Masquers Playhouse is pleased to present
A NEW DEAL CHRISTMAS
A holiday audio drama
Written & Directed by Judy Zimola
Available for streaming from December 11, 2020 to January 1, 2021.
This real-life story describes a Christmas miracle that took place in Schuyler, Nebraska, in 1935 as Emiel Christensen stressed over what to do to ensure his WPA workers would get their pay in time for Christmas Day. This audio presentation is our gift to you – tickets are free! Reserve your ticket below.
Featuring:
JASON BERNER
(Emiel Christensen) Jason Berner previously appeared at Masquers as Hector in The Gamester. He has performed at theaters across the East Bay, including Pinole Community Players (Death Trap, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Harvey), Contra Costa Community Theatre (All the Way, You Can’t Take It with You), Chanticleers (Rumors, Born Yesterday), and Vallejo Shakespeare (Taming of the Shrew, Titus Andronicus, Measure for Measure). During the day, Jason works at Contra Costa College. Go Comets!
EMILIANO CRUZ VELASCO
(Phillip Christensen) Emiliano is 10 years old and in the 5th grade. He has two sisters and one brother. One of his favorite subjects in school is theater. He recently performed as the Mayor of Whoville in Seussical, the Musical at his school. He also performed in and helped to write You Will Be Found, a musical to help prevent bullying. He also enjoys dancing, singing, playing sports, spending time with his friends, and watching movies with his family.
JOURNI COPES-HARVEY
(Helen Christensen) Journi is excited to be part of this Masquers holiday audio drama. Credits include Once On This Island (Little TiMoune) with CCCT, Seussical (JoJo) with Aspire Richmond Technology Academy, A Letter to my Ex (Little Be) with Mills College, Aladdin (Genie) with BACT, Ragtime (Coalhouse Walker III) with CCCT, The Music Man (Ensemble, Newspaper Person) with BACT, and Seussical (Ensemble) with BACT. She is happy be in this cast.
KIT LANTHIER
(Clara Christensen / sound design) Kit is a third-generation Masquer who last appeared on-stage in the Masquers production of The Gamester. She is co-creator of the podcast Season by Season, which she co-hosts with her best friend from childhood. Kit lives in the Bay Area with her husband Cyrus and their intelligent cats.
JO LUSK
(Narrator) Jo has been a member of the Masquers for donkeys’ years now. She’s the theatre’s costume room manager, and has costumed somewhere around 40 shows. She likes to make hats. She could also be found in the pit during musicals playing flute, keyboard, slide whistle – whatever she can get away with. Sometimes they let her be on stage.
CARL SMITH
(Narrator) In addition to being the Managing Director for Masquers, Carl loves performing when he gets the chance. He was last seen on the Masquers stage in Farragut North in 2015. Other acting credits around the Bay include Headwaiter/Ensemble in She Loves Me (Pinole Community Players), Young Scrooge in Scrooge the Musical (Bay Area Stage), and John Brooke in Little Women the musical (Chanticleers Theatre).
JUDY ZIMOLA
(Writer/Diretor & Arlene) The only thing Judy likes better than a road trip is working in the theater. She was hooked at the impressionable age of 15 when she got her first laugh as Aunt Abby in her high school production of Arsenic and Old Lace. From then on it’s been all about plays, onstage or behind the scenes. Judy has worked in playhouses from Half Moon Bay (Brooke/Vicki in Noises Off) to Walnut Creek (Nine ensemble) and a bunch in between, but Masquers is by far her favorite theater. She is a communications director in the nonprofit world, which makes her very happy. When not writing for work or theater, she writes about the environment, music, and the occasional road trip gone kerflooey for small but arty publications.