SANTA CLAUS AND RUDOLPH WILL VISIT THE PEROT; MISTLETOE FAIR GOES COUNTRY,
Red-nosed reindeer to visit the Perot Nov. 20
That famous rednosed reindeer comes to town soon to spread Christmas cheer with the musical adaptation of a beloved TV movie.
It’s “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical,” an entertaining holiday spectacle with a cast of characters that kids and families have come to love since the Rudolph TV special began airing in 1964. In addition to Rudolph, you’ll meet Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius and the Abominable Snow Monster.
The musical has a date with the Perot Theatre on Monday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. It’s part of the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council’s series of Perot Theatre shows.
The production combines a charming set with energetically performed songs and fun puppetry to reflect the TV show’s unique stop-motion animation style. The Snow Monster towers to a height of 12 feet. The story sees Rudolph work to save Christmas, while an important message is conveyed: honor our differences.
California native Sarah Errington performs as the iconic Rudolph. She’s an actress who, as a youngster, found that theater helped her overcome shyness. She feels a certain kinship with Rudolph, knowing that all of us have a bit of misfit in us, a goofy outsider feeling.
About the unique production, Errington said it’s fascinating in that it takes the animation of the original and translates it for the stage. In that sense, it’s like turning something two-dimensional into a three-dimensional show. At the same time, they maintain the integrity of the story and its characters whom we all love.
“It’s such a fun undertaking. I don’t even want to call it a challenge,” Errington said. In a way, they take what’s in the TV movie, remain faithful to it and add their own touch to make it dynamic for the stage.
“It’s still the same old Rudolph that you know from the movie,” the actress said.
She flies on stage. And there are incredible puppets, larger than life. A cartoonish look to the set makes this world come to life. And in the characters, the audience will have
a sense of recognition from the show.
“But we also want to give you more than that,” Errington said, describing the choreography and dancing as engaging and energetic.
About the elves, she said, “I love watching them every day just dance their little butts off.” And about turning this into a musical for the stage, she adds, “It adds kind of a whole other layer.”
For the actors, it’s rewarding to hear the audience reaction as they experience this show during the holiday season.
“I’m very, very lucky,” Errington said about the experience, noting that getting hired for the job of Rudolph was intense. Performing as Rudolph starts with the movie, and she worked with the Rudolph brand to ensure she sounds like the Rudolph from the original TV special.
In Rudolph, she sees a fun, playful and innocent reindeer trying to grow up. “You see him learning new words and meeting new people,” she said. There’s an earnestness to him, too. Rudolph also overcomes the bullying he experiences and learns to love how he’s different. It’s a timely message.
“It’s just a crazy world to walk into. You can’t help but be in it and experience the magic,” Errington said about acting as Rudolph, who in some ways represents the children in the audience.
Based in San Diego, Errington has performed in such regional productions as “Peter Pan,” “Sister Act,” “West Side Story,” “Into the Woods,” “Rocky Horror” and “Nunsense.”
She’s never been to Texarkana, but the “Rudolph” tour begins here with a cast of 20 performers and the crew. It’s a production that’s grown every year.
“That’s where we open actually. It’s our first stop,” she said.
This is the fourth year for this show to tour the country. The production is presented by Right Angle Entertainment, Iconic Entertainment Studios and Premiere Producers LLC.
(Tickets: $56, $46 and $38, or $22 with a student ID. To purchase tickets, visit TRAHC.org or call the Perot Theatre box office at 903-792-4992.)