A ragtag medley of holiday plays set to delight readers and audiences alike. Ranging from hilarious and rhyming to touching and sweet, With a ghost story thrown in to keep you on your feet! Drama/Comedy Full-length. 75-90 minutes. Each play 10-15 minutes. 15-30 actors, doubling possible.

This collection of one novella and three short stories captures the traditional, emotional spirit of Christmas and presents the spirit in contemporary settings. Holly Day's Caf, the novella, relates the story of the last day of business at a Kentucky diner. This last day happens to be Christmas Eve. It is also the day of a rare blizzard-one which strands several customers in the diner. What occurs next demonstrates the magic and wonder of the power and spirit of Christmas. "Molly's Santa Claus" tells of the drunken homeless man that six-year-old Molly literally finds on her doorstep. What follows exemplifies this family's true, selfless Christmas spirit. "Angel Tree" is a story of Christmas promises broken and Christmas promises kept when a busy businessman comes face to face with his memories of Christmas past. Finally, "St. Nicholas of the Neighborhood" shows that things have a way of working out at Christmas, even when the presents are forgotten in someone else's house! This collection of Christmas stories for adults is also ideal entertainment for families to share together as they count the days until Santa's visit! Gerald R. Toner is a great lover of Christmas. He is the author of two other books about the holiday, Lipstick Like Lindsay's and Other Christmas Stories and Whittlesworth Comes to Christmas, both published by Pelican.

The definitive biography on Buddy Holly. Ellis Amburn presents the most comprehensive biography ever written about the legendary figure Buddy Holly, a young man who transformed the course of American music with his shocking blend of country, western, and rhythm 'n' blues. Having devoted the last five years of his life to this work—crisscrossing the rural paths of the United States from Texas to Iowa to Minnesota—Amburn portrays Holly as a mythic antihero, whose rebellious, dramatic life was a reaction against the constricting values of America in the 1950s, when his music was regarded as the work of the devil. From his wild days as a juvenile delinquent, to his first romances, to his early associations with then virtually unknown singers like Elvis Presley and Waylon Jennings, Holly emerges as a deeply tortured, driven individual and a brilliantly talented young man in a hurry to make it as a star. And like many stars, Buddy Holly’s would ultimately be tragic and bittersweet.

Buddy Holly died on the 3 February 1959 death. He was 22 years old. Don McLean called that fatal day 'The Day the Music Died'. But, his music hasn't died, as he has left us a wonderful legacy. With his animated voice, trademark black glasses, fender Stratocaster and inimitable songs, Buddy and his music live on and continue to influence subsequent generations of musicians. Spencer Leigh has interviewed those who knew him best – his young widow Maria Elena, his band members the Crickets, Des O'Connor who compered his UK 1958 tour as well as musicians, songwriters, friends, fans and many others who worked with Buddy. A definitive account of Buddy Holly and his career. 'Spencer Leigh Raves On – brilliantly.' Sir Tim Rice A journalist, acclaimed author and BBC broadcaster for over 40 years, Spencer Leigh is an acknowledged authority on popular music. He has written an extensive list of music biographies which includes The Beatles, Buddy Holly, Simon & Garfunkel, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan. 'A highly-readable mix of impeccable research, first-hand testimonies and a personal critique on Holly's life, career and music. First-rate.' Michael Leonard, Vintage Rock 'I am delighted to have been asked by Spencer to write the Foreword to Buddy Holly: Learning the Game, as I have read several of his biographies and he certainly knows what he is talking about.' Frank Ifield 'Spencer Leigh is a fine writer and a good researcher and I certainly enjoyed what he had to say about Buddy Holly.' Hunter Davies, author, journalist and broadcaster

This second edition of Historical Dictionary of African American Theater reflects the rich history and representation of the black aesthetic and the significance of African American theater’s history, fleeting present, and promise to the future. It celebrates nearly 200 years of black theater in the United States and the thousands of black theater artists across the country—identifying representative black theaters, playwrights, plays, actors, directors, and designers and chronicling their contributions to the field from the birth of black theater in 1816 to the present. This second edition of Historical Dictionary of African American Theater, Second Edition contains a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 700 cross-referenced entries on actors, playwrights, plays, musicals, theatres, -directors, and designers. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know and more about African American Theater.

Musicals of the 1990s felt the impact of key developments that forever changed the landscape of Broadway. While the onslaught of British imports slowed down, the so-called Disneyfication of Broadway began, a trend that continues today. Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King became long-running hits, followed by more family-friendly musicals. The decade was also distinguished by a new look at revivals—instead of slavishly reproducing old shows or updating them with campy values, Broadway saw a stream of fresh and sometimes provocative reinventions, including major productions of My Fair Lady, Damn Yankees, Carousel, Show Boat, and Chicago. In The Complete Book of 1990s Broadway Musicals, Dan Dietz examines in detail every musical that opened on Broadway during the 1990s. This book discusses the era’s major hits (Miss Saigon, Crazy for You, Rent), notorious flops (Shogun, Nick & Nora, The Red Shoes), controversial shows (Passion, The Capeman), and musicals that closed during their pre-Broadway tryouts (Annie 2: Miss Hannigan’s Revenge, Whistle Down the Wind). In addition to including every hit and flop that debuted during the decade, this book highlights revivals and personal-appearance revues with such performers as Sandra Bernhard, Michael Feinstein, Patti LuPone, Liza Minnelli, and Mandy Patinkin. Each entry contains the following information: Plot summary Cast members Names of all important personnel, including writers, composers, directors, choreographers, producers, and musical directors Opening and closing dates Number of performances Critical commentary Musical numbers and the performers who introduced the songs Production data, including information about tryouts Source material Tony awards and nominations Details about London and other foreign productions Besides separate entries for each production, the book offers numerous appendixes, including a discography, filmography, and published scripts, as well as lists of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, black-themed shows, and Jewish-themed productions. A treasure trove of information, The Complete Book of 1990s Broadway Musicals provides a comprehensive view of each show. This significant resource will be of use to scholars, historians, and casual fans of one of the greatest decades in musical theatre history.