Every Christmas Story Ever Told

Current Issue
Written By Taylor Onski

Magnus Theatre’s Improvalicious Christmas Show

By Taylor Onski

“There are very few plays that I’ve read in my life where I just laugh out loud when I’m reading them,” says Magnus Theatre’s production director Thom Currie. “And this was one of them.” The play Currie is referring to is this season’s Christmas show, Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some) by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald, and John K. Alvarez. This “improvalcious” story is a pseudo improv/sketch comedy show celebrating all the classic 20th century Christmas stories we all know and love.

“One of the other reasons I chose it is there is a group of volunteers and people who’ve been longtime subscribers who talk about a play called The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: Abridged Magnus did in 1998–1999 and thought it was the funniest play,” says Currie. “It goes through every single William Shakespeare play in 90 minutes. In this we do all of these Christmas stories in 90 minutes.”

Just before a group of actors are set to perform A Christmas Carol for the umpteenth time, one actor just cannot do that story any more. So then the troupe comes up with the idea to just tell, well, every Christmas story ever told. From The Gift of the Magi and A Charlie Brown Christmas to The Grinch and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the stories overlap into a play-within-a-play. Thunder Bay-based actors Jenn McCallion, Greg Bishop, and Jack Kotanen will bring this feat to life. But what Currie is most excited for is working with this story and actors to create a Christmas story of our home.

 “When I booked the rights, I got a note from the creators who said they want us to make the show as local and speak to Thunder Bay and Canada as much as possible. We’re all going to unpack our improv skills and customize it to the Thunder Bay Christmas experience,” Currie says.

 With its farcical play-within-a-play and its celebration of all things Christmas in Northwestern Ontario, Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some) keeps the tradition of going to Magnus Theatre to see a Christmas show with loved ones alive and well.

See Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some) at Magnus Theatre from December 4–20 on the Magnus Theatre Mainstage. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit magnustheatre.com or call the box office at 807-345-5552.

Taylor Onski

Whether as an actor, crew member, or writer covering local productions, Taylor deeply values the magic of theatre. A part of the local theatre scene since age 12, Taylor essentially grew up on Thunder Bay stages. So when the opportunity came to combine her love of theatre and writing with The Walleye, she leapt at the chance to talk to talented theatre artists around town (many of whom she’s honoured to call friends).

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