Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

'HoliDaze' Showcases Dysfunctional Holiday Season In All Its Glory

By Stephanie Lulay | December 16, 2014 7:59am
 Jillia Burfete, Tina Muñoz Pandya, Celeste M. Cooper, Damon Williams and Luce Metrius perform a scene in Step Up Productions' second annual "HoliDaze."
Jillia Burfete, Tina Muñoz Pandya, Celeste M. Cooper, Damon Williams and Luce Metrius perform a scene in Step Up Productions' second annual "HoliDaze."
View Full Caption
Liz Lauren

RIVER WEST — A River West show that pokes fun of at the zany, dysfunctional chaos of the Christmas season gives attendees a chance to escape the holiday pressure cooker while doing some good.

Tickets are still on sale to Step Up Productions second annual "HoliDaze," a "hilarious and heartwarming" line-up of holiday-themed shorts at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave. in River West. Shows continue through Sunday.

The HoliDaze lineup includes "Gift Horse Grill," written by Kristiana Rae Colón, featuring a squad of poetic millennials who ditch their family Christmas celebrations for a very merry kickback at the homies' crib, according to a news release. But the crew's holiday spades game is interrupted when Santa, in the form of a housing bureau agent, drops in just after midnight.

Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Regular "HoliDaze" tickets are $30, $25 for seniors and $17 for students. Rush tickets available one hour before the start of the show may also be available for $20.

Colón, Dana Lynn Formby, Aline Lathrop, Steven Peterson, Joshua Rollins and Steve Simoncic collaborated on the project.

At the shows, Step Up Productions is collecting donations of new hats, gloves, coats and scarves to benefit the Make It Better Foundation’s annual Warming Hearts & Hands program.

Proceeds from HoliDaze will also help provide counseling for Seasonal Affective Disorder through Dr. Jacqueline Duke. As part of its mission, Step Up Productions donates a portion of its proceeds to organizations in and around Chicago that support issues often highlighted in its productions.

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: