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The Huntington Beach Playhouse
presents
Cancel Christmas
a play for children of all ages
directed by
Chris Grisey
Written by Sam Younghans
December 19 - 22, 2005
at the
Huntington Beach Library Theatre


To the HB Playhouse Web site

Cancel Christmas
Christmas with Flasher
A WONDERFUL, FUN
story about Santa Claus and Flasher, a glowing reindeer. 
Your children will LOVE IT.
 A Christmas Story for children of all ages.

The Book

The author will autograph each copy and personalize it, to whomever you name.
  • Santa is lured to Bogwig's Great-Ice-Caves beyond the North Pole. A note from Bogwig, pinned to Santa's door, said, "Cancel Christmas, or else . . ."


Flasher

  • Read what happens to Santa. Read about the exciting rescue by his faithful elves. Read about Flasher, the amazing reindeer that looks like a shooting star when leading the reindeer on Santa's journeys.  And by all means, read this story to your children.

  • Cancel Christmas was originally written as a play. First produced in Sonoma, California, at the Sebastiani Theatre, where it ran for three years - also done in Petaluma and San Rafael, CA. In 1996, it was produced in Ukiah, CA and at the Patio Playhouse in Escondido, CA, with great success. In 1999 it was produced at the San Diego Children's Museum.

  • The Huntington Beach Playhouse produced it.

  • The Eagle Rock Stage om LA produced it.
Some comments from people who have read the book or seen the play: "Delightful!" "Charming!" "At bedtime, I read a couple of chapters to my children and they always want more." 
"My little girl is reading it for the third time."
"Sam, I have read and truly enjoyed the story. It is wonderful to read something so beautiful in such a time when children are all but forgotten for being children. Gribby is a great character."  -Christopher
"My husband reluctantly accompanied me and our son to the play, and he was totally entertained. It is for children of all ages."
Mike Bower (Santa) and his wife, Jennifer, have three children and reside in Buena Park, where he serves on the Fine Arts Commission and is active in regional theatre and recently appeared in the world premiere production of the new musical, The Golden Dream, at Huntington Beach Playhouse. He will return to HBPH for Cancel Christmas in December, playing the role of Santa. A familiar face around Southern California theater, Mike completed a 5-week run last Spring as Jacob in the La Habra Depot Theater production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Among his other favorite roles are Pa Carnes in Oklahoma, the Barber in Man of La Mancha, Capt. Bracket in South Pacific, Frank Gilbreth in Cheaper by the Dozen, Stuart Dalrymple in Brigadoon, Lazar Wolf in Fiddler on the Roof, and Arvide in Guys and Dolls.

Barbara Ahumada (Mrs. Santa) has been acting since she was nine years old in various community theaters.  She studied drama with the Jost School of Drama from 1952 to 1954 and has acted in many plays including "Death Takes a Holiday," Inherit the Wind," The Family Upstairs and "Father of the Bride."  She is returning to the stage as Mrs. Santa after taking off a few years to just enjoy retirement and travel.