JOIN US FOR A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME BEHIND-THE-SCENES MATINEE DRESS REHEARSAL!

PURCHASE MATINEE TICKETS

December 8!

OUR EVENING SHOW IS SOLD OUT BUT TICKETS FOR OUR 2:00PM FINAL DRESS REHEARSAL MATINEE ARE AVAILABLE NOW!

Because we so appreciated your letters, emails and phone calls requesting we bring back J.R. Sullivan’s Hometown Holiday after a four-year winters’ nap, that is exactly what we did. Incredibly, the one-night-only evening performance of 2023's J.R. Sullivan's Hometown Holiday Redux tickets sold out faster than you can say, "all I want for Christmas is Hometown Holiday to come back."

Fear not, though, good revelers. We are nimble elves who aim to please and we've created a special opportunity for Hometown Holiday patrons to witness the Final Dress Rehearsal at Friday, December 8th at 2:00 PM for just $25.00.

J. R. Sullivan’s Hometown Holiday, is a longtime Rockford holiday tradition that closed a 25-year run with 2019's heart-warming, triumphant performances and Final Curtain. Appreciating a snowfall of earnest entreaties to return to the stage, Artistic Director J.R. Sullivan arranged a special one-night only performance Friday, December 8th, 2023 on the Sullivan Stage of the RPL Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main Street.

The seasonal variety show, featuring holiday and popular songs, comedy, and storytelling, will be an entirely new production. Called A Hometown Holiday Redux, the new show will again feature a cast of regional and local musicians and actors, including returning Hometown Holiday veterans E. Faye Butler, Shawn Wallace, Miles Nielsen, Kelly Steward, Megon McDonough, Marcella Rose-Sciotto, Linda Abronski, Jeff Christian, Holland Zander, and Daniel Patrick Sullivan. J. R. Sullivan, founder of the former New American Theater that called the theater at the Nordlof Center home from 1986 until 2006, produces Hometown Holiday and closes the show with an all-new Rockford story.

“We wrapped the show in 2019 after our 25-year run,” said Sullivan, “While it was a beautiful goodbye to a long, joyful tradition, I found that I missed producing, presenting, and performing in the show every December since. Apparently, members of our audience have missed our annual gatherings, too, based on the many letters, calls and emails I have received in the ensuing years. The longing to return and gather, especially after the events of the last few years, urged a return and so here we are, back again and so glad for it.”

2023's 7:30PM evening performance is SOLD OUT, but patrons are invited to join J.R. and his merry cast for a remarkable behind-the-scenes opportunity to witness the show's Final Dress Rehearsal Matinee at a 2:00PM

Join Us!

RPL Nordlof Center
118 North Main Street
Rockford, IL 61101
(next to Octane )

Tickets $25 ( Plus $3.52 Service Fee ) - General Admission Seating

PURCHASE TICKETS

Tickets are available online or in person at JR Kortman.

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.

Our Hometown Holiday Redux Cast

JR Sullivan

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

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.

Miles Nielsen

Rockford, IL-based Miles Nielsen has spent nearly a decade enthralling audiences with music that draws force from the prime years of Western-influenced rock music and classic ‘60s soul. Claiming influences as diverse as Otis Redding’s classic soul and Jellyfish’s cult power pop recordings.

Kelly Steward

Kelly Steward is a Midwestern American singer, songwriter and recording artist hailing from Rockford, IL. Her haunting indie flavored neo-traditional country meditations are a favorite in this area of the country, a grass-roots musical movement from the state that brought you Wilco. After a few storied years in Los Angeles, Kelly moved back to the Midwest to record her EP "Long Long Road" with producer and fellow musician Miles Nielsen. Traveling and playing with Miles' band for a couple years, Kelly broke off to form her own band The Restless Kind with Greg Whitson (guitar), Andy Scarpaci (bass), Jim Westin (keys) and Jesse Carmona (drums). In 2012 she released an intimate EP titled "Out From Within" . 2019 marks her full length album debut "Tales and Tributes of the Deserving and Not So" produced by Kelly and her fellow band-mate Greg Whitson. The vibe of the album is reminiscent of mid 70's female singer-songwriters like Emmylou Harris, Joan Baez and Linda Ronstadt with a Laurel Canyon via Midwest Americana feel.

Shawn Wallace

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.

Megon McDonough

At the age of 14, Megon McDonough recorded her first record and by age 17 she began touring and opening for such folk acts as John Denver and Harry Chapin. She might be best known for her work as an inaugural member of “The Four Bitchin’ Babes.” Also an accomplished actress, Megon was nominated for the prestigious Joseph Jefferson Award for her work playing Patsy Cline in Always Patsy Cline. She teaches voice and is on the faculty of The Music Institute of Chicago.

Marcella Rose Sciotto

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.

Linda Abronski

Linda Abronski, a graduate of Beloit College, was a member of the company of New American Theater and has been a cast member of Artists’ Ensemble since its inception. A lifelong P. G. Wodehouse fan, she played Aunt Dahlia in Jeeves in Bloom and directed the AE production of Jeeves Takes a Bow.

Jeff Christian

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

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.

Lydia Berger Gray

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

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.

Enjoy Video Content from Hometown Holidays Past