PRESS IS WELCOME SUNDAY, DEC 3 @ 2:30pm
What: CHRISTMAS ON THE ROCKS
Fresh, funny and smart – it’s back. Conceived and directed by Producing Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero, Connecticut’s favorite holiday tradition returns to TheaterWorks Hartford.
CHRISTMAS ON THE ROCKS features seven playwrights each adding their own spin to the canon of holiday traditions past. This year’s 11th anniversary production includes 1 new story and stars Harry Bouvy and Jen Cody with Richard Kline as the “bartender”.
Producing Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero said “I grew up watching Three’s Company, so it’s especially great to have Richard ‘behind the bar’ this year! His work on the series, as well as in many sitcoms that defined my childhood, shows he has the craft and sense of humor to bring something new and exciting to the role.”
CHRISTMAS ON THE ROCKS is an offbeat collection of twisted holiday tales by Judy Gold, Jeffrey Hatcher, Jenn Harris, Jacques Lamarre, Edwin Sánchez and Matthew Wilkas.
STORYLINE:
It’s Christmas Eve in a rundown local bar. Expecting a silent night, the bartender finds himself mixing drinks for a parade of surprising guests – children from your favorite Christmas specials and movies – now all grown up. Join them as they pour out their Christmas woes in this delightful parody.
CHRISTMAS ON THE ROCKS runs November 29 through December 23, 2023.
PRESS IS WELCOME SUNDAY DEC 3
CAST
HARRY BOUVY (The Man)
JEN CODY (The Woman)
RICHARD KLINE (The Bartender)
ARTISTIC & DESIGN
Director ROB RUGGIERO
Set Design MICHAEL SCHWEIKARDT
Costume Design ALEJO VIETTI
Lighting Design JOHN LASITER
Sound Design MICHAEL MICELI
Wig Design JARED JANAS
Original Production cast by MCCORKLE CASTING, LTD
THE SEASON CONTINUES:
The Garbologists from playwright Lindsay Joelle is a heartwarming,surprising, and outside-the-box comedy. Directed by Producing Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero and running Feb 8–Feb 25,2024 it pairs Danny: a gruff male, blue-collar NYC sanitation worker hiding a heart of gold, and Marlowe: a determined female, Ivy-League-educated “newbie” who is assigned to his route. When this unlikely pair is thrown together to pick up what the world has discarded, they unexpectedly find common ground in uncommon times.In Sanctuary City, Pulitzer Prize-winner Martyna Majok brings audiences a compelling story of two teenagers, young DREAMers who are fighting to establish a place for themselves in America, the only country they know as home. Co-Directed by theatermaker Jacob G. Padrón and filmmaker Pedro Bermúdez, this OBIE Award-winning play, running March 29–April 21, 2024, illuminates how much immigrants are willing to risk when they have everything to lose. Sanctuary City is presented in partnership with Long Wharf Theatre.
Running May 31–June 23, 2024, and closing out TheaterWorks Hartford’s 2023–2024 season is Sandra, a bold theatrical thriller by playwright David Cale. It centers on one woman, Sandra, who seeks to get to the bottom of the mysterious disappearance of her closest friend, a young pianist and composer, who went on a trip to Mexico and never returned. Her search for clues leads her into both a highly charged love affair, and increasingly dangerous territory. Featuring an original piano score, this engaging journey takes audiences on an immersive experience that ultimately asks how far would you go for love? Sandra is directed by Jared Mezzocchi, celebrated by audiences during the pandemic for his work on The New York Times Critics Pick and Obie Award winning production of Russian Troll Farm, and features creative content and video technology Camilla Tassi.
Performances take place at TheaterWorks Hartford’s historic home located downtown at 233 Pearl Street in Hartford, CT. Individual tickets and flexible subscription can be purchased online at twhartford.org or by calling 860.527.7838.
Please visit twhartford.org for more information.
About the Cast
HARRY BOUVY (The Man) is excited to be back at TheaterWorks Hartford for his fourth season of Christmas on the Rocks. Harry hails from Pittsburgh, and is a NYC-based actor and director. Harry just returned from Arizona Theatre Company where he played Victor Velasco in Barefoot in the Park, but he spent most of 2023 working on Broadway as a swing in the Tony Award-winning revival of Parade. Off-Broadway credits include Dr. Chilton in Silence! The Musical (original cast recording), and The Common Man in A Man for All Seasons. On tour, he played Dr. Dillamond in Wicked, Carmen Ghia in The Producers, and Sir Robin in the Vegas production of Spamalot. Favorite roles include Herbie in Gypsy, The D’Ysquith Family in Gentleman’s Guide, Higgins in My Fair Lady, and Vanya in Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike. Other regional theatre credits include Yale Rep, St. Louis Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Pittsburgh Public, City Theatre Pittsburgh, Utah Shakespeare, Arrow Rock Lyceum, Bucks County Playhouse, Mason Street Warehouse, Syracuse Stage, Asolo Theatre Company, and Great Lakes Theater. Television credits include American Horror Story, Blacklist, Blue Bloods, New Amsterdam, Billions, Tommy, The Good Wife, Law & Order, and Sex & The City. @harrybouvy | harrybouvy.com
JEN CODY (The Woman) is back for year three in Christmas on the Rocks. Jen made her Broadway debut as Rumpleteaser in Cats and has starred in many Broadway shows including: A Christmas Story (Mrs. Schwartz), Shrek (original company), The Pajama Game (Poopsie, original revival company), Taboo (original company), Urinetown the Musical (original company), Seussical the Musical (original company), Beauty and the Beast (Silly Girl), and Grease (Cha Cha). She can be heard on the original cast recordings of Seussical the Musical, Taboo with Boy George, The Pajama Game with Harry Connick Jr., Shrek the Musical, The Wild Party and Vincent Youman’s Through the Years. She has been awarded the Legacy Robe twice for her work on Broadway. Off-Broadway: Charles Bush’s Cleopatra (Iris), Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party (Mae), Charles Bush’s Judith of Bethulia, and Henry and Mudge (Drama League Nomination). Her voice can be heard on many cartoons including her award winning role as Charlotte La Bouff in Disney’s The Princess and The Frog in which she received the Annie Award (Voice over Oscar) for Outstanding Voice Work in a Major Motion Picture. Other cartoons include: American Dad (Cartoon Network), Mickey and the Roadster Racers (Disney), Phineus and Ferb (Disney), P. King Duckling, Winx Club (Nickelodeon), Robot and Monster (Nickelodeon) and Khumba (Triggerfish). Her Film and TV work includes: New Amsterdam (NBC), Paper Spiders (Cranium Entertainment), Lucky Stiff (New Oz Productions), The Good Fight (CBS), Younger (TV Land), Instinct (CBS), Bull (CBS), Blue Bloods (CBS), Shrek Live (Dreamworks) Unforgettable (CBS), and Law and Order. Jen-Cody.com
RICHARD KLINE (The Bartender) grew up in New York City where he attended Queens College. He holds a Masters in Theatre from Northwestern University. He is known to millions of TV watchers as ‘Larry’ on the classic sitcom Three’s Company. This summer, he was in The Barrington Stage Co production of Cabaret. Broadway credits include City of Angels, November and most recently, Waitress, following a national tour. He was The Wizard in the National Company of Wicked. At the Papermill Playhouse he played opposite Harry Connick Jr. in The Sting. He counts the role of King Arthur, in Spamalot at UCONN as one of his favorites. Other Connecticut appearances include Westport Country Playhouse and Goodspeed Musicals. After serving as a lieutenant in Vietnam, Richard made his professional debut at the prestigious Lincoln Center Repertory Company in 1971. Regional theater credits include Other Desert Cities, Death of A Salesman, Chemin de Fer, Native Son, Henry V (title role) and Love’s Labor’s Lost. An accomplished singer, Richard has appeared in the musicals They’re Playing Our Song, Do I Hear A Waltz?, The Rothschilds, Hello Again, Titanic. In the American premiere of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s By Jeeves, he played Jeeves both at the Goodspeed Musicals and The Kennedy Center. His many television credits include The Resident, Bluebloods, The Americans, Gilmore Girls, Judging Amy, That 70’s Show, NYPD Blue, Dream On, LA Law, Mary Tyler Moore, Maude and four Love Boats! Richard is a working actor and has been teaching acting since 1998 both in Los Angeles and NYC.
About TheaterWorks Hartford
Celebrating its 39th season, TheaterWorks Hartford (TWH) is committed to the power of storytelling in creating community. TWH produces high quality, contemporary theater that is relevant to our audiences, engages a diverse community, and provides insight into the human experience. Founded in 1985, TWH has produced over 170 plays and presents approximately 150 performances per season. TWH also owns and manages the historic property at 233 Pearl Street, known as City Arts on Pearl. For updates on TheaterWorks Hartford, visit here and follow on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.
Making Things Happen
Greater Hartford Arts Council, Travelers, Bank of America, CT Office of the Arts, CT Humanities, Edward C. And Ann T. Roberts Foundation, Lincoln Financial Foundation, Richard P. Garmany Fund at Hartford Foundation For Public Giving, Raytheon Technologies, Burry Fredrik Foundation,The Shubert Foundation, HSB, Etch, John and Kelly Hartman Foundation, Gawlicki Family Foundation, Cheryl Chase & Stuart Bear Family Foundation, Liberty Bank, Ensworth Charitable Foundation, George A. and Grace L. Long Foundation, TD Bank, William And Alice Mortensen Foundation, The Elizabeth M. Landon and Harriette M. Landon Charitable Trust, The Katherine K. Mclane and Henry R. Mclane Charitable Trust, M&T Bank.