J. R. Sullivan, founder of the former New American Theater in Rockford, returns to present a new edition of “J. R. Sullivan’s Hometown Holiday” on Friday, December 13th and Sunday, December 15th. The seasonal variety show features holiday and popular songs, comedy sketches, and storytelling performed by a cast of regional and local musicians and actors.
Show time Friday will be 7:30 p.m. with Sunday’s matinee at 3:00 p.m. in the Sullivan Theater in the RPL Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main Street, Rockford.
In lieu of a Saturday performance, a Memorial Celebration of the life and artistry of Linda Abronski will be held at 3 p.m. in the theater. The former New American Theater, Artists Ensemble, and Hometown Holiday performer passed away this summer. The public is invited to attend.
“Linda Abronski was center stage during all of New American Theater’s best seasons,” said J. R. Sullivan. “She was dearly loved by N.A.T. audiences, and most certainly Artists Ensemble audiences, and Hometown Holiday fans as well. Linda lives in our hearts and minds and she will be celebrated at the center of our Hometown Holiday weekend in December.”
After announcing the end of a twenty-five-year run in 2019, Sullivan and the Hometown company responded to a popular demand for a return last December. Announced as a one-night only special performance, ticket demand surged and a special matinee dress rehearsal show was opened to the public.
“We were happily surprised with the overwhelming response last December,” said Sullivan. “This special show – in my hometown – has been a great joy to prepare and perform just about every year since 1994. Rockford gave me my start in theater, and this show is my thanks to this great town. After last year’s success, it wasn’t hard to say “yes” and come home to a new Hometown Holiday in 2024. We hope to add zest and fun to another holiday season.”
Join Us!
RPL Nordlof Center
118 North Main Street
Rockford, IL 61101
Tickets $30 ( Plus $3.85 Service Fee ) - General Admission Seating
Tickets are available online or in person at JR Kortman (cash or check only ).
The new Hometown Holiday is supported by the Janet Kjellstrom Family Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. Supporting sponsors also include GrahamSpencer Brand + Content, with additional assistance from the Rockford Area Arts Council.
Hometown Holiday, Inc. NFP is a fully credited Illinois not-for-profit and is certified as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.
J. R. Sullivan is best remembered in Rockford as the founder and producing director of the New American Theater, which opened in 1972 in a renovated synagogue that also was the first home to the Charlotte’s Web coffeehouse and music club below the theater on the ground floor on First Avenue. In 1986, after a 1.8 million capital campaign, NAT opened in what is now the RPL Nordlof Center. Jim continued as producing artistic director until 1994 when he moved on to a freelance career first in Chicago and then New York City. From 2009-2013 he was Artistic Director of New York’s Pearl Theatre, a classical company that was recognized with the prestigious Drama Desk Award in 2011. More recently, Jim was lauded by the Wall Street Journal for his direction of the Mint Theatre’s Off-Broadway revival of Lillian Hellman’s “Days to Come,” naming it as one of the top productions of 2018. Jim spent the summers of 2002-2009 as Associate Artistic Director of the Utah Shakespeare Festival. He has extensive credits in Chicago, staging productions for Northlight Theatre, American Theatre Company, Remy Bumppo Theatre, A Red Orchid Theatre, Live Bait Theatre, Prop Theatre, Onyx Theatre, and The Shakespeare Project. His 1995 award winning Turnaround Theatre production of Brian Friel’s “Faith Healer” played an extended run, going on to become the opening production for the Upstairs Theatre at Steppenwolf. In 2019, Jim was nominated by the Connecticut Critics Association as “Best Actor” for his performance in A Thrown Stone Theatre’s “Birds of North America.”
E. Faye Butler once again returns to her hometown for this production of Hometown Holiday. A graduate of Auburn Academy, the nationally acclaimed actress and singer has appeared at numerous theaters in Chicago and on the East and West Coasts, in many national touring companies and internationally. Among her many honors are seven Joseph Jefferson and two Helen Hayes Awards, a Barrymore Award, 4 Black Theatre Alliance Awards and in 2011 the Sarah Siddons Award. In 2012, E. Faye was inducted into the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Most recently she was honored with a Joseph Jefferson award for her performance in Gypsy. She performs her own cabaret and theater concerts across the country and internationally.
Shawn Wallace has been a featured performer in Hometown Holiday since 2002. Widely acclaimed as a composer as well as performer, Shawn has written and arranged widely praised musical works for Chicago theater companies as well as schools and educational touring productions. He also has done sound design for Chicago theaters, most recently for the Greenhouse Theatre.
Marcella Rose Sciotto is thrilled to be returning to Hometown Holiday. An actress and singer, she has appeared in numerous roles at the Utah Shakespeare Festival and played Belle in the National Tour of A Christmas Carol. She holds a BFA degree from the Webster Conservatory of Theater Arts.
Jeff Christian, director, actor and writer, works professionally in the film, television, commercial and stage industries in Chicago. Locally, he has worked as an actor and director for the New American Theater and as an actor for Artists’ Ensemble. Jeff is on the faculty of Chicago’s Columbia College teaching advanced directing in the Department of Cinema and Television Arts. His acting roles include appearing in The Two Gentlewomen of Verona, The Rover and The Weir.
Holland Zander has been manning the mic in the Greater Rockford Area since 1998. Having spent the better part of her teenage years as a local chorus girl in various theatrical productions on various stages, she was invited to be a vocalist in a pet project put together by Mulligan Stus Kevin Mulligan called The Martha Quinn experience. MQE wasnt just an 80s cover band but also an avenue for Holland to familiarize herself the local music scene. In 1999 she and a few friends put together a project called The Snaggs, which would occupy most of her time for the next half a decade. Holland has been featured on Cheap Tricks Silver (Time Will Let You Know), Mulligan Stus Rock and Roll Band, The Pimps Fisher Sessions, Super Fish Als Friend to Some, Hero to Many, Nicholas Gunns A Christmas Classic, and Harmony Rileys Time. She has also had the privilege of singing lead on John Bishoffs RAMI award winning Fear and Desire along with the beautiful Jinger Christal.
Rockford native Lydia Berger Gray joyfully returns to Hometown Holiday. Lyda once graced this very stage as a company actor with New American Theater and before that was part of the Young American Theater, NAT’s program for talented high school thespians. Lydia also has performed many productions with Artists’ Ensemble. Now a working actor in Chicago she simply loves coming home and especially this year for Hometown Holiday Redux. Come see and preview Lydia happily at work with the team as the comedy comes together at our special Matinee Dress Rehearsal.
Daniel Patrick (Danny) Sullivan always has been known for his comedic abilities at home and at work. He began his professional career with the New American Theater 2983-1989 with many Hometown Holiday visits since them. Living in Chicago, he pursues TV, film and theater work as well as serving as a communications coach for several US and UK consulting firms.