Live Music: That Time of Year Brings Holiday Cheer

Thursday night kicked off the 's (WPPAC) premiere of"That Time of the Year"—a revue featuring 25 songs about Christmas, Hanukah, New Years' and the stress and glee that accompany both.

"There's a lot of universal concepts between the two holidays," said Felicia Needleman, who created the show's concept and co-wrote song lyrics with Laurence Holzman.

"This is a funny look at the joys and anxiety that come with both."

Needleman and Holzman—both 44, who live in Larchmont and Dobbs Ferry respectively—came up with the concept when a composer friend asked them to write lyrics to what sounded like a Christmas song. 

They then followed it up with a song about Hanukah, and kept writing until they had enough for a show. The comedic holiday revue—starring  Zachary Clause, Leslie Henstock, Emily Jenda, Ryan Malyar and Hanley Smith—is appropriate for an older audience.  

"There's a lot of holiday songs for children," said Holzman. "But there's not many Christmas or Hanukah shows for adults."

The musical featured over 20 different original holiday songs, spanning completely different subjects, as well as genres: rock, blues, jazz, swing, gospel, contemporary, country, calypso and doo-wop.

There was a contemporary song about being a Catholic Jew who celebrates both holidays; a country song about a girl who comes home for the holidays with her girlfriend to the surprise of her parents; and even a doo-wop song about how no one likes fruitcake, even though it's at every holiday party.

Although many of the songs were comical in nature, there were some thoughtful ones as well. One song was sung by an old woman who was happy to have her whole family together during the holidays. Another song is about the solace an old man, who survived the Holocaust, finds in lighting his menorah.

"I really liked that song about the menorah lights," said White Plains resident Lea Weinberg, who saw the show's Thursday night showing. Weinberg, originally from Israel, said she felt some of the Hanukah songs should have been a bit more serious.

"I think it's amazing that the show can go back and forth from silly to poignant," said the show's musical director, Darren Cohen.

Cohen, 46, of Manhattan, was a one of the three musicians on stage. He played piano, accompanied by a bass and drums. 

As the show came to a close, the actors all got on stage to sing about the importance of holiday lights: the candles of the menorah and the brightly colored lights on a Christmas tree. It showed that even though people will celebrate the holidays in different ways, we do it with the same holiday spirit. 

"That Time of the Year" will be running until Dec. 19 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Visit WPPAC's website for ticket and other information. Listen to a song from the show here. See theYouTube video for the "Holiday Lament (The Fruitcake Song)."

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