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Developed in NYC, musical comedy ‘Junior Claus’ opens Dec. 10
by Andrew Miller
Thisweek Newspapers
Kids and adults will find something to enjoy in “Junior Claus.”
The holiday-themed musical which opens at the Burnsville Performing
Arts Center Dec. 10 brings a “Shrek”-like comic sensibility to the
stage, said playwright Christopher Dimond, who wrote “Junior Claus”
with composer and longtime creative partner Michael Kooman.
“We really tried to think of the show as a Pixar film – a show that
would appeal to kids but have things for adults as well,” said Dimond.
PHOTO: Ali Rose Dachis and Brian Skellenger rehearse a scene from “Junior Claus” in Minneapolis last week. Photo by Rick Orndorf
Billed as “the hilarious and heartwarming tale” that takes place days before Christmas Eve at the North Pole when Santa Claus stubs a toe and young Junior must assume Santa’s duties, “Junior Claus” is loaded with references to classic Christmas films that will register with adults.
Claymation holiday films from the 1960s such as “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” and newer Christmas fare such as “Elf” all got knowing nods in Dimond’s script.
“It’s a genre that has such a rich history, and we wanted to poke fun at holiday movies we grew up watching,” Dimond said.
The Burnsville run of “Junior Claus” Dec. 10-27 marks the debut of the family-oriented production developed this fall at Pearl Studios in New York City. (Dimond and Kooman are both Manhattan residents).
The Directors, the Minneapolis-based production company behind “Junior Claus,” plans to send the show on the road for a six-week national tour in November 2010.
“We wanted to bring a slice of Broadway to Burnsville,” said co-producer Sam Graber. “It’s a big New York show with a very local flavor.”
That local flavor includes a costumer from the Guthrie Theater, a lighting designer from the Walker Art Center, and a set designer from Macalester College.
The cast of professional actors is also drawn from the Twin Cities. Brian Skellenger, a recent University of Minnesota-Duluth graduate whose resume includes “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Guthrie and “High School Musical” with the Children’s Theatre Company, is cast in the title role of Junior. Cast members’ credits include parts in “Nunsense,” “Tony and Tina’s Wedding” and other long-running Twin Cities productions.
“We have some superstar talent from around the Twin Cities,” Graber said.
A “Junior Claus” video trailer and ticket information is on the Web at www.juniorclaus.com.
IN BRIEF: “Junior Claus” runs Dec. 10-27 at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $32 for adults, $21.50 for youths and seniors and are available through Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787 or Ticketmaster.com.
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