The Great Christmas Cookie Bake-Off, a musical comedy written by Rick Hip-Flores,
will stream on Broadway On Demand, as presented by Repertory Theater for Young Audiences, starting Nov. 12 up to Dec. 12.
For director Joy Virata, she’s so happy and proud to be bringing this online, as it’s her ‘Christmas gift’ for the children, students, and families, who will now be given the opportunity to welcome Theater back - even if from the comfort of their homes; and also a gift for the artistic community, who have basically been on hiatus since the pandemic struck in early 2020.
Had the opportunity to join their little media preview, and it was exhilarating to watch a snippet of the play, the opening number - and can only enjoin parents and older kids to purchase tickets and log on come Nov. 12, as it looks like a real crowd-pleaser - one of those shows that can’t be missed.
It’s about eight young cookie chefs who join a baking competition reality-show, and the show highlights their recipes for Christmas cookies. There are eight very distinct personalities, and the judges are larger than life characters themselves. It makes for a lot of texture and depth of emotions, and how we’ll certainly identify with particular chefs, and cheer them on in the course of the show - with themes of family, charity, forgiveness, and getting along with others.
This early, I was taken with one character, a young girl, who’s a diehard Disney fan, and was super-excited that the competition would be taking place in the Cookie Coliseum, in (you guessed it) Orlando. And then there’s the one competitor being egged on by his CEO father to win at all costs, and we all know how there are those types in this world.
Virata and her assistant director, Carla Barredo, were truly challenged bringing this production to fruition. The technicals were an issue, the not preparing face to face was something new, and the health and safety protocols that had to be strictly followed became hindrances.
But with safety for the cast of utmost importance, the taping bubble became a vehicle to staunchly face and conquer these challenges. In fact, Virata explained that at one point, she was asked to mount the show and let it run as if it was being presented live, and let the video directors do their ‘magic’.
Go to the Rep social media pages to learn how tickets can be purchased. You won’t regret turning one day between Nov. 12 and Dec. 12 into a viewing night, and sitting around your screen to watch the show with the whole family. It promises to be a show that both kids and parents will enjoy, and let’s show our appreciation for this supreme effort by Rep to bring theater back in our lives!