Presley and Gabby are celebrating their first married Christmas with just each other, to the delight of Presley and misery of Gabby. Gabby makes a Christmas wish for a house full of friends and fun, getting more chaos than Presley bargained for. A sinister plot could ruin Christmas forever unless a hero magically appears to save everyone before midnight Christmas eve!
Setting:
Presley and Gabby Brown’s house; somewhere in the midwest where it snows.
Act One:
The 7 days leading up to Christmas Eve night.
Act Two:
The final hour of Christmas Eve.
CAST:
Gabby: Darien Odette
Presley: Sam Smith
Snowberry Snuggleboots: Anjanette Bandel
Hotdog Ron: Cj Williams-Herrera
Twinkle Winks: Mitch Gibson
Myrrh: Suzanne Hogue
Snow Elf: Blake Hogue
Production Team
Director/Playwright/Sound Design: Blake Hogue
Stage Manager/Sound Board: Erin Hugenroth
Asst. Stage Manager/Light Board: Emma Hansen
Set Design/Build: Brett Conrad
Set Build Lead: Jake Ryan
Lighting Design: John Collins
Poster Design: Missy Hagen
Backstage Crew: Toni Fabian
Set Build Team: Samantha Ryan, Luke Myer, Matt Wilke, Toni Fabian,
David Dreesman, Hunter Herrera, Emma Hansen, Erin Hugenroth
Director's Notes
What a fucking mess. Another busy Christmas season, plus we have to deal with all of this (gestures broadly at everything). Shit's way too expensive, no one can afford staying alive, 50-year mortgages because who cares, everyone's arguing online with jerks and bots, and most everyone running the place are idiots or psychos. Or both! And through all that, That Theatre is still here giving you the funniest and most affordable show in town. This play won't force you to examine your soul or the human condition in any meaningful way. You probably do that enough. And honestly, I think Snow Elf Saves Christmas is maybe the stupidest show I've ever written; with some of the funniest lines I could think up. So sit back, turn your brain down to minimum, and enjoy this cast and crew doing what they do best: putting on a damn good time.
-Blake Hogue

Anjanette Bandel is thrilled to be in one of Blake’s iconic original shows! She was last seen on the That Theatre stage in The Minutes. She recently performed in The Rochester Repertory Theatre’s 9 to 5 (Violet) and has appeared in shows at Calliope Theatre Company, The Rochester Civic Theatre, and Zumbrota’s Z-Theatre. Her favorite “Snuggleberry” is her husband, Warren, her favorite holiday tradition is running in a December .5K with her BFF, Kelly and her least favorite Christmas song is “Mary, did you know?”…because, “Duh, she knew.”
John (he/him/his) is a midwest-based freelance lighting designer and technical director. Over the past ten years, he has worked in academic theatrical settings, corporate trade shows, regional playhouses, and stadium venues. He has won awards both as an individual and as a member of a production team- recently: NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP CREW at Show Choir Nationals, BEST LARGE BOOTH awards at various international conventions, and numerous JERRY awards for technical direction and lighting design. When not in a theater, John can be found working his "day job" in Emergency Medical Services. He expresses his sincere thanks to all for supporting live theater.
Brett is grateful for the opportunity to do scenic design stuff with his friends. He thanks you for coming to the show.
Toni is excited to be the stagehand ever with that theater company. She has been in productions of Spookiest house on the block, Jeff on the shelf, and snow elf saves Christmas. Be ready for some excitement and unexpected things to happen in this production.
Mitch is excited to be portraying Twinkle Winks in Snow Elf Saves Christmas. He was last seen at That Theatre in Jeff on the Shelf as Santa #3909. Other recent local productions include as Joe in 9 to 5 and as Marvin in Falsettos The Minutes at The Rep. When he’s not doing shows, he’s busy working at Chester’s Kitchen & Bar or painting something, probably. He’s also really bad at bios. Hope you enjoy the show.
Though an avid participant in the local theatre community with many stage managing credits, this is Emma's first show with That Theatre Company. She would like to extend her congratulations to the cast and crew and looks forward to working with That Theatre Company again.
Blake Hogue is the Executive Artistic Director of That Theatre Company where he directs, writes, and acts in most shows, as well as teaches improv and sketch comedy. Locally, he's performed at most theatres at least once in the last 10 years. Blake lived in Los Angeles for over a decade appearing in How I Met Your Mother, Raising Hope, 90210,The Benchwarmers, The Soup, and several forgettable commercials. He also studied, coached and taught improv and sketch at iO West and UCB in LA. Blake dedicates this show to his beautiful and talented wife Suz, who somehow tolerates his writing and directing with more grace than he deserves.
Suzanne is very excited to be returning to the stage and to be performing alongside such an incredibly talented cast and crew. Suzanne is one of the founding members of That Theatre Company and appeared in all of TTC's Inaugural 2019 Season's productions, along with several others over the years. She is truly grateful to be able to be performing once again and cannot wait for all the amazing things yet to come for That Theatre Company!
Since moving to Rochester in 2022, Erin has appeared in Heathers, Spring Awakening, Typhoid Mary, Twelfth Night, and Miscast Cabaret in addition to producing, directing, and performing in the Rochester premiere shadow-cast performance of Rocky Horror Picture Show. College credits include Sweeney Todd, Legally Blonde, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. In addition to performing, they also enjoy the production and technical aspects of theatre. They are so excited to now be working with That Theatre Company as Stage Manager. Prevention of intimate partner violence is an issue near to their heart, and they encourage you to donate to or volunteer with Women’s Shelter Inc. or a similar program in your area. www.womens-shelter.org
Darien is thrilled to be performing with That Theatre Company again after six years. She returns with a Bachelor’s in Accounting from Winona State University and several more plays under her belt, including but not limited to Fun Home (Helen), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck), and Play On! (Louise). Rochester audiences may remember her as a teenager from Urinetown (Penny) and Les Misérables (Éponine). Darien is not only a dedicated actor but enjoys stage managing and will be starting her Master’s in Nonprofit Management in the spring. In her free time she writes fiction, draws, and hugs her cat Tippy.
Sam is a Rochester Native who’s been involved in Theatre for 10 years in and around Rochester and is making his That Theatre Debut! He was recently seen as Heck Tate in To Kill a Mockingbird Jonathan Harker in Dracula: a Comedy of Terrors for the Rochester Civic Theatre and Laertes in Hamlet at the Rochester Repertory Theatre. He is a graduate of MSU Mankato where he pursued Theatre, playing Tinley in Shakespeare in Love and Jimmy in Good For Otto. Much like his character he shares a deep love of Christmas and wishes you a Happy Holidays!
Jake has been a member of the Rochester theatre community for years! He has worked with various local theatre companies, including the Civic Theatre, Rochester Rep, Calliope Theatre and Mantorville Opera House. He is also a founding member of That Theatre Company. When he’s not onstage or backstage, you can find him brewing beer at Forager Brewery! He would like to thank his super fantastic amazing wife Sam for being super freaking awesome and writing his bio for him.
Cj is happy to be back on stage with That Theatre Company! For some reason, he didn’t get enough Blake from his last show here. Past shows include The Prom, Gutenberg! The Musical!, Jeff on the Shelf, multiple improvised shows, and multiple sightings at Trader Joe’s. Cj would like to thank his fiancé Aspen for her constant love and support.