Hell in a Handbag’s World Premiere of THE RIP NELSON HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR runs Nov 20 – Dec 30 at Mary’s Attic
Hell in a Handbag’s favorite bitter television has-been returns – and just in time for the holidays! David Cerda’s world premiere comedy THE RIP NELSON HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR directed by Steve Love, plays November 20 – December 30, 2016 at Mary’s Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood. Tickets are currently available at www.handbagproductions.org or by calling (800) 838-3006.
With razor-sharp wit and monkey and his back, ensemble members Ed Jones* stars as the embittered Rip Nelson, a mash-up of iconic television celebrities Rip Taylor and Charles Nelson Reilly. Additional casting to be announced. *Denotes Handbag ensemble members
Ed Jones as television has-been Rip Nelson, star of Hell in a Handbag Productions’ world premiere of THE RIP NELSON HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR, by David Cerda, directed by Steve Love. Photo by Rick Aguilar Studios.
Audiences fell in love with Rip Nelson in Handbag’s 2010 hit The Rip Nelson Halloween Spooktacular – now he’s back and ready to deck your halls in THE RIP NELSON HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR. It’s 1982 and a newly sober Rip manages to land another TV special after the death of his archrival, Paul Lynde. Rip is determined to get his career back on track but can he handle the stress of a network television special and stay sober? Luckily he’s got help from a cavalcade of the hottest stars of 1982! Rip pulls every trick in the book to breathe some life in the dying variety series format and save his career but soon questions if his career is worth saving.
PRODUCTION DETAILS:
Title: THE RIP NELSON HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR
Playwright: Artistic Director David Cerda
Director: Steve Love
Cast: Ed Jones* (Rip Nelson). Additional casting to be announced.
Location: Mary’s Attic, 5400 N. Clark St., Chicago
Dates: Previews: Sunday, November 20 at 6:30 pm, Friday, November 26 at 7:30 pm,
Press performance: Saturday, November 26 at 7:30 pm
Regular run: Sunday, November 27 – Friday, December 30, 2016
Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 6:30 pm. Please note: there will not be performances on Sunday, December 4, Saturday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) and Sunday, December 25 (Christmas Day); there will be an added performance onWednesday, December 21 at 7:30 pm.
Tickets: Previews $16. Regular run $28 – $30. VIP tickets $42 and up. Group rates 10+ $21. Tickets are currently available at www.handbagproductions.org or by calling (800) 838-3006.
About The Creative Team
David Cerda (Playwright) is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Hell in a Handbag Productions. He has written and appeared in POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical, The Birds, Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer, SCARRIE The Musical, Caged Dames, Lady X, How Whatever Happened to Baby Jane Happened, TROGG! A Rock and Roll Musical, Christmas Dearest, Scream, Queen! SCREAM!, The Rip Nelson Halloween Spooktacular and Sexy Baby. His plays have been produced around the country. He has also worked as a songwriter/lyricist with Amazon Films on an animated project and as an actor with various theater companies throughout the city of Chicago. This year Cerda has also been named as an inductee into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame for his contributions to Chicago theatre.
Steve Love (Director) is a Handbag ensemble member, and a two-time Jeff Award nominee (Best Supporting Actor, Best Choreography). Recent creative credits include last year’s production of Christmas Dearest (Director/Choreographer, HIAH), and Northlight Theatre’s production of Charm (Choreographer). Recent performing credits include Miracle! (Helen) with HIAH; Kin Folk (Arethin) and Stanley in the Name of Love (Stanley) with The New Colony. Steve has worked on stages on the East Coast, the Midwest and throughout the Caribbean aboard Disney Cruise Lines.
About Hell in a Handbag Productions
Founded in 2002, Hell in a Handbag Productions is Chicago’s only theater dedicated to camp and the preservation, exploration, and celebration of works ingrained in the realm of popular culture via theatrical productions through parody, music and homage. Handbag is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit Corporation.
For additional information, visit www.handbagproductions.org.