Holiday Heroes is a fun holiday themed show that will have the whole family laughing and singing along with Ernie and Rufus as they bumble their way through building a store holiday display and demonstrate that friendship truly is one of the greatest gifts.
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| The author’s son, posing with Ernie and Rufus |
Now in its 15th year, Holiday Heroes is an exciting high energy performance that pulls the audience (quite literally) into the story. The duo, played by Shaun Branigan as Ernie and J. Quinton Johnson as Rufus, do an excellent job of keeping the audience entertained with their antics. Whether they’re attempting to wrap the audience in tinsel, pulling unsuspecting parents on stage to dance, or asking everyone to shout and sing-along, the pair keeps the whole crowd, kids and adults, laughing and engaged throughout the performance.
The show’s fun set includes boxes, a ladder, and lots of props, which allows the focus of Holiday Heroes to be all about the dynamic between Ernie and Rufus and their interactions with the audience. The pair never emphasizes one specific holiday, but mention several celebrations (including Rufus’ favorite, Bologna Day) and keeps the focus on the spirit of the season.
Holiday Heroes also manages to offer kid-sized explanations of many familiar holiday symbols. While setting up their display, Ernie and Rufus discuss Hanukkah and the menorah, and lead the audience in singing I Have a Little Dreidel. They also discuss Kwanzaa and the kinara before giving a brief history of the Christmas tree and singing O Tannenbaum in both German and English. The result is a truly multi-cultural and entertaining holiday performance that is enjoyable for all ages.
Holiday Heroes will be playing on Saturday, December 20th on the Topfer stage of ZACH Theatre.
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Ava Love Hanna is a writer, performer, and mother of the world’s most awesome 6 year old. She loves exploring Austin’s best family-friendly places with her husband and son. Read more about her adventures in writing, parenting, and learning to transform autobots at 6 am at: http://avalovehanna.com or follow her on twitter: @RobotsControlMe
