The GhostLight Theatre, Southwest Michigan’s regional theatre located in the Benton Harbor Arts District, has completed casting and is in rehearsals for its first-ever family-friendly holiday production Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Wish – The Musical. Written by Benton Harbor resident, Denise McGowan Tracy with music by Kathleen Butler-Duplessis and McGowan Tracy and musical arrangements by David Fiorello, the 65-minute production opens Thanksgiving weekend, Saturday, November 26th with performances Saturdays at 10:30 am and 1:00 pm and on Sundays at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm through December 11th. Tickets are on sale now at: www.GhostLightBH.com.
The GhostLight production is under the direction of Chicago-based Patrick Tierney with music direction by Lisa Van Deurzen-Otey and choreography by John Marshall, Jr. and includes a lively pre-show with fun, games and music. Following the performance, kids of all ages are invited onstage for “Selfies with Santa” at no additional charge and can take Eleanor home with show-related items including personally signed copies of McGowan Tracy’s book on which the show is based.
Eleanor is the story of a rag doll who lives at The North Pole and has one wish for a best friend and home of her own. With help from Santa’s elves, Eleanor realizes that wishing is not enough and that you must take action to make your dreams come true. This lesson and others are sprinkled throughout the story teaching children—and reminding adults—of the importance of family and friends. The GhostLight production features the original set and costumes from the 2019 Chicago premiere that ran for 39 performances.
Leading the cast—and recreating the title role she originated in the critically-acclaimed Chicago premiere—is Samantha Bonzi who has appeared regionally at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre, Timber Lake Playhouse, The Nordlof Center and Starlight Theatre. Her father, Todd Bonzi, plays Santa and has an extensive career as a producer, director and actor with credits at Starlight Theatre, New American Theatre, Shady Lane Theatre and through the production company he founded with wife Michelle. Kristen Wielenga appears in the role of Mrs. “Cookie” Claus with Trillium Falotico as Sprinkle, Sydney Swanson (who created the role of Noelle in the original cast) as Sparkle, Kady Roberts as Twinkle, Maureen Schlie as Clara/Holly and Elena Rupp as Noelle. Rounding out the company are Olivia Wielenga, Laura Gomez, Einra Lee Baker and Lane Alsup.
Tickets for Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Wish – The Musical are on sale through EventBrite at: www.GhostLightBH.com. General admission is $17.50 per person with a special Family Fun Pack of four tickets or more priced at $15 per person. Group rates are available for 15 or more while supply lasts. Thanks to the generous support of the Boulevard Inn and Bistro in St. Joe, a special overnight hotel package that includes four show tickets and Eleanor merchandise is also available. Additional sponsorship support for this production is provided by Honor Credit, Jollay Farms, Mead & White Electric, Meijer, Kalin Construction, MailMax and individual sponsors.
Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Wish—The Musical
The GhostLight Theatre
Book by Denise McGowan Tracy
Music and Lyrics by Kathleen Butler-Duplessis and McGowan Tracy
Directed by Patrick Tierney
Music Directed by Van Deurzen-Otey
Choreography by John Marshall, Jr.
Tickets through EventBrite
Performance Schedule
Saturday, November 26, 2022
1:00 am & 4:00 pm [10:30 am SOLD OUT]
Sunday, November 27, 2022
1:00 pm & 4:00 pm
Saturday, December 3, 2022
10:30 am & 1:00 pm
Sunday, December 4, 2022
1:00 pm & 4:00 pm
Saturday, December 10, 2022
10:30 am & 1:00 pm
Sunday, December 11, 2022
1:00 pm & 4:00 pm
