Events Calendar
In local communities across Florida, humanities-rich programming is making a lasting impact in the hearts and minds of Sunshine State residents and visitors alike. Florida Humanities is proud to partner with local community champions to bring you high-quality public programming through Community Project Grants, Florida Talks, Museum on Main Street, and more.
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O Christmas Tree and Discussion with Dr. Dimitris Xygalatas
December 11, 2022 @ 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
For those seeking fresh holiday entertainment, Thinking Cap Theatre (TCT), a Broward-based, professional nonprofit dedicated to innovative theatrical fare, may just have the freshest show in town. “O CHRISTMAS TREE” is an original holiday play with music co-written by TCT’s Artistic and Managing Directors, Nicole Stodard and Bree-Anna Obst.
“O CHRISTMAS TREE” tells the story of Frankie (Phillip Andrew Santiago), an 8-year old Hialeah boy of Cuban, Catholic, and Jewish descent, who proposes starting a new family tradition when the lights dim on his family’s artificial tree. He prevails and an epic road trip ensues with him, his mom, Claudia (Angelina Lopez Catledge), and his grandma (Carol Sussman). In spite of a few obstacles on their drive to Gainesville, the family arrives safely at Unicorn Hill Christmas Tree Farm where they meet Farmer Tom and enjoy the truly magical Clark Griswoldesque experience of cutting down a live tree. A joyful exploration of multicultural December holiday traditions, O CHRISTMAS TREE will surely resonate with many South Floridians. The production includes live original music and a few treasured classics performed by Paul Curtis and Angelina Lopez Catledge of the band Hola, Hi.
“O CHRISTMAS TREE” was inspired by interviews and site visits with Christmas Tree Farmers around the state. The interviews will air in a Four-Part Podcast Series entitled “From Christmas Tree Farm to Stand” with episodes dropping on November 16th, 23rd, 30th, and December 7th. Audiences can tune into the podcast on Amazon Music, Apple Music, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.
There will be a Special Talkback following the Sunday, December 11th 1:00 PM performance with Dr. Dimitris Xygalatas, an anthropologist and cognitive scientist at University of Connecticut. He will discuss themes in the play and his latest book, Ritual: How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worth Living.
Attendance to the performances of “O CHRISTMAS TREE” on December 11th and 18th is a “pay-what-you-can” donation, and the talkback sessions are free for all. The podcast “From Christmas Tree Farm to Stand” and “O CHRISTMAS TREE” talkback sessions are funded in part through a Florida Humanities Community Project Grant in partnership with Thinking Cap Theatre.
Event Details
Event Date/time:
December 11, 2022 @ 1:00 pm -
December 11, 2022 @ 3:30 pm
