The Paisley Sisters' Christmas Special

A hilarious musical send-up of
1960s holiday TV specials.

	ItÃƒÆ’Ã‚s 1964. The Paisley Sisters (Connie, Bonnie, Lonnie, and Ronnie) are airing a brand-new color-television holiday extravaganza that they hope will put them back in the Top 40. But all is not well. Hours before the broadcast is scheduled to begin, Ronnie is stricken with a mysterious malady, leaving her precocious daughter, 16-year-old Abigail, to fill her shoes on live TV. Young Abigail must make it through the show while unraveling a mystery involving backstage drama, evil corporate sponsors, secret telephone calls, assumed identities, and general mayhem. www.paisleysisters.com

Jim Ansart (Book and Lyrics) has been writing and performing in Boston for the past twenty years. He has appeared with SpeakEasy Stage Company, New Repertory Theatre, and at the Lyric Stage theatre in Boston. Jim, co-author John Raftery, and Joel Benjamin are currently collaborating oÃƒ¢Ã¢â‚¬° n a musical about the ghost of a 70's drag queen who haunts an adolescent misfit and gives her a new lease on life. Joel W. Benjamin (Book and Lyrics) is a professional photographer with a busy daylight studio in Fort Point Channel, Boston, where he takes photographs for fashion, commercial and editorial clients. His photographs often combine style with humor and a fresh American naturalness. His clients include The Boston Globe Magazine,Samsonite, the John F. Kennedy Library, Newbury Bond catalog, Houghton Mifflin publishers and many others. He has photographed Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day OÃƒÆ’Ã‚Conner, U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein and deep sea diver Sylvia Erle for a childrenÃƒÆ’Ã‚s book series on grandmothers. Prior to becoming a photographer, Joel had a career in advertising and design. His work can be seen at www.joelbenjamin.com. Bret Silverman (Music, Book, and Lyrics) is a composer, pianist, arranger, singer and teacher working in Boston for the past 17 years. The Paisley Sisters is the first full-length musical he has composed. He has also composed many original songs and pieces for children's chorus, including an eight-movement cantata for chorus and chamber orchestra called "Tree of Life." Bret is on faculty at The Boston Conservatory, where he is pianist and coach for senior musical theater, and teaches freshman theory and ear-training. Most recently he music directed Two Gentlemen of Verona at the Conservatory, Gypsy and Urinetown at the Barnstormers Theatre in New Hampshire. Bret received his Bachelor's degree in piano performance from Boston University in 1987. Steve Silverman (Book) is a critically-acclaimed playwright with over twenty shows produced nationwide. He is the creator of the L.A. hit Slideshow, which plays monthly at the Fake Gallery in Hollywood to sold-out crowds. He's written and produced for NBC, CBS, the WB, MTV, and Bravo. His screenplay The Wishing Well has been optioned and is currently in development. Steve resides in Los Angeles, California with a dog named Hueby and a cat named Jack. His favorite color is paisley.

New York premiere

Quotes:

"Downright hysterical!" —Anne Marie Donahue, The Boston Phoenix

"Welcome at the holidays — or any time!" —Robert Nesti, Bay Windows

"One of the best alternative ways to celebrate the season!"—Alexander Stevens, The Boston Tab