Poway show embraces the holiday spirit – including those ‘ugly’ sweaters

Think of a Christmas movie, song or tradition in popular culture, along with some for Hanukkah and other winter holidays, and you will likely see it humorously featured on the Poway Center for the Performing Arts stage.

“The Ugly Seasonal Sweater Soirée” will be presented twice — at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. — on Saturday, Dec. 6 at the PCPA.

“The premise (of the show) is overbearing stage parents show up for what is clearly meant to be a kids show and they overtake things,” said director Jeremy Stoll.

“Think of it as sketch comedy and a Christmas concert built around it,” he said. “There are a lot of comedic scenes, throwbacks to movies and iconic moments.”

While Stoll said the “older crowd” will be the most likely to catch all the jokes, “I’m 45 and I get all the references because they are from my own childhood. There are iconic ‘80s (references), including the argument that ‘Die Hard’ is a Christmas movie.”

The film featuring Bruce Willis came out in 1988.

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989) is naturally included along with a nod to the 1992 “Home Alone,” Stoll said.

But the 90-minute show with intermission is not just about movies. There is an extensive song list as well, with at least two dozen holiday favorites including “All I Want for Christmas is You” (made famous by Mariah Carey), “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” “Blue Christmas” (a nod to Elvis Presley), “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree.”

“We have newer songs, like *NSYNC’s ‘Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.’ That was a one-hit wonder the season it came out,” Stoll said. “It provides great comedic fodder for jokes.”

Of course, there are holiday classics like “White Christmas” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” And Stoll said it was impossible to leave out tunes such as “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” and “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.”

“We do a riff on the weirdness of the scenario for kids,” Stoll said.

There is also section on Adam Sandler’s “The Chanukah Song” and even a segment about the folkloric tradition of Krampus.

The show has six performers — four adults and two teens — plus a seven-member band that is “just as much in the show as a character that interacts … with the characters,” Stoll said.

As for the set, he described it as “Christmas threw up on the stage” due to the numerous decorations.

“The Ugly Seasonal Sweater Soirée” is one of several shows created by Rave On Productions. Stoll said it originated a couple years ago as a kids show, “but then we saw a ton of potential for more ages.”

The show was recreated to appeal to a wider audience and is being presented for the first time this year, with performances only scheduled for Omaha, Denver and Poway, Stoll said. This new version is meant to appeal to upper elementary school, “who are at a good age to get the references and comedic humor” through adults.

“It’s a hoot and going to be a fun time,” he said. “We are really excited to come out (to Poway) to perform for everybody and get the holidays kicked off right.”

He added that the cast would love to see the audience embrace the show’s theme by wearing “ugly” holiday sweaters.

Tickets are $54 to $78 for adults; $47 to $68 for seniors (65-plus), active military and students (ages 13-21); and $32-$44 for youths (ages 12 and under). Buy at powayonstage.org, call the box office at 858-748-0505 or go to the PCPA at 15498 Espola Road. The box office is open 1-6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and two hours prior to show time.

In conjunction with the show, Poway OnStage has partnered with the local nonprofit Becky’s Gift to bring joy to children and families facing cancer at five cancer centers across San Diego County. Attendees are welcome to donate a new, unwrapped toy for ages 1-16 when they come to the show. To learn more, visit beckysgifts.org.