Director Kevin “Blax” Burroughs Spreads Cheer in Blitzen’s Ball: A Holiday Variety Show
Burroughs Created, Directs and Stars in Blitzen’s Ball December 15-24 at Brooks Theater
(Oceanside) December 1, 2023 – Kevin “Blax” Burroughs will have his first chance to shine in his official capacity as Associate Artistic Director on stage and behind the scenes of Blitzen’s Ball: A Holiday Variety Show December 15 through December 24 featuring seasonal songs, dance, a lipsync battle and an ugly sweater contest. Created and directed by Burroughs, with music direction and piano accompaniment by Nina Gilbert, Blitzen’s Ball invites the community to revel in the holiday spirit.
“Out of all the reindeer, Blitzen is said to be the most spontaneous and playful of the bunch. Blitzen’s Ball will be just that!” said Burroughs. “Although the songs will stay the same each performance, the interactions between each performer and the audience will change every time, reflecting Blitzen’s personality through an essence of improvisation.”
Blitzen’s Ball will include holiday favorites, including “The Christmas Song” made famous by Nat King Cole, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” from Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve” popularized by Ella Fitzgerald, and “O Holy Night” a classic Christmas song based on a French poem.
Mikaela Rae Macias, Kylie Young, and E.Y. Washington will return alongside Burroughs following their December 8 to December 10 performance of Seasons: A New Musical Song Cycle by Tyler Tafolla which makes its San Diego debut at OTC. They will be joined on stage by performers Andrea Petsinger and Montse Cabrera.
A San Diego-based African-American singer, dancer, actor, director, choreographer, and lighting designer, Burroughs has worked at theaters throughout San Diego County including Moonlight Stage Productions, New Village Arts, San Diego Repertory Theatre, Cygnet Theatre, OnStage Playhouse, CCAE Theatricals, SDMT, and La Jolla Playhouse, as well as youth theaters and educational institutions. He was honored with the Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Specialty Artist in 2022, the same year he began work at OTC directing a co-production with Teatro San Diego of Songs for a New World along with fellow Teatro San Diego co-founder and co-director Julio Catano.
ABOUT THE CAST & CREATIVE TEAM
Nina Gilbert – Musical Director & Pianist
Nina Gilbert’s background ranges from Kenya (Peace Corps), where she directed her students in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and translated Schubert’s Mass in G into Swahili to Carnegie Hall (NY Choral Society). A resident of San Diego since 2016, Gilbert has been music director for Avenue Q and Singin’ in the Rain (New Village Arts), Cinderella (Center Stage), The Fantasticks (Point Loma), Always… Patsy Cline (D&P, Point Loma), and Dogfight, Matilda, SpongeBob, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Nunsense, and Xanadu (Coronado). Additionally, Gilbert has offered NPR music commentaries and lectured on the history and science of chocolate. She serves as music director for the Congregational Church of La Jolla.
Montse Cabrera
Montse Cabrera is delighted to be making her OTC debut. She previously played Spider in the production of James and the Giant Peach (BroadwayWorld San Diego Award Nomination). Other recent credits include Sadie (The Cradle Will Rock), Aida (Aida), Mama Euralie (Once on this Island), Dragon (Shrek the Musical), and Ensemble (The Addams Family). Cabrera is majoring in Theatre Arts and is training in various styles of Dance including Musical Theater, Jazz, Tango, and Salsa. She is also the lead singer of the indie alt rock band, “The 805”. She would like to give a huge thank you to her friends and family for their love and support, Happy Holidays! @montse_c08 @the805.official
Andrea Petsinger
Andrea Petsinger has more than 20 years of experience as a vocalist, inspiriting many musicals, operas, showcases, and production shows on land and at sea. She most recently played the role of Eve in Stephen Schwartz’s Magic To Do (Princess Cruise Line) and Paula Abagnale in Catch Me If You Can (San Diego Musical Theatre) in 2022. In 2018, she was the featured soprano in An Evening with Sir Time Rice (Seaborn Cruise Line). She earned her B.A. in Music from USF in 2011. Today performance remains her passion, theatre her home, and fulfilling audiences her international aspiration. www.andreapetsinger.com
Mikaela Rae Macias
Mikaela Rae Macias is grateful to be a part of Oceanside Theatre Company’s Blitzen Ball! She was last seen on the OTC stage in the collaboration with Teatros San Diego in Songs for a New World as Dancer #1/ Woman #1 Understudy. Regional credits include: The Finish Line Series: Business Ideas (Cygnet Theatre), West Side Story, SD Fringe Festival: Body Talk (Teatros San Diego), Love All (La Jolla Playhouse), Chronicles of Kalki, Mother of the Maid (Craig Noel Nomination, Moxie Theatre); Into the Breeches (North Coast Repertory Theatre); The Mad Ones (Wildsong Productions); Noel, Noel (San Diego Symphony). She is currently earning her B.A. in Theatre Performance at San Diego State University. Instagram: @mikaelaraemacias
E.Y. Washington
E.Y. Washington is thrilled to be making their debut at Oceanside Theater Company in Tyler Taffola’s Seasons and Blitzen’s Ball. Recent theatrical credits include: Simon in Jesus Christ Superstar, Monty in Saturday Night Fever, Michael in Tick Tick Boom: Concert Reading, and Hud in Hair. While not performing, Washington slings lattes by day, pens narrative essays at night, and teaches dance in the afternoon. They are immensely proud of their cast, crew, and creative team. Sit back, relax, and let the magic of the holiday season enchant you.
Kylie Young
Kylie Young graduated from UCSD with a B.A. in Theatre. Some of her favorite roles include: Katherine in The Taming and Miss Wilkinson in Move Over Mrs. Markham (Scripps Ranch Theatre), Laker Girl in Spamalot (Welk Theatre), Megan in Puffs (Tenth Avenue Arts), Dora Bailey/Ensemble in Singin in the Rain (New Village Arts), and Lina in Cry It Out (Moxie Theatre). She would like to thank her loved ones for supporting her in all of her performing endeavors! Follow her on Instagram and TikTok @strangesparkles
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ABOUT OCEANSIDE THEATRE COMPANY
Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC), the resident professional theater company operating the historic Brooks Theater in downtown Oceanside, is a focal point of the Oceanside California Cultural District. OTC’s mission is to produce professional theatrical productions for the entertainment and enrichment of the community, present educational opportunities in the arts for children and adults, and provide a safe, state-of-the-art public venue for expansion of artistic endeavors in North San Diego County and greater Southern California. OTC produces a four-show mainstage theater season, music series, comedy shows and other cultural events in its 198-seat main theater. It also hosts smaller performances and classes including poetry, improv, dance and various other events in the adjacent black box theater, Studio 219. Additionally, OTC is home to the Brooks Theater Gallery which presents rotating art exhibitions and artist open houses. An important part of OTC’s mission is inspiring and sharing the arts with local youth through the Youth Theater Arts Program, which includes after school drama camp in local elementary schools, Summer Theater Performance, Design and Technical Theatre Camps and Youth Theater Arts Outreach in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside during the school year. To learn more visit www.oceansidetheatre.org.
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SHOW DETAILS
Blitzen’s Ball: A Holiday Variety Show
December 15-24
Fridays at 8 pm; Saturdays at 2 pm & 8 pm; Sundays at 2 pm
Brooks Theater, 217 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054
760-433-8900
OceansideTheatre.org
Tickets: $20 Student, Military, Senior; $25 General Admission
