The Last Christmas
By Tyler Johnson Grimes
Directed by Timothy Mark Davis
Assistant Directed & Dramaturged by Ali Tallman
New City Players
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World Premier Production
Playwright | Tyler Johnson Grimes
Director | Timothy Mark Davis
Assistant Director/Dramaturg (Production & New Play Development) | Ali Tallman
Stage Management | Amber Mandic
Assistant Stage Manager | Andrea Guardo-Cuao
Scenic Design | Aubrey Kestell
Lighting Design | Annabel Herrera
Sound & Foley Design | Tyler Johnson Grimes
Props & Set Dressing Design | Jameelah Bailey
Costume Design | Casey Sacco & Laura Argiropulos
Board Operator | Richard Weinstock
Technical Director | JB Green
Scenic Construction | MNM Builds
Fight Choreography | Ali Tallman & Tyler Johnson Grimes
Photography | Ryan Arnst
Cast | Marlo Vashti Rodriguez, Casey Sacco, Susanna Ninomiya, Caroline Tarantolo, Carlos Alayeto, Summer Davis, Nick Valdez, Harold Petion
The Last Christmas invites you to once again tune-in to WNCP Radio. It's December 24, 1999, and Eve Hart finds herself alone at the mic for the first time, filling in for the legendary host of Calling Claire. As anonymous callers share memories of love, loss, and a little holiday magic, Eve and her close-knit crew of radio misfits discover that sometimes the heart of Christmas isn't wrapped in a bow—it’s found in unexpected moments and imperfect connections. Set against a backdrop of Y2K jitters and 90s nostalgia, this third and final entry in our WNCP trilogy reminds us that even in the face of uncertainty, a shared story can help us all find our way home.
"Working with our dramaturg, Ali Tallman, was invaluable in this process. Ali did such a wonderful job of getting to the heart of what I was trying to do, and then actually helping me do that." - Playwright Tyler Johnson Grimes
"Dramaturg Ali Tallman did her homework, having costumes and props honor popular trends of the year such as Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace and The Matrix. The Last Christmas is full of nostalgia, reminding us that sometimes just reaching out to a stranger in the dark of night can be healing, and that the best Christmas is in our hearts." - Florida Theater On Stage
"...you really need to come and discover what you love most (and I promise there will be lots!) in this pre-Y2K time capsule of a live radio play brimming with crazy characters, touching stories, and nonstop action (both silly and exciting)...Like all Johnson Grimes-penned WNCP plays (once again, expertly directed by NCP producing artistic director Timothy Mark Davis), this latest edition continues to pay homage to their elaborately envisioned fictional radio world while standing firmly on its own. You don’t miss a thing by not having attended earlier productions except for, maybe, a few extra smiles of recognition by NCP regulars. And everyone is invited to catch up on WNCP history as soon as you enter the Island City Stage lobby and are surrounded by photos of founder Freddie Fillmore, his family, and generational station members alongside a beautiful, antique wood radio and decades’ old broadcast paraphernalia....If you get to the theatre early (it’s worth it, just for the browse), you might also want to read the lovingly detailed WNCP History Overview in their informative and engaging paper program...We truly feel like we’ve gone back a few decades and are privy to all the hectic activities at WNCP broadcast studio" - South Florida Theater Magazine
"The Last Christmas moves between poignancy and comedy, darkness and light...Look for Tallman’s note in the program." - Theatrical Musings
"With this third installment, Grimes switches his format from performed radio plays to the radio dramas of the era, call-in shows. And while the first two plays about WNCP focused on the station and the lives of those who work there, “The Last Christmas” broadens its scope to include the most important part of a successful radio station – its listeners...a great job of immersing the audience in the 1999 setting. The script includes references to beanie babies, Y2K, George Clooney on “ER” and catchphrases from “The Simpsons.”...Cleverness and creativity abound in The Last Christmas. There is an interesting timeline about WNCP in the program...The Last Christmas is a story about people and the need to connect, and, just like the holiday it portrays – joyous and fun, but also poignant and beautiful. Don’t miss it – and bring some tissues to dry the happy tears." - New Pelican Review
"Dramaturg Ali Tallman did her homework, having costumes and props honor popular trends of the year such as Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace and The Matrix. The Last Christmas is full of nostalgia, reminding us that sometimes just reaching out to a stranger in the dark of night can be healing, and that the best Christmas is in our hearts." - Florida Theater On Stage
"...you really need to come and discover what you love most (and I promise there will be lots!) in this pre-Y2K time capsule of a live radio play brimming with crazy characters, touching stories, and nonstop action (both silly and exciting)...Like all Johnson Grimes-penned WNCP plays (once again, expertly directed by NCP producing artistic director Timothy Mark Davis), this latest edition continues to pay homage to their elaborately envisioned fictional radio world while standing firmly on its own. You don’t miss a thing by not having attended earlier productions except for, maybe, a few extra smiles of recognition by NCP regulars. And everyone is invited to catch up on WNCP history as soon as you enter the Island City Stage lobby and are surrounded by photos of founder Freddie Fillmore, his family, and generational station members alongside a beautiful, antique wood radio and decades’ old broadcast paraphernalia....If you get to the theatre early (it’s worth it, just for the browse), you might also want to read the lovingly detailed WNCP History Overview in their informative and engaging paper program...We truly feel like we’ve gone back a few decades and are privy to all the hectic activities at WNCP broadcast studio" - South Florida Theater Magazine
"The Last Christmas moves between poignancy and comedy, darkness and light...Look for Tallman’s note in the program." - Theatrical Musings
"With this third installment, Grimes switches his format from performed radio plays to the radio dramas of the era, call-in shows. And while the first two plays about WNCP focused on the station and the lives of those who work there, “The Last Christmas” broadens its scope to include the most important part of a successful radio station – its listeners...a great job of immersing the audience in the 1999 setting. The script includes references to beanie babies, Y2K, George Clooney on “ER” and catchphrases from “The Simpsons.”...Cleverness and creativity abound in The Last Christmas. There is an interesting timeline about WNCP in the program...The Last Christmas is a story about people and the need to connect, and, just like the holiday it portrays – joyous and fun, but also poignant and beautiful. Don’t miss it – and bring some tissues to dry the happy tears." - New Pelican Review
