Developed by Ekundayo Bandele, CEO and founder of Hattiloo, this show is a montage of holiday jokes and stories, rap, singing, dancing, and so much more. “The story is these four people who get together and enjoy Christmas,” Bandele says. “For one of them, it’s her club, and the others are her regulars. There’s not really an arc in the traditional sense; it’s just fun.”
And, Bandele emphasizes, the show is interactive. “What we’re missing in theater is the interactive spirit — having audiences not just sit there watching something but being an active participant,” he says. “I’ve always loved spoken word things, and when you go to these spoken word shows, you snap and you hoot and you’re a part of the performance as opposed to just a spectator. I wanted to create something that gave the audience permission to enjoy themselves.”
That’s why the juke-joint set extends into the crowd, why there’s no separation between what is scripted and what isn’t, why the performers address the audience and walk from table to table. “You’re laughing with your friends and shouting at the stage because there’s no fourth wall,” Bandele says.
The family-friendly performances are about an hour and 10 minutes long, and the show will run through December 19th. Tickets are available to purchase online at hattiloo.org.
A Holiday Juke Joint, Hattiloo Theatre, 37 Cooper, Thursday-Sunday, December 2nd-5th, Various Times, $30.