Transcendence Theatre Company is bringing the holiday cheer.
Colin McAdoo, in the director’s chair for the second year in a row, will be working alongside “co-conspirators” Matt Smart and Zachary Kellogg on a spate of holiday performances, dubbed Broadway Holiday, which features a large cast of performers from previous Transcendence shows.
McAdoo also has a rich history as a performer, having sung around the world from Carnegie Hall to The Sydney Opera House and with The Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale. He’s also performed with the countless symphonies all over the country and with pops shows he helped create. He’s been back in the fold lately at Transcendence, not only as a performer but also as head of the summer intensive camp and coordinator for Transcendence‘s community outreach.
When asked what folks can expect from the show, McAdoo said, “I think people can expect a holiday show focused evening full of warmth, laughter and connection. We are really trying to zoom in on what the depth of the holiday season means to so many people, and of course we will explore that through music and movement.”
Some highlighted performers include Belinda Allyn, who was recently on Disney’s Frozen national tour and previously hit the Transcendence stage in 2021 with Road Trip; Alloria Frayser, who featured in An Enchanted Evening for Transcendence earlier this year; and David L. Murray Jr., who appeared in Transcendence’s production of The Gala. Making their Transcendence debut are Stephen Christopher Anthony, who starred in Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen; Devon Perry, fresh from Missouri’s Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre’s performance of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical; and Michael Wordly, who featured on The Color Purple national tour.
Of the performers assembled for the holiday show, McAdoo said, “Our audience should be prepared for six of the best singers showcasing their talents through traditional holiday songs everyone knows, as well as some new takes on holiday classics.”
The Hanna Center’s indoor performance space holds only about 230 people, adding an intimate feel to events. Joining onstage will be a four-piece band that McAdoo is also excited for people to see and hear.
“We have a band with two keys players, bass and drums. This band style has really helped me shape the warm and groovy tunes we have, but really, the band just kicks,” McAdoo said.
Naturally, one must figure there are some serious challenges to putting on a show with this many moving pieces. In addition to allowing enough time to get the show up and running, the holiday season presents its own challenges.
McAdoo explained, “The holidays are so loaded on both sides of the spectrum these days. [They] can be so full of joy, but they can also feel isolating and lonely. We really took a hard look at that conversation and wanted to try to bridge that gap while also respecting it.”
Tickets for ‘Broadway Holiday’ are $61 to $161. Performances are Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2pm, and Sunday evenings at 6 pm, Dec. 1-10, at Hanna Center, 17000 Arnold Dr., Sonoma.
