Saugus theater company members preview upcoming show

SAUGUS – While the Grinch was busy helping raise money for the Theater Company of Saugus Wednesday night, characters from Christmas specials past and present were preparing to take on the “three-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich” in this year?s annual holiday show.The original show, called “A Very Christmas Christmas,” was written by David Hurley and will be directed by Amanda Allen, and will feature everyone from Frosty the Snowman, Jack Skellington and Burgermeister-Meisterburger to Snowmiser, Heatmiser and even the Chipmunks as they try to stop the Grinch?s latest plan to foil Christmas.?Basically the Grinch is not happy with the way his plan always goes and he?s looking for a new plan to end his story,” said Allen. “By delaying the cutting of the roast beef, he?s pushing off all of the Christmas specials which is delaying Christmas. It basically brings a lot of the Christmas special characters trying to get through to the Grinch to cut the roast beef so Christmas can happen.”Allen said Hurley, her cousin, wrote the script for the show after last year?s Christmas show.?Over the past year he wrote it, we proposed it to the board and here we are,” said Allen.Cast members were at Barnes & Noble Wednesday night to preview the show and to kick off a book drive/fundraiser for TCS, which included a reading of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas,” holiday songs from the TCS Children?s Chorus and an appearance by the Grinch himself.?If you don?t get to the store Wednesday, you can go in store and make purchases until Saturday, and you can purchase items online tonight until the Dec. 17,” said Allen.With the show set to kick off on Friday, Allen said she?s very excited to be working with such a great cast, which ranges in age from 4 to 54.?The show is very funny,” said Allen. “It has a lot of stuff that the kids will laugh at, but it also has a lot of little nuanced jokes and puns that the adults will get because lot of those Christmas specials came from that era. They?re timeless. It?s going to be fun for everybody.”The Theater Company of Saugus will hold its annual holiday show this Friday at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. at the East Saugus United Methodist Church at 85 Chestnut St. in Saugus. Tickets for “A Very Christmas Christmas” cost $15 for adults and $10 for children 10 and under. Bring in a new, unwrapped toy and receive $5 off an adult ticket.More information on the show and the book drive can be found at tcsaugus.org. Supporters can also make purchases online at BN.com/bookfairs. When you check out, use Bookfair identification number 10954535 to credit the Theatre Company of Saugus.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].