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'Seasonal Bows' offers a fresh, funny take on holidays

As the holidays approach, there are numerous traditional theatrical shows about the season from which to choose. And then there is "Seasonal Bows" from WT Productions.

This original production of six short plays blends light comedy, dark comedy and drama as it takes Christmas and the winter holidays and looks at them from different perspectives.

"Seasonal Bows" will run the weekends of Nov. 30-Dec. 2 and Dec. 7-9 at Vero Voce Theater. Friday and Saturday performances start at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees begin at 3 p.m. Tickets are $17 for adults; $14 for seniors and students. Tickets can be purchased at verovoce.com or wtproductions2.weebly.com.

Vero Voce Theater is at 951 State Ave., Suite F, in St. Charles. The theater's phone number is (630) 584-0139. Free parking is available. The show is appropriate for PG-13 audiences.

"Seasonal Bows" was written by Debbi Dennison of Streamwood and Carl Zeitler of Glen Ellyn, and they are also producing and directing the show. Dennison and Zeitler formed WT Productions when they collaborated on several murder mystery dinner theater productions in recent years.

The team partnered with Vero Voce Theater in St. Charles last year to bring "Seasonal Ties" to the stage. After that successful run, WT Productions returns with another quirky offering of unique seasonal entertainment.

"Seasonal Bows" features a cast of Bill Boggs (Schaumburg), Nancy Braus (Schaumburg), Jen Connon (Batavia), Doreen Dawson (Geneva), Patrick Deering (North Aurora), Dennison, Kristen Duerdoth (Geneva), Isabella Ford (Glen Ellyn), Danny Glenn (Roselle), Carolyn Larsen (Wheaton), William Smith (Bolingbrook), and Zeitler.

Glenn was a cast member in "Seasonal Ties" and he is enthusiastic to return for this year's production.

"I enjoy the lighthearted stories and colorful characters that the WT team come up with. It is also a lot of fun working with the rest of the cast. Everyone is enjoying themselves doing what they love and this makes for a truly fun adult playtime and in turn makes for enjoyable audience entertainment," Glenn said.

Deering has acted at numerous Chicago-area venues and is working with WT Productions for the first time.

"I knew a few of the actors associated with the show last year, and I enjoyed the performance as an audience member. So when I was asked to perform in it this year, I didn't hesitate to say yes," Deering said.

"Seasonal Bows" begins with the comedic "Write Your Own Christmas Adventure" in which a writer is in the process of creating a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book, and the characters come to life. An average man encounters a mysterious woman who enlists his help against the sinister Secret Santa Society.

The second play in the production is "Branching Out," which finds five Christmas-type trees on a tree farm discussing getting chosen by humans for the holiday season and wondering what happens to them on the "other side."

"Bowtiful" deals with two women vying for the crown of a local Christmas pageant during the final round airing on the community's cable access channel.

The show continues with "Holiday Leftovers," which examines a busy time of year at the Holidate dating service. Everyone wants to date "Christmas;" therefore, other holidays get overlooked.

The drama "Final Bows" then looks at a man who receives a visit from his ex-wife on the first Christmas Eve after their divorce.

The finale of the production, "Wrapped Up in a Neat Little Bow," connects all of the previous five plays together in various ways and features the entire cast. This comedy deals with how a couple's romantic Christmas Eve is interrupted by numerous unexpected visitors.

Boggs is looking forward to working with WT Productions again on this project.

"I've always had a great time in several productions with Debbi and Carl," Boggs said. "They're imaginative and talented writers and directors, making it a blast for the cast as well as the audience. Audiences will laugh out loud and maybe also pause for reflection as they experience six different holiday stories."

"While I'm a strong believer in holiday traditions, I think most theaters take that too much to heart and end up offering the same handful of popular shows year after year. Check out 'Seasonal Bows' as something different," Deering said.

Douglas (Danny Glenn) is not amused to receive a bow from Crystal (Jen Connon) in "Seasonal Bows" at Vero Voce Theater in St. Charles. Courtesy of WT Productions
Douglas (Danny Glenn) and Crystal (Jen Connon) have different reactions to holiday decorating in "Seasonal Bows." The original production features six short plays which offer a nontraditional take on the holidays. Courtesy of WT Productions
Douglas (Danny Glenn) is wary of what Lola is sharing with him in "Seasonal Bows." The show runs Nov. 30-Dec. 9 at Vero Voce Theater in St. Charles. Courtesy of WT Productions

If you go

What: "Seasonal Bows," an original production of six short holiday-themed plays by WT Productions

When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 30-Dec. 2 and Dec. 7-9

Where: Vero Voce Theater, 951 State Ave., Suite F, St. Charles

Tickets: $17 for adults; $14 for seniors and students. Tickets can be purchased at <a href="https://verovoce.com/">verovoce.com</a> or wtproductions2.weebly.com.

Details: The theater's phone number is (630) 584-0139. Free parking is available. The show is appropriate for PG-13 audiences.

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