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The Glenwood Springs Vaudeville Revue’s wacky holiday show opens today

Jessica Cabe
jcabe@postindependent.com
In this file photo, the Glenwood Vaudeville Revue is enjoying its first season of performances at its new location, formerly the Springs Theatre on Grand Avenue. Performer and bartender Gary Daniel, along with entertainer/waitress Jennetta Howell, keep the drinks and dinners moving before showtimes and during intermissions.
Kelley Cox / Post Independent file |

If You Go...

Who: Glenwood Springs Vaudeville Revue

What: Holiday Show

When: Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 5:30 p.m. on Sunday through Jan. 4

Where: The Springs Theatre

How Much: $24 for adults, $22 for seniors and $16 for kids 12 and younger. Food and beverages optional and a la carte

The Glenwood Springs Vaudeville Revue will not lose its zany nature this holiday season, but it will gain some silly elf hats.

The Vaudeville’s annual Holiday Show — its second run at the Springs Theatre — opens today with doors at 6:30 p.m. John Goss, artistic and managing director and cast member, said the show offers a little something for everybody.

“Some people say it’s their favorite show we do,” said Goss. “We have a lot of numbers that can appease any age group. Young people in their 20s and 30s, we’ve got specific numbers that they’re really going to be able to get and understand and go, ‘Yes, that’s funny because I get that.’ And there’s stuff specifically for the kids that still entertains everybody, and sometimes it’s just beautiful pieces for the older folks and mature people. We have two really beautiful moments in the show, no joking, no goofing around.”



But, just like the Vaudeville’s summer show, there will be plenty of joking and goofing around throughout the performance.

“It’s so crazy and wacky, but crazy and wacky in very creative, clever ways as opposed to crazy and wacky in stupid ways, in bad ways,” Goss said. “We’re all doing numbers and crazy things as elves, we’re picking on audience members — just the same ideas as some of the stuff we do in the summers, but it’s with completely different themes, completely different concepts, different ideas.”



The cast has been in rehearsal for about three weeks working on the Holiday Show, which Goss said is about 80 percent new material from previous years.

“When we do bring stuff back, we bring stuff back that people usually will go, ‘Oh, I’m glad they brought that back; it’s one of my favorites,’” Goss said.

One of the numbers making a comeback involves cast member Tom Erickson dressed in Christmas tree lights playing “Ghost Reindeer in the Sky,” a “Ghost Riders in the Sky” parody, on guitar.

“You just have to see it,” Goss said. “It’s pretty darn stupid in a really fun way.”

While the valley offers a variety of ways to celebrate the holidays, Goss said there’s nothing quite like the Vaudeville’s Holiday Show.

“I think you can ask anybody who’s seen these shows, and they’ll tell you everything about it is unique,” Goss said. “There’s other theater in the valley, and wonderful theater. But if you want to laugh and really cut loose, have a drink, have some food and just have a great time, this is it.”

Julie Maniscalchi, who has been a cast member with the Vaudeville since its inception in 2009, said her favorite part is having fun with the crowd.

“I’m going to have to say it’ll be really fun picking on some audience members,” she said. “It’s such a fun event for family members of all ages. It’ll keep you entertained and in the Christmas spirit, and it’ll keep you laughing.”

That audience involvement idea stems beyond the theater during performances and reflects the Vaudeville’s part in the Glenwood Springs community. Goss said after a year in the new location, he’s beginning to realize just how important the Vaudeville has become for certain families, and he’s also realizing how important the community is to the Vaudeville’s success.

“When I started this thing, I was thinking about how to entertain people,” Goss said. “And I didn’t expect it to turn into something that is so much a part of people’s lives. It’s surreal, seeing some people that come in and what this place means to them. I feel a lot more a part of Glenwood Springs than I ever expected.”

Whether seeing a performance for the first time or returning to the Vaudeville as part of a family tradition, Goss said audience members will walk away happy.

“You’ll come here, and you’ll go away saying, ‘I can’t believe what I just saw,’” Goss said. “‘That’s some of the craziest stuff I’ve ever seen.’”


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