A Nice Family Christmas
by Phil Olsen

Directed by Eric Lewis​


​It's Christmas Eve, and a young newspaper reporter on the brink of being fired has been assigned a last-chance story about a typical family Christmas - his family's Christmas. He goes home to his recently widowed mother, his crazy uncle, his eccentric grandmother, and his battling siblings and their neurotic spouses, who provide no shortage of material.
​Produced with permission of Samuel French, Inc
CAST 

 James Lynch  as  Carl
  
Patrick Holland  as  Michael 

Shaylyn Reed  as  Stacy  

Susan Connors  as  Mom  

Melanie Calderwood  as  Grandma  

Jag  as  Uncle Bob  

Karli Reinbold  as  Jill  


CREW 

Director   Eric Lewis  

Stage Manager    Kristin Hoekema  

Costumer    Elizabeth Shipman  

Set Design    Eric Lewis  

Set Decorator    Susan Connors  

Dialect Coach    Grace Helmcke
 
Lights & Sound    Kristin Hoekema  

Set Construction    Eric Helland
 
Set Construction    Kris Helland  

House Manager    Lauren Kottwitz  

Graphic Designer    Felicia Hallenbeck  

James Lynch/Carl

James is thrilled to be back at the Phoenix with such a festive show! Recent Phoenix credits include Calendar Girls, Glorious, and Chemical Imbalance. This show is dedicated to George Scranton who taught me not only the how of theater, but the why. I would not be the actor or man I am today without him.​
Patrick Holland/Michael

This is Patrick’s first experience with the Phoenix Theater and he is grateful to have been welcomed into this theatrical community. Patrick, originally from California, earned a B.A. degree in theater (with a minor in music) from University of Portland back in 2019, and for the past four years has lived in Washington state. Though he is a college graduate, he continues his theatrical studies at Bellevue College where he recently played the leading role in their production of Tick, Tick…Boom! Over the years his versatility has been tested through various roles including, Robin in Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, Mercer in Rebecca Gilman’s Boy Gets Girl, Ainsley in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Appropriate, and Claudio in William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing (to name a few). He is excited to be taking on this new theatrical challenge.
Shaylyn Reed/Stacy

Shaylyn Reed grew up seeing live theater. With her mother in pit orchestra and her father either onstage or behind the scenes, she would occasionally get a chance to tread the boards while growing up. After a long time away, she was once again bitten by the acting bug in 2020 and has found as many opportunities as possible to be on stage again. She would like to thank everyone for their support, patience, and love!
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Susan Connors/Mom
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A regular here, Phoenix audiences may remember Susan most recently posing behind the iced buns in Calendar Girls, as well as numerous others over the past 15 seasons.. She has also appeared locally with Woodinville Rep, Ballyhoo, Red Curtain, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Bathhouse Theatre, Tacoma Actors Guild among others. Although her TV credits age her, she confesses to appearances in Archie Bunker’s Place, Mrs. Columbo and Northern Exposure. She is a regular performer with the nationally syndicated radio drama series Imagination Theatre.
Jag/Uncle Bob

Jag is so delighted to be back on stage at the Phoenix for a sixth time following 37 Postcards, Skin Flick, Clue, Dashing Through the Snow, and I Hate Hamlet. Jag loves tacos and climbing trees but has never tried lutefisk and he’s fine with that. He belongs to two improv groups: Turbo Turkey and Featherbrains, but the two groups don’t know about each other so please help keep the secret. For his day “job” he takes clients to the park to teach them how playing in nature is fun and can bring health and fitness. Jag says “Please laugh as much as you can in life as it is truly one of the greatest medicines.” Thanks and love to Zeke and River and Eric and Melanie and to you, the audience, for coming to support live theater.
Melanie Calderwood/Grandma

Melanie is is happy to join this talented cast and crew. She just finished playing Ruth in Calendar Girls and is relieved to have only have one costume for this show (and it stays on). Melanie has appeared in many local theaters thru the years included Driftwood Players, Taproot, Renton Civic. Non-theater credits include several training films, a local movie where she played a very old, very evil housekeeper (Strange Aeons), and several voiceovers. In one project she was the voice for a 10-year-old boy and a dwarf. She lives with dogs, a cat and miniature goats who are happy that she will be home soon after working on 2 plays at one time. Although she thinks that the dogs let the goats inside while she’s at the theater and they all watch TV, so maybe they won’t be so happy that she’s home. Please enjoy the show and don’t forget to buy a calendar or two.​
Karli Reinbold/Jill

Karli (she/her) is so excited to be back here at the Edmonds Phoenix Theatre, celebrating her favorite season by being in this Christmas show! If you see her around the month of December she is probably dressed up as a Christmas elf, a tree, or even a reindeer! Karli has a BFA from Central Washington and loved performing in the Seattle area. She was last seen in Driftwood’s Murder on the Orient Express as Mary. Some of her favorite shows include “The Importance of being Earnest” (Cecily), “Silent Sky” (Margaret), and “Gaslight” at Sound Theatre. She send a huge thank you to her friends and family who love and support her. She hopes everyone enjoys the show and has a happy holiday season!
Eric Lewis/Director
Set & Technical Designer
Eric has been directing for nigh upon 40 + years. It has been his great delight to be associated with the Phoenix Theater for the last decade, where he has directed Fuddy Meers, Kimberly Akimbo, Bright Idea’s, The Golden State, The Miser, The Last Romance, The Underpants, and Beyond Therapy, among many others. But he is proudest of his gaming teen daughter, Olivia. He would like to thank his wife Vicki for her encouragement and understanding. And Melanie Calderwood for once again giving him the opportunity to pursue his passion and craft.
Kristin Hoekema/Stage Manager
& Technical Operator
Kristin is thrilled to be a part of this hilarious play. Typically an actor, this is Kristin’s first time branching into stage managing and it has been a blast! She recently graduated from Santa Clara University with a double major in mathematics and computer science. Onstage, Kristin’s most recent credits are Pippin (Renton Civic Theatre); Cinderella in Into the Woods and Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act (Santa Clara University). Interestingly enough, this means that her three most recent shows onstage are the same three shows that Patina Miller was in on Broadway! Offstage, Kristin has played clarinet in the orchestra for It’s a Wonderful Life - The Musical and Narnia (The Claire Theatre) and was the Assistant Sound Designer & Sound Board Operator for Giants Have Us in Their Books (Santa Clara University). In her free time, Kristin enjoys geocaching, playing piano, crocheting, and drinking tea. @kristin.creative
Elizabeth Shipman, Costumer

Hey dere youse guys. Did ja know Elizabeth is from the upper Midwest? In fact, she’s a proud Yooper. (yes, those words are correct for the UP) She started building & designing in middle school. Has a Bachelor’s from Western Michigan University & a Masters from Roosevelt in Chicago. She is thrilled to be able to help spread holiday cheer and fashion with all of you. Be safe this festive season.
Grace Helmcke/Dialect Coach
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Grace is delighted to be coaching at the Phoenix for the very first time! You may have seen her coaching work in Silent Sky at Northwest University, Murder on the Orient Express at Edmonds Driftwood Players, and The Clockmaker’s Daughter at Tahoma High School. Grace loves coaching accents for actors and watching them discover their own distinct version of a character's voice.
Lauren Kottwitz/House Manager

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Lauren is an actress and vocalist from the PNW who earned her BFA in Theater from Cornish College of th Arts in Seattle. When she isn't managing the house here at the Phoenix Theatre she enjoys playing video games, spending time with her brand new kitten Zuzu, and smashing the patriarchy. 
Fellicia Hallenbeck/Graphic Designer

Felicia has been the graphic designer for the Phoenix Theatre and many other local stages for several years. She currently lives in Portugal with her husband and two dogs. 
Our season would not be possible without the support of our patrons, volunteers, artists, board members, donors, and ...
This season is made possible, in part, by money received from the Community Accelerator Grant funded by the Paul G Allen Family Foundation and awarded by ArtsFund!
Coming Soon ...
The Lady Demands Satisfaction by Arthur M Jolly Directed by Eric Lewis
​Be the first to see this new comedy first produced in 2019!
When a young maiden who has never touched a sword learns she must defend her inheritance in a duel, she struggles with a milksop suitor, a servant girl posing as a Prussian fencing master, the actual Prussian fencing master who believes he is there to marry her, a stodgy lord, and her domineering aunt – the finest blade anywhere - to save her house and lands.