Holiday Characters | 2014

By Richard Schultz, Dec. 4, 2014.

So much of what defines the holiday season for revelers is based on tradition. Yet each year, as fans revisit stage productions of The Nutcracker or A Christmas Carol and TV networks showcase such cinematic classics as It’s a Wonderful Life and White Christmas, one might ask: Are these iconic holiday characters the real reason for the season?

Many local actors are presented with a daunting challenge when cast as one of these beloved characters. Imagine the courage it takes to whisk on stage as the legendary Mary Poppins or to amble about the footlights as that Yuletide curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge.

Echo asked local actors how they approach playing an iconic holiday character that is often so well known to audiences and, in some cases, already a part of their seasonal traditions.

White Christmas

Nathan Brian as Bob Wallace and Patrick Grave as Phil Davis

Based on the 1954 film starring Bing Crosby as Bob Wallace and Danny Kaye as Phil Davis, Arizona Broadway Theatre presents Irving Berlin’s musical spectacle that follows World War II veterans Wallace and Davis and their pursuit of romance while en route to the ultimate wintery holiday in Vermont.

Brian, who portrays Wallace, looked to popular films and music from the 1950s as the main source for inspiration including High Society and The Band Wagon.

“Bob's personality might be the closest I've ever played to myself. Both Bob and I love to be on stage, but are also both quite cynical,” he said. “The biggest difference between us is that Bob hates the cold and snow. As a Minnesota native, winter isn't winter if you don't get caught in a few blizzards.”

According to Grave, who plays Phil Davis, he’s incredibly humbled to play a role that Danny Kaye made so famous.

“But bringing yourself to a role is so important when dealing with an iconic [character],” he said. “People expect to see replicas of Danny Kaye, but you have to disregard that … I make it my own by not copying what Danny Kaye has done, but simply by bringing as much of my natural self to the role.”

White Christmas

Through Dec. 28

Arizona Broadway Theatre

7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria

Tickets: $63-$105; 623-776-8400

azbroadway.org

Keep readingShow less
WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

Keep readingShow less
by Spectrum Medical Care Center

Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

Keep readingShow less

Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area

Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

Keep readingShow less