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‘A Nice Family Christmas’ to open in Milford Dec. 4

Material suitable for mature audience members
November 18, 2020

Milford’s Second Street Players will present “A Nice Family Christmas,” its first production in compliance with the current pandemic restrictions.

Shows will be at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4-5; and Friday and Saturday, Dec. 11-12, at the Riverfront Theater, 2 S. Walnut St., Milford. 

Second Street Players will follow current state guidelines and all patrons will need to be wearing a mask before entering the theater.

The number of seats sold will be limited to 25 per performance; purchasing tickets early is recommended. Seats are $20, with a $5 discount available to seniors, military, students and members, new or renewing. All tickets are general admission; to facilitate state guidelines, ushers will seat each party to maintain social distancing.

In the play written by Phil Olson, it’s Christmas Eve, and a young newspaper reporter (David MacDonald) on the brink of being fired has been assigned a last-chance story about a typical family Christmas - his family’s Christmas. He goes home to his recently widowed mother (Melissa Brenner), his crazy uncle (Steven Perry), his eccentric grandmother (Gina Shuck), his battling siblings (José Bernard and Melissa Brown), and his brother’s neurotic spouse (Bella Ruiz), who provide no shortage of material. One by one, patrons learn each family member’s secrets, problems and dysfunctions, and when they learn that he’s writing an article with some very personal family information, the fruitcake hits the fan. The question is, will the magic of Christmas bring this family back together? 

Co-directors are Melissa Brenner and Steven Haber. Brenner said, “This show is so easily adapted to our current pandemic situation. Without changing the author’s script, we are performing with every cast member using masks and hand sanitizer on stage. Please keep in mind that in spite of the show title, ‘A Nice Family Christmas’ has some adult themes and might not be suitable for the younger members of your nice family.”

Haber said, “The cast is doing a wonderful job balancing their theatrical skills with safety. I couldn’t be happier.”

Also offered will be a one-time streaming performance of the show, at 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 6. Passes to the streaming event are available for $15, also available on the ticketing website.

To purchase tickets, go to milford.booktix.com. Patrons who need assistance with the the new ticketing website may email info@secondstreetplayers.com or leave a message for the ticket manager at 302-228-9613.

“A Nice Family Christmas” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French Inc. (www.concordtheatricals.com). This production is sponsored, in part, by a donation from Len and Dana Willens. 

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