WT Productions turns on the ‘Seasonal Lights’ at GreenMan Theatre

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Holiday traditions are happening everywhere. Christmas songs are playing on the radio. People are getting their trees set up and decorated. Shopping for presents is an ongoing process.

And WT Productions’ “Seasonal” tradition has reached its seventh year. The tradition has something new this December, as WT Productions is partnering with GreenMan Theatre Troupe to present “Seasonal Lights.”

The production is written, produced, and directed by Debbi Dennison (Streamwood) and Carl Zeitler (Glen Ellyn). The cast features Dennison, Danny Glenn (Schaumburg), Kim Green (South Elgin), Tony Lage (West Chicago), Debbie Roberts (Lockport), Kate Roberts (Lockport), Laura Strojny (Algonquin), Julane Sullivan (Batavia), Bruce Worthel (St. Charles), Zeitler, and Troy & Roy (their hometown is a mystery).

“Seasonal Lights” represents the first production in WT Productions’ second volume of Seasonal shows. The first volume of six shows all dealt with some aspect of a Christmas present.

The first production was “Seasonal Ties” in 2017, followed by “Seasonal Bows,” “Seasonal Wraps,” “Seasonal Tags,” “Seasonal Bags,” and “Seasonal Gifts.” All of those productions were written, produced, and directed by Dennison and Zeitler, who are the co-founders of WT Productions.

“I am so proud of what we’ve accomplished with these shows. From day one, we have set out to show that the holidays can stir up a wide range of emotions and experiences. We still stand by that mission to present all sides … the good, the bad, and the quirky,” Dennison said.

“It’s so great to build to this point. We’ve always sought to grow, whether it’s improving as writers, continuing to add new actors to our Seasonal ensemble, drawing more audience members that come back the following year, or working with different venues,” Zeitler added.

The Seasonal shows started at Vero Voce Theater in St. Charles. Vero Voce moved to a new location across town in 2019, and WT Productions continued the tradition there. After a year off due to COVID, Vero Voce and WT Productions teamed up for a fourth “Seasonal“ production.

When STC Theater took over that location in 2022, WT Productions partnered with them, too. STC Theater closed after that one year, so WT Productions contacted Marquee Youth Stage, also in St. Charles, to perform at that venue last December. Marquee moved to a new location that required an extensive construction process this year, so WT Productions contacted GreenMan Theatre Troupe to work out an agreement to bring the Seasonal tradition east.

“It feels like a homecoming to me since I performed in the first production GreenMan held in this location in 2008. I was also a board member there for six years. Community theater is truly that; who you make and maintain connections with throughout theater circles matter. GreenMan has a tradition of superior productions and excellent volunteers, so I'm glad that we can partner with them on this production,” Zeitler explained.

“Working specifically with WT Productions is exciting because their Seasonal plays are a known property to audiences. We are able to bring our excellence in front of house and tech, with use of the space and they are able to bring the high quality production and the audience,” said Becca Easley, GreenMan board president. “Our audience that comes to see GreenMan shows will also get to see a special holiday show. This will be a great finale to our busy fall.”

“Seasonal Lights” is a new collection of six short plays that takes Christmas and the winter holidays and looks at them from different perspectives. Each play tells a different story and elements of the first five plays come together in the finale in the traditional Seasonal style. “Seasonal Lights” blends light comedy, dark comedy, and drama to put a unique spin on this traditional time of year.

Dennison spoke about their signature style Seasonal finales. “I feel like it’s one of the things that sets us apart from other holiday shows. It’s something we stumbled upon with the first season. The audience seemed to really like the concept, so we’ve stuck with the formula. It’s always like a fun puzzle to me to figure out how to intertwine the five different stories and create a new one.”

The short plays in the production start with “It’s a Suckful Life,” written and directed by Dennison and Zeitler. This parody of “It’s a Wonderful Life” deals with “Seasonal“ mainstays Troy & Roy, who are Santa puppets. Roy is determined to prove to Troy that Christmas wouldn’t be the same without them. The second play is “Burnt Out,” written and directed by Dennison. A new worker is added to the Strand Christmas light team. Will they adapt or burn out?

The first act ends with “Holiday Lowlights,” written and directed by Zeitler, which deals with a holiday therapist who conducts a group session with people who have issues with holiday stress.

The second act opens with “Don’t Care for Santa,” written and directed by Dennison, in which Santa delivers presents on Christmas Eve under the watchful eye of his caregiver. The fifth play is “Stuck on Christmas Eve,” written and directed by Zeitler, where we meet four people trapped in an elevator on Christmas Eve. The finale of the show is titled “The Light of the Party” and is written and directed by Dennison and Zeitler. A power outage and several uninvited guests derail a family’s Christmas Eve dinner.

“Seasonal Lights” is a fundraiser for GreenMan Theatre Troupe. The production runs during the weekends of Dec. 6-8 and 13-15. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m. GreenMan Theatre Troupe is located at First United Methodist Church, 232 S. York in Elmhurst. Free parking is available.

Tickets are $25 and are now on sale. You can reserve tickets at wtproductions2.weebly.com. Tickets can also be purchased on the date of the performance via walk-in audience members, if available, by cash or credit card. With this intimate venue, it is recommended to purchase your tickets in advance.

“Seasonal Lights” is Troy & Roy Recommended and appropriate for PG-13 audiences due to language and content.

“It’s rewarding to see it grow over the years. We have audience members that have made this part of their yearly holiday tradition,” Dennison added. “That just blows my mind. As long as we continue to have stories to tell, and a theater to tell them in, the show will continue on. I look forward to this every year. At the end of a long year, it truly is my ‘light.’”