Put Some Rockin' in Your Stockin'

ROCKIN' CHRISTMAS PARTY, Austin's Rockin' Holiday Tradition is Back with New Songs and a Sportin' New Cast Addition! ZACH Artistic Director Dave Steakley shares his thoughts on ZACH's 2008 Edition of this Austin hit ...

"Rockin’ Christmas Party was inspired by a concert I saw at NYC’s Bottom Line nightclub, that starred Sonny Bono, Darlene Love and Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes in a live recreation of the 60’s Phil Spector “girl group” holiday album. When Rockin’ debuted at The Paramount Theatre in 1993 we performed Darlene Love’s huge holiday hit Christmas, Baby Come Home, that she performs annually on David Letterman’s show. Andra Mitrovich sang that song for us the first year, and she is singing it for us again this year in its return.

This season focused on CHANGE creates the opportunity for me to include a song I have been wanting to do for a long time. In 1989 I saw Dionne Warwick perform with Johnny Mathis at Radio City Music Hall, and Ms. Warwick performed a song that was popular at that time by Michael Jackson called “Man In The Mirror”. It seemed like an odd pairing of performer and song, until she began to sing it and I heard the extraordinary beauty of these lyrics for the first time with her sensitive and thoughtful rendition.

It has stuck with me all these years and now Cedric Neal (pictured here) ZACH’s extraordinary Sportin’ Life in Porgy & Bess, along with the cast will bring this version of the song to you and I think you’ll agree the moment is right for this one. Like Ghandi’s famous quote, the song invites us to be the change we want to see in our world. These times call for our individual empowerment to make thoughtful changes for the future.

After several seasons “Silent Night” returns, a favorite Christmas carol of Rockin’ audiences. This song has always provided a wonderful showcase for the vocal powerhouses who make Rockin’ what it is. The cast and I see this song as our appreciation to you for the many years of your generous patronage, and our heartfelt wish that you and yours will enjoy a beautiful and loving holiday season. Happy Merry Jolly!"

Rockin Christmas Party Opens Thanksgiving weekend and runs thru January 4, 2009 on ZACH's Stage at Riverside Dr. & S. Lamar.
Look for the cast singing live in the Chuy's Children Giving to Children's Parade on Saturday, Saturday, Nov. 29 10:30 am - 12 noon