Writer

Susan Westfall

Susan is a co-founder and Literary Director of City Theatre and a professional playwright. Westfall’s plays include "The Best Seller", "Two Weekends and A Day," "Feel The Tango," (the play), "Feel the Tango" the short opera with music by Joe Illick, "Stitching History", "Look At Me" (Heideman Finalist, published in “Best Short Plays 2011”), "Rats," "The Boy From Russia," "Uprising," "The Wedding Party,"...

As City Theatre’s Literary Director, Westfall supervises outreach to playwrights, agents and publishers; coordinates the City Theatre National Award for Short Playwriting which recognizes and awards excellence in writing for the short play genre, contributes to the play selections for company readings, programs and productions; programs and coordinates CityWrights: Professional Week for Playwrights, a national playwright conference held during Summer Shorts that brings together local, regional, national playwrights and other artists together for creative and professional development. Susi also contributes to literary planning and oversight of commissions for the Short Cuts Middle School Tour, the NextGen mentorship program for South Florida high school playwrights, and new programming. Susi is also works with City Theatre's national arts partners including the Dramatists Guild, National New Play Network and Samuel French Publishing and its OOB New Play Festival.

Susan has worked at the Folger Theater Group (D.C.) and the Coconut Grove Playhouse, and taught playwriting at Miami's arts magnet, the New World School of the Arts High School and College programs. She has participated in the Miami Dade County Dept. of Cultural Affairs Playwright Development Program; was recipient of a Florida Arts Council Playwriting Fellowship; a Remy Award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre by the South Florida Theatre League. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, The Playwrights Center, Theatre Communications Group, and the South Florida Theatre League. Susan is a native Miamian, holds a BFA in Playwritingfrom Florida State University, and lives on Key Biscayne with her family.

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Featured Script

Blue Ridge Marathon by Justin Nostrala

A running club, Asheville Runners, in Asheville, North Carolina serves as the meeting point for a mixture of people who love to run. Although they are of various ages and economic backgrounds and have been shaped by a variety of life experiences, their love for running brings them all together. But although their sense of community is quite strong, personality conflicts develop that threaten the continuation of the club's all-important, annual marathon. Amid running injuries, quests for self-discovery, and romantic endeavors, the community searches for a way to stay together and continue holding the Blue Ridge Marathon.

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Featured Reader

Seth Barnes

Seth Barnes is a 2021 graduate from UW-Stevens Point with a BFA in acting and a minor in creative writing. He's based in New York City where he's currently pursuing a career in acting and playwriting.

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Featured Organization

convergence-continuum

Convergence-continuum is a 501(c)3 non-profit theatre company founded in 2000. It is the mission of convergence-continuum to produce contemporary, cutting-edge plays by living playwrights that examine our culture in innovative, environmental settings. At convergence-continuum our broad goal remains to confront, engage, and challenge audiences to share in the imaginative and investigative process of making their own cultural meanings--and we believe a strong, vibrant, living theatre does this. We believe that such a theatre engages those who participate and encourages more creative thinking about the cultural problems that we all face today. Our company-owned, intimate performance space, the Liminis, is a transcendent space where the world isn't reflected, but can be penetrated, explored, and experienced in new, often highly unique ways.

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