The Twelve Months of Christmas
Ray awakens from a coma to learn that the country is celebrating Christmas every month, (Hanukkah every quarter), in order to stimulate the economy. “A Christmas Carol” is constantly playing at the local community theatre, Christmas lights blaze all night, and there’s enough fruitcake to choke a camel. Ray himself is different and his bitter attitude is affecting his fiancée, Mary. When she expresses her frustration with not being able to stop the multiple Christmases, and more importantly, with Ray’s behavior, he pulls a stunt that lands him in jail. There he is visited by the mother of the young man who caused Ray’s terrible car accident. Ray also discovers why Mary can’t make any progress in protesting monthly Christmases—a spy! After finding a hidden microphone in their house, Mary and a few family friends come up with a scheme to catch the spy. Will it work, and will Ray ever get the true Christmas spirit? Full evening.
Productions
Behind The Scenes
PLAYWRIGHT SCOTT ICENHOWER TALKS ABOUT
“THE TWELVE MONTHS OF CHRISTMAS”
Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?
A: A friend suggested I try to write a play about a town that celebrated Christmas every month. It seemed like a one joke idea, but the more I thought about it, I could see this as a background to a deeper story.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY?
A: My favorite part of the play is Clarence’s toast at the end because it sums up what I was trying to say, and I like how the words flow.
Q: WHERE DO THE CHARACTERS COME FROM?
A: I knew a man who lived his life nurturing anger and rarely forgave people. He was a secular example of the need to forgive. He is part of the inspiration for Ray, who unlike this man, found the power of forgiveness. The other characters help round out the story.
Q: WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS PLAY?
A: There’s a Bible verse that asks us to love God and your neighbor as yourself. I wanted to emphasis all three of those loves concurrently.
Q: IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
A: In our original production, one cast member had recently graduated from seminary. Another one is a self-proclaimed agnostic. Both understood and were touched by this story of forgiveness. I feel blessed (or lucky) to have written this play.