One of the most spectacular Christmas shows of the season is taking over St. Pete this December. With two shows on Friday, December 15, “A Very Broadway Christmas” is bringing the stars of Broadway to town for an incredible singing, dancing, and story-telling experience at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater.
Put on by a pair of St. Pete locals who are also former Broadway performers, A Very Broadway Christmas will bring a stellar and award-winning mix of Broadway stars and local talent to the stage for one of the biggest and most entertaining holiday shows the city has seen, full of ensemble performances, moving solos, and plenty more. Tickets for the two performances are on sale now, and expected to sell out in advance.
The variety show is truly unlike anything else happening in St. Petersburg, presenting seven performers who have starred on Broadway in shows such as Wicked, Mean Girls, Book of Mormon, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, and more. Additionally, A Very Broadway Christmas is a massive showcase of local talent, featuring an ensemble of 16 dancers and singers, a live band, and the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay.
The local organizers of the show – Broadway on The Bay – have been careful not to let too many details slip as anticipation grows, but said the family-friendly holiday presentation will be comparable in style to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. There will be plenty of the usual favorite Christmas numbers performed in song, show and dance (25 total, in fact), plus stories from Broadway stars as they break the fourth wall over the course of the 90-minute show.
In addition to all the fun on stage, Santa will also be in the lobby of the theater for pictures before and after each show. Performances take place at 4 pm and 8 pm on Friday, December 15 at The Mahaffey Theater, 400 1st Street South. Tickets start at $56, and VIP tickets include early entry, a branded Christmas gift, and a post-show Q and A with the stars.
Broadway On The Bay brings The Great White Way to St. Pete
The company putting on A Very Broadway Christmas is one to keep track of for the future of St. Pete’s continuously growing arts community. Broadway On The Bay was founded by Scott Difford and Heather Tepe, a married couple living in St. Pete who met while performing on Broadway in their youth and eventually made their way to the Sunshine City.
While St. Pete is an oasis for the arts – both visual and performing – the duo saw a missing piece of the puzzle in the Broadway-style musical theater they cut their teeth on in New York. More specifically, they want to combine that approach with the massive pool of local talent in St. Pete and the surrounding areas, creating a world-class experience that locals can enjoy and be proud of.
Over their years in St. Pete, they’ve seen great acts come through The Mahaffey, though it has primarily been solo musical artists, comedians or similar shows. Noticing the gap in consistent (and local) musical theater, they came up with the idea of their own company and made their pitch.
“We talked to them and shared our vision for a regional theatre company,” Difford explained. “One that is locally produced, with local performers, and also brings in out-of-town talent from Broadway.”
Broadway On The Bay’s production of A Very Broadway Christmas is their first show in St. Pete, and one they hope will be a pleasant introduction to what we can expect to see (and hear) going forward. Learn more about Broadway On The Bay through their website.
Tickets for A Very Broadway Christmas are on sale now. Performances take place at 4 pm and 8 pm on Friday, December 15 at The Mahaffey Theater, 400 1st Street South.
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