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Center on the Aisle - NY Off-Broadway As the city immerses itself in the holiday spirit while sporting festive decor and playing holiday songs around town, laughter rings out loud and strong at the St. Luke’s Theatre in the heart of Times Square. The cause of rib-busting hysterics is brought on by those suffering from severe cases of “Santasia.” A cause for celebration for over thirteen years (with annual performances in L.A.), Santasia: A Holiday Comedy has found its way to New York. It is bringing out the joy of the season as six performers embody characters of varying personalities in the style of sketches and Claymation movies that fit in with those one might see on shows such as “Saturday Night Live,” and the “Carol Burnett Show.” Filling the evening with moments that go from touching to hysterical, the skits cover the spectrum of what could happen over the holidays when celebrating with various types of families. From dysfunctional family moments to moving even those with the toughest exteriors, humorous and clever stories unfold. Running close to two hours in length, Santasia: A Holiday Comedy keeps the variety of skits going in a constant flow with barely any time for the performers to change into their next character as they embrace each person they are portraying. |
The skits are interspersed with creative and highly entertaining videos telling touching stories, as well as those that are parodies of popular commercials. All have the holiday spirit that comes as a part of the season, and which include the symptoms of “Santasia.” Very prominent during this time of year. Standout moments of the evening are the parodies “Santasia,” “Santasia Line,” and “Snow Block Tango.” Musical theater buffs will recognize these musical numbers as being derived from “Circle of Life” (The Lion King), “I Hope I Get It” (A Chorus Line), and “Cell Block Tango” (Chicago). Cleverly fitting holiday lyrics into the melodies of the popular showtunes, the six performers (Brandon Loeser, Shaun Loeser, James Elden, Lon Gowan, Chey Kennedy, and Richard Lee Warren) bring Tania Pearson-Loeser’s choreography to life as they tell their holiday adventures. The choreography compliments the stories of each of the characters, and brings out some of the best moments of the show. No performer is a star of the show, but they all work together as a well-balanced ensemble that showcases their various personalities and character types. Scene changes are mostly smooth transitions with video clips and Christmas music being played, but there are occasional moments where the transitions are a bit jarring as they aren’t able to move from one scene to the next seamlessly, and which pull away from the flow of the show. |
The majority of the show moves at a nice steady pace, but a few of the skits feel out of place and slow the show down, making it feel at times as though too many things are included. A show worth seeing for getting into the holiday spirit and enjoying what it has to offer, and a hit for avid fans of comedy skits. Very unique and creative stories performed with minimal sets and props, but full of imagination and creativity. The joy of the performers carries through from beginning to end, and the characters are brought to life with enthusiasm and passion. Santasia: A Holiday Comedy is playing at St. Luke’s Theatre (308 West 46th Street) through December 23rd. It was created by brothers Brandon and Shaun Loeser, and is directed/choreographed by Tania Pearson-Loeser. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.santasia.com. Because of some adult themes and strong language, it’s appropriate for children 13 and over. Additional creative team members include Wynn Zucchero (lighting design), Stacey Quinealty (musical director), Brandon Loeser (technical director), Tania Pearson-Loeser (movement/choreography/costume designer), Nilton Emilio (stage manager) and Shaun Loeser (director). |
Times Square Chronicles - NY Off-Broadway If you believe in flying penguins and the Virgin Mary then Santasia at St Luke’s Theatre is the show for you. Never before have the actors had more fun than the audience and that is saying a lot. Part SNL, Jerry Springer, Godfather, dysfunctional family, with a cast of Christmas characters and traditions all meshed together to make your side split. This show will have you laughing so hard you’ll be crying. |
Returning for the 16th year Santasia is music, dance, video, and humor along with some more serious sides of the season. Imagine six grown men who prance, dance, and sing while portraying three wise men in competition for gifts for the baby Jesus or as take care of your reindeer and get them spaded slides across the screen. My favorite skit was the Jerry Springer DNA test and the toilet roll stocking gift. There are no Scrooge’s in this group of writers/comedians with a combined total of 24 years experience across the board in TV, film and theater. |
Created by two in sync brothers, Brandon and Shaun Loeser, James Elden, Lon Gowan, Chey Kenedy, Rusty Locke, Richard Lee Warren and Thomas Vu all joined in. Shaun besides wearing an elf hat is the director and set designer. The entire team is also the producers of the show. A special nod to Tania Pearson-Loeser for her excellent choreography. This show is 2 hours of fun and entertainment all wrapped up in a clever delightful way. We recommending taking the Santasia pill, but beware of the side effects…laughter. Santasia: St. Luke’s Theatre, 308 West 46th St. |
SANTASIA; A HOLIDAY COMEDY
Last evening I had the most delightful and unexpected experience at the Whitefire Theater in Sherman Oaks. At the opening of their 16th year, the cast of Santasia:A Holiday Comedy tore the house apart. It is a mash up of holiday cheer and humor drizzled with warmth and memories. If you haven’t seen it before, as was my case, it definitely surprises the senses. The audience gets drawn into multiple skits that highlight the Christmas spirit with laughter and cheer. Thankfully, it is all done in such a great lively and unexpected way, everyone gets involved in the action. Enjoy the music, humor, and especially the heartfelt songs that bring up old memories of the holidays. Hopefully, this review will not give too much away; I think you should witness this one without any per-conceived ideas. It is honestly much different than any production I have seen before. |
The perfectly matched casts of six grown men prance, dance, and sing through all the very clever skits. For instance, three wise men in competition for gifts for the baby Jesus; or the usual dysfunctional family Christmas dinner including real devil egg appetizers eaten on stage. And of course all Christmas stories have to include elves. Only this one involves modern day political correctness as a theme. In-between the skits and above the stage is a giant screen that introduces us to several parodies of old movies and ads with its wonderful animated claymation. A few standouts such as “Pulp Christmas", and 'Brokeback Igloo", makes us roar. Thrown into the mix are sentimental holiday stories by each cast member. Some of the other highlights include a story about a little girl and her easy bake oven. It taps beautifully into our memories of Santa and our must have or die wishes. Part of the fun is the audience involvement as well. Go ahead, sing, yell, and laugh at the outrageous pratt falls and musical numbers in holiday drag. My favorite is the cast scantily clad in 2 piece showgirl outfits gyrating to a retro tune of “I’m a beautiful girl”. It is a hoot! The Santasia performers are a mix of actors, comedians and writers, with well over 25 years combined experience in film, television and stage. |
Originally started in a small theater in North Hollywood, this show has blossomed into a full stage production full of penguins, snow, Christmas lights and sledding. These skits tickle the senses. This holiday delight was created by and stars two very talented brothers, Brandon and Shaun Loeser. Also contributing to this vivacious show are: James Elden, Lon Gowan, Chey Kennedy, Rusty Locke, and Richard Lee Warren. It is an ensemble of very smart and creative performers. Behind the scenes Shaun is the director, set designer, and co-writes the show with his brother and some of the cast. They are also the producers of the show. A special nod to the choreographer of this show, Tania Pearson-Loeser. This show is so good that it can be compared to the variety shows of yesterday such as; Carol Burnett or the Kids in the Hall. It is definitely more than 2 hours of silliness, it is clever, funny, and overall extremely entertaining. Santasia is not just a winner for the Whitefire Theater, it is a winner for the audience as well. Bryan Rasmussen, the artistic director for the Whitefire is so wise to stage this production there. Too bad these actors can’t get together in summertime and do something just as outrageous and fun. After all, laughter and parody are very much needed at all times of the year. The staging is perfect. Set with many multicolored Christmas trees, a fireplace, and the front of a snow covered home, it feels like the holidays. Hopefully there are tickets still available. |
SANTASTIC! |
The co-performers and -writers along with the Loesers are James Elden, Andrew J. Hillis, Lon Gowan, and Rusty Locke; and while their alumni status with Second City, Comedy Sportz, and iO (formerly known as “ImprovOlympic”) certainly shows in the slick and silly skits, the event was so unpretentious that I couldn’t shake the feeling of nostalgia, as if I was home with family celebrating the holidays. The icing on the sugar cookie was a series of remembrances from each of the cast that actually had me choking up; it’s clear that this elfish crew really want to celebrate the holidays with joy. The press release is spot-on when the show is proclaimed as a “perfect blend of yuletide snark and sentiment.” It also doesn’t hurt that, unlike the atrocious Twist Your Dickens by Second City, these guys never beat a dead horse with their comedy: A sketch involving the Virgin Mary on Jerry Springer wisely ended with us wanting more. The cast also featured Art Oden. Leitmotifs of Easy-Bake Ovens, discontented elves, a penguin, and an Abominable Snow Monster are spread not just through the sketches but in highly polished films. The live-action and animated shorts are beyond impressive: |
“Brokeback Igloo” is a parody done “Coming Attraction”-style about a pair of men who escape to the mountains to make toys…and love; while the premise is humorous, it is actually quite moving in its earnestness. An homage to stop-motion Rankin/Bass “Animagic”* can be seen in a few shorts, but “Pulp Christmas” (directed and animated by Michael Granberry), which is about – you guessed it – two of Santa’s hit-elves, is not only funny, but disturbing. Shaun Loeser’s scenic design is keenly in reverence to the imposing decorations he remembers from his childhood, and Dave Watson must have had a ball stringing up all of those lights. Tania Pearson-Loeser did double-duty by not only stitching together a slew of preposterous outfits, but doling out some delightful and wholly original choreography. |
NoHo Arts District / BroadwayWorld.com This is my fifth visit to Santasia, my first time seeing it @ the Whitefire, and I must admit within six years the show has gotten tighter and better, without losing a morsel of its unique comedic charm. Brothers Shaun and Brandon Loeser and four other actors: Andrew J. Hillis, James Elden, Lon Gowan, and Art Oden sing, dance, act and fool around as chums tend to do in a nonstop, side-splitting bevy of sketches not unlike those of Saturday Night Live, where good old silliness reigns supreme. Variety is at the core of the show, and the highlights include not only the sketches, but musical numbers too - and some surprises. Each of the actors presents a favorite Christmas memory. Hillis' involves his dad always picking out a sparse Charlie Brown Christmas tree, which with large |
decorations in strategic places and a lot of love, became the best of the crop. Shaun Loeser's is a bit more dramatic about an extra-special father/son relationship filled with arguments and love. There are infectiously funny chorus numbers with all six guys parodying A Chorus Line, Chicago and The Full Monty - with toys on the kids' and elves' minds - nicely choreographed by Tania Pearson-Loeser. Then there are an abundance of off-the-wall comic sketches like the one involving three contemporary wise men appraising their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, or the one about a dysfunctional family Christmas dinner, or reluctantly putting up the Christmas lights on the roof to please dear old dad, Santa's workshop run Mafia style, and my favorite of all, Sledding, about a disastrous bob sled ride down a snow-covered mountain. |
Interspersed with the live scenarios and musical numbers are priceless short film segments - even a commercial or two - with some pretty great claymation including Pulp Christmas, San Andreas Snowman and Penguins Don't Fly. That little plastic penguin on top of the Loeser kids' roof in Chicago has become over the years the standout character - practically their mascot - in this delightfully hilarious and clean family show. There are several scenes with some of the men in drag, but all for fun - and in the best of taste. Brandon Loeser's little sister Chrissy and the quietly seductive piano barfly come immediately to mind here - a hoot! My love for Santasia is undiminished after eleven years. It's a cult hit for its legions of fans. So, if you haven't joined that list yet, hurry and get to the Whitefire between now and Christmas Eve. Buy tix now as they are selling out fast! |
http://accessiblyliveoffline.blogspot.com/ The return of SANTASIA: A HOLIDAY COMEDY, a ludicrous look on the holiday season that’s decked out in red and green (with a dash of blue and white), makes its mark at The Whitefire Theater in Sherman Oaks. |
Between skits projected on a big screen behind the “Christmas Village”-type stage set are more short pieces that enhance this comic showcase such as trailers for movies that should be made, TV commercials that one won’t see anywhere else, and the rest of the video bits pay minor homage to those stop motion animated Xmas specials that Rankin-Bass created for broadcast TV a few generations beforehand! |
The comedy, written and performed by its cast, has nearly everything; The for noted humor aspect, snappy musical review pieces with choreography by Tania Pearson-Loeser, and even a few other surprises all performed under the direction of Shaun Loeser. |
SoCal.com Theatre Review Santasia is a non-stop series of comedic holiday skits in the likes of Saturday Night Live and The Kids in the Hall and is not only recommended but required to official kick-off the sugar-filled bliss of the holiday season. For almost 10 years now, Santasia continues to revamp the classics of the holiday season from Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer to the Abominable Snowman into a multimedia production that drives Los Angeles theatre patrons into a fit of laughter while evoking memories from childhood and the angst of believing in a fat guy in a red suit that may or may not leave you a gift on Christmas day. |
The smell of home-baked cookies floods your senses as the sight of a luminescent snow-covered house in holiday décor beckons you inside the theatre. What follows can only be described as a wild comical cocktail mix of holiday madness made of 1 part classic holiday nostalgia, 1 part holiday mockery of popular movies and television series and 6 guys willing to bare it all (well, almost) all in the name of good ol’ holiday cheer. |
Classic mix of holiday tunes and hip-hop grooves along with Tania L. Peason-Loeser’s choreography magically transform the cast of Santasia into dancing syncopated holiday drag queens, toboggan riders being catapulted through the air and Nutcracker-inspired tutu wearing ballerinas. The live theatrical performances of Santasia are interspersed with animator Michael Granberry/Red Hatchet Film’s hysterical spoofs including “Pulp Christmas”, “The Kringles” and “Brokeback Igloo”, written by Shaun Loeser. |
‘Santasia: A Holiday Comedy'
Is Hysterical and Heartwarming |
litany of sketches that deal with everything from putting up the “@#!!*in” Christmas lights, to the Magi squabbling about their gifts. The folks at Saturday Night Live could take lessons from Santasia's cast of mirth-making elves, who collaborated as the writers of this holiday gem. Real-life brothers Brandon and Shaun (the director) Loeser produce the show and perform along with James Elden, Lon Gowan, Andrew J. Hillis, Art Oden and “Big Dave” Mattey. All outrageously funny, but each |
takes a turn at sharing a personal Christmas memory. Those brief moments give the show its heart, in-between the relentless, but enjoyable, craziness. Dance numbers are presented by the over-grown elves (doing the “almost” Full Monty!). Cleverly filmed movie spoofs, along with animation, and several “commercial breaks” add a multimedia dimension to the high-energy show. The wild runaway bobsled finale, done in pantomime, will leave you laughing and breathless. |
Santasia
Episode V So wacky, yule be of good cheer. 'Twas the night before Christmas and the elves went on strike, for imperial Santa wouldn't grant a pay hike. That is all one needs know about "Santasia Episode V: A Holiday Comedy," which concludes its shamelessly entertaining run Sunday. Produced by certifiable siblings Shaun and Brandon Loeser, "Santasia Episode V" represents a high point for this annual holiday howler. In concept and execution, |
"Santasia" resembles what could happen if the "Kids in the Hall" crew got into Grandma's kitchen and laced all the fruitcake with LSD. The Easy-Bake Oven-light premise, created by its daft cast, strings together diverse leitmotifs — George Lucas, "Pulp Fiction," the Rankin/Bass animated specials, family dysfunction, ad infinitum — into a yuletide blowout that plays by and on its own crazed terms, with hilarious results. Art Oden's robust Santa shifts into Brando's Don Corleone, while director Shaun Loeser's union- organizing elf becomes a Rudolph-nosed Joe Pesci. Brandon Loeser's piano bar elegy to the snowman that |
got away is priceless; so are Michael Alvarado and R.C. Ormond as Santa's Tarantino-flavored hit men. They and colleagues James Elden, Andrew J. Hillis and David Mattey fearlessly throw their elfin selves into Tania L Pearson-Loeser's hysterical choreography and costumes, only to deliver real-life anecdotes with immense personal warmth. The by-committee technical effort demonstrates high wit, especially the remarkable video segments, and the wonderful toboggan-ride finale fractured me. Some R-rated language makes "Santasia" dubious for preteens, and that's about the worst thing I can say for this demented, delightful seasonal display. |
Santasia
Episode V The Santasia boys return with their perfect blend of Yuletide snark and sentiment. The all-dude sketch-comedy troupe has preserved many of the best bits in this show’s seventh annual incarnation, including a snowball brawl set to “O Fortuna,” |
a “Nutcracker Suite” performed with stubble, and an ingenious spoof on Eminem that leaves Santa watching his back. Equally as important is the sloppy, daffy joy that comes from being soused by Christmas spirits and slapping on a tutu and elf hat. In fact, there’s so much casual cheer that a technical difficulty with a canned ham left the cast sniggering through the next scene. When not riffing on Hollywood with Joe Pesci |
Rudolph
and rambling tête-à-têtes between Santa’s
hit men Vincent and Jules, the boys poke fun at the family
ordeals ribboned in with the festivities, from the slave
labor of hanging Dad’s grandiose Xmas lights to smiling
past the family bigot. |
Santasia
Episode V It
may not be A Christmas Carol, but Santasia, now in its
fifth year, has staked its claim for one of NoHo's annual
theatrical traditions. And while this sketch comedy,
presented by capable Chicago and Los Angeles improv veterans,
isn't Charles Dickens, it is a funny and intelligent
holiday romp. Directed by Shaun Loeser, who appears in
the cast of eight with his brother Brandon, this music-
and parody-filled 90- |
onstage. There are probably too many sketches--almost 30 in total--but the few weak ones are easily overshadowed by a bounty of hilarity. The mix of new segments and pieces from previous productions begins with a parody of the opening song in The Lion King, as the residents of the North Pole sing a greeting to Santa. The series of projected video pieces includes a multipart takeoff of The Empire Strikes Back, in which editor David Mattey skillfully has placed two elves smack into the middle of the scene in which Luke Skywalker battles a snow monster. The parodies are the strong suit of Santasia, the funniest being "Pulp Christmas." Michael Alvarado and R.C. Ormond, who are spot-on as John Travolta and Samuel L. |
Jackson, re-enact scenes from Pulp Fiction, as they retrieve a red sack for their boss, Mr. Claus. Interspersed with the outrageous bits are heartfelt monologues about each performer's favorite Christmas memory. And the finale, a wild sled ride set to the "William Tell Overture," is as creative as it is humorous. Shaun Loeser keeps his cast from the type of hammy acting that tends to sabotage sketch comedy. His set design--a house with gaudy decorations and a comfy living room--is impressive, given how small the stage is. Loeser is ably assisted by the simple but effective choreography created by Tania L Pearson-Loeser. This is a cast clearly having fun, and fortunately it's contagious. Let's hope there's an episode VI next year. |
Santasia
Episode V What a hoot! This holiday spoof is side-splittingly hilarious and brilliantly original! These eight men are bursting with energy, creativity, talent, and an uncanny sense of comedy. Alumni of Chicago’s Improv Olympic, Second City, and L.A.’s ComedySportz, this tribe of zany, brainy guys have written a manic set of vignettes that have been packing the house for five years in NoHo. Taking us from uncontrollable laughter to heart-rending memories of |
past Christmases in 29 quick scenes, this nut cake show is a wacky winner. How
do they think up this stuff? Under the razor sharp direction
of Shaun Loeser, the performances are full throttle throughout!
There’s no shame, no egos, no limits, and no star
playing here – just a crazy bunch of regular guys
who view life from a slightly skewed angle, and are here
for the pure (and not so pure) fun of it all. One lively
scene is funnier than the last with a large screen overhead,
sporadically interjecting filmed sequences too. |
ceremonies. Choreographer Tania L Pearson-Loeser ran away with an award for her amazing skill at moving these goofy guys around the stage, at 100-miles-an-hour. Giant kudos to eight of the zaniest men on earth! They are Shaun William Loeser, Michael Alvarado, James Elden, Andrew J. Hillis, Brandon Loeser, “Big Dave” Mattey, R.C. Ormond and Art Oden. Just wait till you see them perform a nearly “Full Monty” dance production number, as Santa’s striking elves! Unforgettably funny! Give yourself a holiday laugh break and see this hit extravaganza this year. |
SANTASIA
RELOADED
|
When’s the last time you saw a show
with a sledding choreographer, a visit from the Gollum, stunt
elves and a kung fu Santa? Brothers Brandon and Shaun William
Loeser, producers,performers, designer/directors and all- |
his red-nosed enforcer, a couple of acrimonious family Christmases, a silent movie called “The Meager Trinket,” and “Deer Eye for the Fat Guy,” in which Santa’s slightly fey reindeer give him an instant makeover. Best of all are the whacked-out, no-holds-barred pantomime interludes, including acrobatic martial arts, a zanily sadistic snow fight, and a hair-raisingly hilarious bobsled ride set to “The William Tell Overture.” The multitalented Loesers and their cohorts (Michael Alvarado, James Elden, Andrew J. Hillis, “Big Dave” Mattey and Art Oden) have cooked up a Christmas confection that’s nutty as a fruitcake and twice as tasty. |
Santasia
Reloaded The Skinny |
Zion, save Trinity and deliver toys to all of the good little boys and girls of the world. “Santasia Reloaded,” with it’s titular nod to the Matrix series, is an inventive comedy now in its sixth season in NoHo. Past sketches have included “Elves Gone Wild,” a holiday jab at the spring break softcore video series and a parody of Eminem’s “Stan” featuring a chorus of angels standing in for trance-pop diva Dido. |
Utilizing every inch of the stage, the players sled, prance and dance maniacally before a kitschy set including lawn penguins, candy canes and shoddy pine trees. It all amounts to a 90-minute, Wonka-fied yuletide send-up of Hollywood blockbusters and LA’s celebrity culture that’s so riddled with lowbrow humor and clever social commentary that the nimble, six-man cast rarely come across as anything less than perfection. |
| Laughing
all the way: 'Santasia' LA Times F.K.F. Santa's elves are mad as hell, and they're not going to take it anymore. In a nutshell, that's the thin but serviceable conceit behind "Santasia Rocks," a wacky evening of Christmas-themed sketch comedy running through this weekend at the Whitmore-Lindley Theatre in NoHo (make that NoHoHoHo.) A critic could have a field day belaboring comical metaphors for "Santasia." Let's just say this production |
is a lot like a holiday cheese log -- a cheesy filling of dubious origin surrounded by a bunch of nuts. In this case, the nuts are the show's ensemble --Michael Alvarado, Chris Cause, Kit Davlin, Andrew J. Hillis, Erick Lopez, Brandon Loeser and Shaun William Loeser. Brothers, the Loesers produced the newly reworked show, originally developed in Chicago, for its third Los Angeles engagement. The latter Loeser directs. Engaging filberts all, the performers roll in the prevalent cheesiness with infectious abandon. And Shaun Loeser's scenic design -- all glitz and tinsel and hilariously low-budget "effects" -- is in the same |
appropriately cheesy vein. If the cheese images are wearing thin, let's jumble the metaphor. The ensemble-scripted material ("Santasia" gets the writing credit here) is a mixed bag, including a few packages that should be returned to sender. More often than not, though, the bountiful laughs come tightly wrapped. Interstitial video segments, including the parody promo "Elves Gone Wild," is a gold-plated hoot. The movement sequences, such as a mimed sledding sketch, smartly executed on this tiny stage, are particularly inspired. And the evening's finale is a side-splitter that may leave your rental Santa suit in shreds. |
Santasia
Rocks
|
Even
Eminem gets ribboned
|
boasts
a chorus of angels that best Dido in panache, if not singing
talent.
|
Santasia
Written
and performed by alumni of Chicago's Second City, ImprovOlympic,
and ComedySportz,
Santasia's |
acknowledges
the genius of noted comedy teacher Del Close,
|
individuals
but powerful as an ensemble. The final sketch involving
a runaway sled is comedic perfection because of the intricate
ensemble work.
|
NoHo LA Santasia, now at the Secret Rose in North Hollywood, is a real hoot for lovers of comedy improv and Christmas nostalgia. Outside the theater, Santa's elves on strike carry picket signs that read "Down with Santa." However, inside the lobby the aroma of cinnamon and the walls decked out with boughs of holly put Grandma's old-fashioned X-mas preparations to shame. This mixed bag sets the tone for an off--the-wall evening of laughs and memories. Six fun-loving actors, who participate in the writing and direction, open and close the proceedings with uproarious pantomime. The show opens with a raucous snowball |
fight, and ends in a disastrous bobsled ride. Along the way there is a irreverent verbal sparring contest between Jesus and Hercules, and even a physical match between Santa and Michael Myers (of Halloween fame). In one very amusing sketch Santa is surprised by a father in drag, who proceeds to seduce lively old St. Nick. The chase that ensues continues to interrupt sketches through the remainder of the show. Despite some lame silliness, Jon Hughes, Andy Dylan, Chris Durmick, Christopher Flowers, and real life brothers Brandon and Shaun Loeser continually keep the audience in stitches. These guys have energy to spare and enough enthusiasm for another millennium of Christmases. Chris Durmick does a terrific turn as a father (a great Jimmy Stewart vocal impersonation) confessing an embarrassing |
Christmas Eve moment. The piéce-de-resistance is a godfather sketch with Santa and his reindeer as bodyguards telling off a striking elf. In response to his demands for pay, they admonish the elf with, "This a not for profit organization." "My Favorite Christmas Memory" has each cast member recalling one childhood Christmas. It is a touching segment, as Brandon and Shaun recently lost their dad to a bout with cancer. As in a choice for a time capsule, each actor presents a souvenir that will immortalize his story. Great living room and rooftop set, and beautifully trimmed tree by stage manager Tracey McAvoy top off this evening of infectious laughter for everyone. It guarantees to bring back a favorite memory or two. You've just got to love that Christmas penguin! |
Theatrical gift found in
grown up Santasia It’s no wonder that Santasia, the holiday show currently packing in audiences at the Whitefire Theatre, has been running for seven years. The seasonal sketch comedy is rooted in well-polished parody that takes edgy risks to amp up the funny factor, but poignancy wanders in at just the right moments, tempering the sometimes strictly adult humor with honest musings on the spirit of the season. Produced by brothers Brandon and Shaun Loeser, both of whom act in the show and the latter of whom also directs, the cast of Santasia is comprised of seven guys who are unafraid to get really goofy. Each man contributes a unique comedic skills-set to the overall show and together they work as a well-oiled machine. A small film spoofing The Matrix and V for Vendetta sets the tone for the show and gets people chuckling from the get go. By interweaving the character of Santa into the story lines and exaggerating the more melodramatic moments of each film, the Santasia crew |
right away shows themselves to be experts in parody. “What if the prophecy is true?” says a character resembling the rebel-warrior Morpheus in The Matrix. “What if Santa Claus is coming to town?” Things get even more fun when the film ends and the men appear on stage. An early musical number pokes fun at the Lion King theme song, The Circle of Life, while a later song in the show finds Shaun Loeser hitting a comedic home run as a little kid who takes crazed aim at Santa to the tune of rapper Eminem’s Stan, a song originally about fan-mail gone bad. The shenanigans continue throughout and the pleasure factor increases as the audience becomes privy to a real slice of each Santasia boy’s life via autobiographical monologues peppered between the bouts of high-energy, hilarious antics. It is not easy to take an audience from zany sketches that invoke full throttle guffaws to more subtle moments that require calm attention, but this cast knows exactly how to keep audiences engaged at all times. More film clips, mostly parodies, are interspersed amongst the live action creating an alternating focus |
from stage to screen that prevents the pace from stalling and allows for the exploration of a wide range of material. Some of the live scenes have no dialogue, but still manage to tell complete stories via music and physical acting. The set is a Christmas gift in and of itself, with multiple decorated trees and the facade of a house that beams and winks with garish holiday decorations. The house is a centerpiece for a sketch that is clearly an autobiographical account of Christmases past at the Loeser household, complete with a father who shouts and bellows as the boys do all the decorating against their will. More meaning is given to the sketch with Shaun’s subsequent show-stopping monologue that is a heartfelt homage to his father. There is much more to say about Santasia, but the enjoyment should be witnessed first-hand. From David “Big Dave” Mattey’s booming voice on “Santasia Light’s Real Men of Genius” to Andrew Hillis’ hilarious portrayal of an elf getting down to rhythm and blues jams when no one is looking, the laughter and camaraderie created by this cast is truly a gift. |
StageSceneLA.com The “Loser’s Kids” (yes, that’s what they call themselves) are James Elden, Lon Gowan, Andrew J. Hillis, brothers Brandon and Shaun Loeser, and Art Oden, who’ve been rightly compared to The Kids In The Hall in their offbeat humor and often gender-bending characters. Santasia begins even before the talented sextet make their first appearance, with multiplex-style “pre-show entertainment” projected above the show’s very Christmassy set. Ads for supposed North Pole businesses alternate with trivia questions and “unscramble the letters” puzzles. Company members appear in several “Previews Of Coming Attractions” including an absolutely hilarious one for Brokeback Igloo, the tale of two fishing buddies in love—complete with “I wish I could quit you” and some man-on-man smooching. Santasia’s Christmas-themed skits are almost uniformly winners, especially: |
goddamn fucking penguin” on the roof—just trying to get it done so they can watch the game on TV. Then there are the sensationally funny production numbers with choreography by Tania L. Pearson-Loeser (Shaun’s wife). These include Sandwiched between these wild and crazy skits and production numbers are videos as well as tales of the cast members’ Christmases past. There is a series of deliberately artsy-fartsy black-and-white “ads” for Santasia Perfume by Kris Kringle, directed by Brandon Loeser and Lon Gowan, a TMZ spoof featuring a paparazzo who stalks both Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer and TV’s Jim J. Bullock, and “Pulp Christmas,” a foul-mouthed claymation-style Christmasization of the Tarantino classic. (First-class animation by Red Hatchet Films and Michael Granberry.) The “heart” of Santasia comes in the series of Christmas memory monologs by each of the “Loser’s Kids.” Lon recalls going home to his parents’ Christmas Tree farm in Vermont, where the highlight of his mom’s Christmas morning is gifting unsuspecting guests with a |
“Ta Ta Daaaa”. (You’ll have to see Santasia to find out what a “Ta Ta Daaaa” is and what it means.) Art recalls the Christmas morning he found nothing under the Christmas Tree, while James reminisces about how his brother, his sister, and he used to dance for their mom to “The Little Drummer Boy” by Johnny Mathis. Andrew recalls his dad’s inevitable purchase of the cheapest, scrawniest $10 tree on the lot, and then explains just why Dad always bought the cheapest one. Brandon remembers the Christmas when he found out that his mom wasn’t the only one allergic to evergreens, while Brandon’s brother Shaun recalls his and Brandon’s dad’s 6 a.m. all-day Christmas projects, when only three TV shows could get him to take a break, the tale ending on a heartwarming note that just may bring tears to your eyes as it did to mine. The evening’s 90 minutes of comedy and musical magic ends with the best and biggest production number of all, a “Dance Of The Sugarplum Fairy” (of course the guys wear tutus) which turns into a truly exhilarating sleigh ride down the mountain to the strains of the Lone Ranger’s signature “William Tell Overture.” Writers/stars Elden, Gowan, Hillis, Loeser & Loeser, and Oden are terrifically zany alumni of Chicago’s Improv Olympic and Second City and L.A.’s Comedy Sportz whose work here couldn’t be funnier or more inspired. Shaun Loeser, the show’s whiz of a director, designed the Christmas-trees-and-lights-filled set and Brandon Loeser was in charge of the show’s eclectic soundtrack. The very Christmasy lighting (and lights) were designed by Dave Watson. Most of this season’s holiday shows are closing on Sunday, but Santasia runs through Christmas night. Demand is sure to be high for its final performances, so make your reservations right away…or you’ll have to wait a whole year till Santasia is (I hope I hope!) back for its not-to-be-missed 10th Anniversary edition. |
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| Contact us: info@santasia.com | Santasia® - A Loser's Kids Production ©2016 |
