Shawnee Playhouse announces it holiday season show lineup.
All of the shows at the Shawnee Playhouse this season are suited for the entire family, with several traditional shows as well as a twist on a classic children’s story.
Once Upon a Christmas by Michael DeMaio 
Running November 13 through December 20.
Shawnee Playhouse presents a high-spirited, new musical! Once Upon a Christmas tells the story of two tourists wrongfully accused of counterfeiting and denied parole just days before Christmas. They decide to risk everything by escaping from prison and setting out on a mission to clear their names. Filled with romance, corruption, greed and some good-hearted orphans, Once Upon a Christmas, is a modern holiday adventure with the charm and heart of a classic Christmas story.
Featuring a large, talented cast, Once Upon a Christmas is directed by Nicholas Conti, who has performed in and directed many shows in the Lehigh Valley area and is excited to make his Shawnee Playhouse directing debut! Nick is a graduate of both West Chester University (B.M. Music Performance) and Arizona State University (M.M. Music Performance). His past directing credits include Assassins (2012), You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (2013), Seussical (2014) and Sweeney Todd (2015) with Third Mask Theatre Company in Bethlehem, PA. Favorite roles as an actor include "John Wilkes Booth" (Assassins), "Andre" (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and "Albert Peterson" (Bye Bye Birdie).
Michael DeMaio joins the production team as Music Director, and who could be better'! Michael co-wrote the play with John Matthews and wrote the music and lyrics. Michael is a composer, musician and educator. He is a graduate of William Paterson University (B.A. Music) and Montclair State University (M.A. Music Theory and Composition). His compositions have been performed throughout the United States, as well as Canada, Great Britain and Norway.
Also on the production team is Stage manager is Ariana Domeraski, choreographer is Juliet Dunham and costumer is Loree Fry.
2pm November 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 27, 28, 29 December 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20
8pm November 14, 21, 28 December 5, 12, 19
$29 Adults $26 Seniors $16 children 12 and under
A Winnie The Pooh Christmas Tail based on the story by A.A. Milne, Book and Lyrics by James W. Rodgers
Running November 20 through December 19 
Join us in the Hundred Acre Wood for an enchanting musical celebration of seasonal sharing and caring, in which Pooh, Piglet, and all their friends help Eeyore have a very merry Christmas!
A very special Friend-and-Relation tells Christopher Robin a story of a Christmas Eve when Eeyore, who lives by himself in the thistle corner of Hundred-Acre Wood, was absolutely miserable. It seems that he lost his tail, so Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet got all of their friends and organized a search. There is a great deal of fun and excitement, plus delightful songs, in the adventure that follows.
A Winnie The Pooh Christmas Tail features Maura Dempsey as Winnie the Pooh, James Carroll as Eeyore, Johanna Gelbs as Rabbit, Tamir Cousins-Ali as Owl, Sam Kashefska as Tigger, Mary Bolan as Kanga, Ryleigh Raub as Roo, Emma Flannagan as Piglet and Ethan Flannagan as Christopher Robin. Directing A Winnie The Pooh Christmas Tail is Lori Flanagan. Stage manager is Sara Ferguson, Assistant Stage Manager is Catherine Ferguson, Sophia Ferguson is Prop Mistress and Loree Fry is Costumer.
Show times are 10am: November 20, 21, 27, 28 December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19
All Seats are $11
The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky Presented by C & K Dance Company 
Running November 27 through December 18
The Nutcracker is a holiday fairy tale about a young girl, Clara, and her very favorite Christmas. Her Godfather, Herr Drosselmeier, is a magical, mysterious character in her life. This Christmas he has a special gift for her, a beautiful Nutcracker doll. She receives the present from him at the annual family party. Very excited about the new doll, Clara wants to stay up all night with it, but her family sends her off to bed. After everyone has left and the family is asleep, Clara sneaks downstairs to look at her Nutcracker doll. She eventually falls asleep, and with a little help from Drosselmeier’s magic, her dreams begin….
**Mondays, December 7 and 14 at 10am shows are geared towards the younger crowd, are a little bit shorter and the cost is $11 per ticket.
**Sundays, November 27 December 4, 11 and 18 at 7pm shows are for all audiences and run longer than the Monday morning shows.
Tickets are $19 for adults, $16 Seniors, AAA members and $11 children 12 and under
SPECIAL EVENTS!
Holiday Cabarets- Songs of the Season
Join our talented winter cast as they perform their favorite Holiday hits. 
Open seating, a suggested donation of $8 gratefully accepted at the door.
Proceeds for the December 17th Cabaret will benefit NEPTA (Northeastern Pennsylvania Theatrical Alliance) scholarships for seniors entering college to study performing art majors.
7pm December 10, 17
The Messiah – by George Freidrich Handel
37th Annual Concert – ONE NIGHT ONLY
Raise your voices with family, friends and neighbors in Handel’s immortal masterpiece. This sing in concert is lead by professional conductors, soloists and musicians, and is a gift to the community from the Kirkwood Family. Join in the singing or just sit back and enjoy this Shawnee Holiday Tradition!
One Night Only 8pm December 22
$8 donation gratefully accepted at the door
Kids Kabaret
An incredibly talented and diverse cast of children ages 5 to 16 entertain audiences with singing and dancing! An enjoyable show for the young and young at heart! 
2pm and 7pm December 27
All Seats $11 per ticket.
For information or to reserve tickets please call the Shawnee Playhouse Box Office at
570-421-5093
For more information on show dates, times and to purchase tickets online visit our website at www.theshawneeplayhouse.com