Christmas cheer is in the air at Hill Country Community Theatre (HCCT). Their current production, Winter Wonderettes, is a fun-filled romp through some very old Christmas music classics. When was the last time you heard Suzy Snowflake?
That one was released in 1951, and made famous two years later in a stop-action animated version by Rosemary Clooney: one of the first music videos! I was lucky enough to see her in concert, but she didn’t do this one!
Regular attendees at the HCCT will remember The Marvelous Wonderettes, which played here in early 2024 (my review of that is below). Three of the cast return for the Christmas version of the 1999 musical: Betty Jean is played by Christy Brown; Missy is Christine Jones; and Cindy Lou is portrayed by Ava Sierra. Heidi Eubanks, who played Suzy in 2024, is now played by Meg Taylor. The creator of the original production, Roger Bean, did this sequel in 2009.
One they have in common is that both musicals are set in 1968. Another common factor is an audience member playing the role of Mr. Lee, a middle-aged guy one of the Wonderettes has a crush on. He and two other audience members get on stage for a silly bells medley.
A stand-out song was All Those Christmas Cliches, sung by Sierra, as her character reminisces about a special Christmas memory. Only Brown (as Betty Jean) has two solos in the show. Too bad Bean did not create solos for the other two.
The funniest number is Wanna See Santa do the Mambo; the one that brings the biggest grins is Chipmunk Cheer; and the saddest is Christmas Will be Just Another Lonely Day (one of Betty Jean’s solos).
There is a paper-thin plot that revolves around employment at a local store (kudos to Daniel Melton for a fine scenic design), and Heidi Melton for the colourful costume design (see photo). Heidi also directed the show.
For sheer exuberance wrapped in a Christmas bow, this musical is at the top of the list. Just sit back and forget it is 2025. Don’t miss this holiday treat as the HCCT enters its 40th year of productions in the Hill Country!
For a real hoot, check out the Clooney video at this link:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=609041171487240
Winter Wonderettes is playing thru Dec. 21, 2025
Hill Country Community Theatre is in Cottonwood Shores, near Marble Falls.
Photo credit: C. Cunningham
For tickets: www.thehcct.org
Review from 2024: