11th Hour Theatre Company Begins WINTER WONDERETTES Performances Friday

11th Hour Theatre Company opens its Mainstage season with the Philadelphia area premiere Roger Bean's Winter Wonderettes. In this sequel to 11th Hour's summer smash hit, The Marvelous Wonderettes, four best friends set out to spread a little Christmas cheer at Mr. Harper's annual holiday party. This show features some of the most popular pop holiday songs of all time. The show will run at the brand new Theatre Horizon, 401 Dekalb Street, Norristown. It begins previews on Friday, December 7, opens Monday, December 10 at 7 p.m. and closes Sunday, December 30. Tickets cost $15-$31. Discount tickets are available for students. Tickets and more information are available online at www.11thhourtheatrecompany.org or by phone at (267) 987-9865.

The year is 1968, 10 years after Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy and Suzy have graduated from high school. Betty Jean has been working at Harper's Hardware and The Wonderettes are hired to sing at the store's annual Christmas party. When Santa is a no-show and the party goes bust, it's up to the Wonderettes to save the day. With a score featuring some of the greatest holiday hits, including "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town," "Santa Baby" and many more, this hilarious musical is the perfect escape from the stress of the holiday season!

Three out of four cast members from The Marvelous Wonderettes are reprising their roles, University of the Arts grad Kat Borrelli as Betty Jean, 11th Hour regular Laura Catlaw as Cindy Lou and University of the Arts grad Janet Rowley as Suzy. The only new member of the cast, Rachel Camp, will be playing the role of Missy. She was just seen in Next To Normal at the Arden Theatre Company and has previously been seen in The Great American Trailer Park Musical with 11th Hour.

11th Hour Resident Director Megan Nicole O'Brien directs. O'Brien is looking to highlight the cast's many talents. "The cast is incredibly talented. They all have great voices. They are great dancers and they are all great comediennes. This show will really showcase that. It is a fun show for the holidays," said O'Brien.

Tabitha Allen is handling Music Direction. Cast member Kat Borelli is also choreographing the show, having just choreographed O'Brien's production of Blues in the Night at Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Julia Poiesz is designing the ladies' 1968-style holiday dresses. Set designer Maura Roche is will be creating Mr. Harper's Hardware Store. Mark Valenzuela is handling the sound and John Bryant is designing the lights. Keighty McLallen is handling props.

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