A MURRAY LITTLE CHRISTMAS

Comedian and nightlife icon MURRAY HILL, "the hardest working middle-aged man in show business," gives the much needed gift of holiday cheer and entertainment to New York City with his legendary Yuletide tradition: A MURRAY LITTLE CHRISTMAS at THE ABRONS ARTS CENTER (466 Grand Street, at Pitt Street), Saturday, December 19th, with two shows a night at 8:00pm & 10:30pm.

A MURRAY LITTLE CHRISTMAS is a cocktail-style variety holiday show packed with nuts, fruitcakes, stuffed boxes, plenty of tree trimmings, hanging balls, hi-balls, showgirls and Mr. Showbiz himself. There's no better way to deck your halls and butter your rum than with this holiday slice of downtown showbiz!

This year, Murray and the gang pile in his vintage Winnebago and travel (in a theatrical sense) to the Catskills for Christmas! He attempts to show his pals the resorts where he used to perform during the holiday season back in the day, but soon finds out that things have changed. He pulls over at a campsite and the entire show takes place in a RV campground, next to a ski slope and a frozen pond, right off Route 17. To keep the holiday spirit alive, Murray re-creates the campsite into an outdoor Catskills resort filled with holiday campfire singing, skiing on the bunny slope, snowball fights, marsh mellow toasting, and even tent pitching! Murray accidentally leaves carrots out and a special guest arrives out of the woods....(hint, it's a reindeer!). Set in the Catskills, and with a venue that actually has a stage, Murray will be performing the NUTCRACKER ON ICE....yes, a full dance routine, in tights, on skates, live! This is included in the price of admission.

The holidays just wouldn't be the same without Murray's special blend of comedy, music and heartfelt hi-jinks. Expect an evening of hilarious and wacky skits with the cast, a sleigh full of cheesy holiday songs, dazzling production numbers, and red hot burlesque from the ladies. Murray also promises a few tender moments when he sings his signature "Have Yourself a Murray Little Christmas." This year, Murray and the gang will pay special tribute to Michael Jackson with a rousing, holiday tinged "We Are The World."

This year’s invited guests from the Island of Misfits: DIRTY MARTINI (international burlesque legend), the bawdy songstress BRIDGET EVERETT (At Least It's Pink, Sex in the City, Our Hit Parade), MOISTY THE SNOWMAN (Bradford Scobie), TRACHTENBURG FAMILY SLIDESHOW PLAYERS (Indy-vaudeville conceptual traveling family slideshow rock band), SEBASTIAN THE ELF (a.k.a. CARMINE COVELLI), with live swinging holiday music from Murray's new band, THE STIFF GIMLETS (featuring BRIAN NEWMAN on trumpet, BROADWAY BRASSY on vocals, PAUL LESCHEN on piano, Ben Clines on drums, Pete Brindler on bass). At press time, SANTA CLAUS, BABY JESUS, and the NUTCRACKER are scheduled to appear.

This non-returnable gift of holiday entertainment captures the joy and jubilation, the Murray-ment and magnificence of the holiday season (all denominations, orientations and sexual proclivities will be celebrated). Spend Christmas in the Catskills!