BJ Koonce, Teri Parker Lewis, Christopher M. Evans, David LaPage, Lindsay Ayliffe

Actor Role David LaPage Andy Gorski Teri Parker Lewis* Randi Stein BJ Koonce* AEmily Gorski Christopher M Evans Mickey Gorski Lindsay Ayliffe Phil Gorski *Appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association

Greetings!

By Tom Dudzick
Directed by Chip Egan

November 30 - December 16, 2006

Director's Notes
by Chip Egan

Psychologists have long told us that when the personal baggage of family history, sky high expectations and holiday tradition is heaped on the real baggage of cross-country travel to a family reunion, the result can be perilous. In the great tradition of It’s A Wonderful Life, Tom Dudzick’s delightful holiday fable may not stand up to much theological scrutiny, but it is an absorbing, funny and honest tale of a classic American family in crisis at Christmas.

As owners of a small neighborhood grocery, the Gorskis have managed to carve out a simple middle class life in the iron belt capital of Pittsburgh, PA. Forced into an early retirement by a painful hip broken years ago, Phil Gorski now copes with the challenges we all face when our purpose seems lost. His patient and loving wife Emily is a remnant of that fading era when stay-at-home moms worked nearly alone to keep the family fed and the home fires burning. Add to this family portrait their son Mickey, an adult child with a disability who requires the constant care of a pre-schooler, and you have all the ingredients for old-fashioned family dysfunction. When older brother Andy’s arrival on Christmas Eve to introduce his girl friend nearly forces the wheels to come off, it seems that a miracle might be the family’s only hope.

What the Gorskis have lost sight of is what Tom Dudzick most wants us to celebrate, the simple dignity of a faithful and loving family gathered for that most glorious of holidays. The family crèche may be on display but its timeless message is only available to those who tune out the clatter and listen. Our hope is that tonight’s performance will offer you that same opportunity.