Majestic Theater to present 'Home for the Holidays 2012'

The production runs Tuesday through December 23 at the West Springfield theater.

Popular crooners Andy Williams and Bing Crosby may be gone from this world now, but their tradition of bringing good-old fashioned Christmas shows to television for many years featuring their families and other guests, lives on.

Beginning Tuesday and continuing through Dec. 23, the Majestic Theater will stage what has become a new tradition for their audiences – “Home for the Holidays 2012.”

“This year people will have an additional two days to see the show which runs for six days compared to four last year. It’s just how the calendar works out this year,” said Danny Eaton, founding producer of Theater Project, the theater’s in-residence acting company.

The family-friendly theater variety show, featuring Pioneer Valley-based performers, is similar in theme to the format used by Williams and Crosby for their annual television Christmas specials – creating a living room on stage where people come to visit and sing with the host.

“Our living room on stage is complete with a fireplace, Christmas tree, sofas and chairs, and a piano,” said Eaton.

Returning for his second year as host, Ray Guillemette, Jr., who has headlined countless “A Ray of Elvis“ sold-out shows at the Majestic, will be the “Andy Williams” of the Majestic Theater, noted Eaton.

He will introduce and sing along with several favorite Majestic performers including Ben Ashley from “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story,“ Christine Greene from “Blood Brothers,“ and Luis Manzi from “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

Among the special guests appearing in the holiday revue include WHYN AM radio personality Brad Shepard; Dylan Rae Brown, who has been involved with the Majestic’s Children’s Theater and who now attends college in New York City; Lori Efford from the “Majestic Divas” and “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee;” Floyd Patterson, host of the Majestic’s Open Mic Nights, as well as “a special surprise guest who just happens to be related to another one of the performers in the holiday show,” said Eaton.

“Home For the Holidays 2011“ is directed by Cate Damon and Mitch Chakour is the show’s music director.

“I was in ‘Blood Brothers’ which opened this season at The Majestic, and that’s when Dan asked me if I was interested in directing ‘Home for the Holidays.’ I had previously directed ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ for them, so I had a little history with holiday shows. I was thrilled to be asked because I was such a fan when I was growing up of those Christmas specials that Andy Williams and Bing Crosby hosted each year on television,” said Damon, of Holyoke.

“Thinking back to those Christmas specials, as a kid watching them on television, what touched me was the sense of family that you got from them. There was just something magical about hearing the music and seeing the Christmas tree, and I think The Majestic has really tapped into that feeling with this show. And, it’s something you can do with your kids, which is hard to find today,” she added.

The show’s director said audiences will be treated to a mix of traditional and contemporary Christmas songs ranging from “Ave Maria” to “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” and from “Someday at Christmas” to “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and even “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”

“Of course, Santa will be arriving once again this year and we expect to have all the kids in the audience come up on stage to sing with him,” said Damon.

The Majestic is currently holding its 17th Annual Classic Raffle where one winner will take home a 1961 Corvette, and the runner-up will receive a 2002 Indian Scout motorcycle. The raffle is the theater’s primary fundraiser each year. Tickets are $10 and are available online at www.majestictheater.com. The drawing will be held on the evening of Dec. 31, just moments after midnight.