"Hallmarkable" Returns November 28-December 28!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and CSz Phiadelphia is pleased and grateful to present the return of our holiday fan-favorite production, “Hallmarkable: An Improvised Hallmark Holiday Movie.” We sat down with show creator and director Kristin Finger to talk about the magic of the season and the joy of “Hallmarkable” for audiences and performers alike.

People familiar with the holiday romance movie genre of Hallmark Holiday movies know the formula that the show started with four years ago: “Two strangers; one from the big city, one from a small town, falling in love at the Holidays. Add in that the small town is in financial ruin and needs a holiday festival to save it and BAM, Hallmark Holiday Magic!”

Finger herself is a huge fan of the genre, citing the comfort and predictability that these movies bring: “Life can be so crazy and the world can be so scary, so it’s nice to tuck under a blanket with a cup of hot tea, a cat on my lap and escape into the Hallmark cinematic universe for 2 hours. I’m just glad in the last few years they’ve been adding more diverse story lines. That’s made them more enjoyable and exciting to watch." That translates to the stage, as well, as the show has evolved over its run to add surprises and twists that delight new and returning fans alike, and “added in more nuances, like royal shows, returning home shows, and even Christmas magic shows featuring a real Santa!”

At the top of the show a host comes out and addresses the audience and asks for some words that combined create the show’s title. The cast then takes that title and fully improvises the whole hour-long show based off of it. The audience is encouraged to bring something warm and cozy to drink; wine, beer, hot cocoa, and your best friends!

This is a comedy show with an entirely improvised plot, filled with the wants and needs and obstacles and romance of a traditional holiday movie, created live on the spot with the company of improvisers. The cast performs with full reverence for the source material in a way that uplifts it, taking the tropes and heightening them for comedic effect, while maintaining reverence for and celebration of genre. This cast brings heart, joy and pure hilarity. Each has studied this genre extensively (aka watched so many Hallmark movies) that they could do a TED talk on them. Having that knowledge plus their creativity and improv skills…pure brilliance hits the stage! Finger can’t refrain from talking about each cast member and the energy that they bring to each unique performance: “Each of us on the cast LOVE the movies. We don’t hate-watch them. Even during the audition process I looked for folks that honored the genre and took the emotional moments to heart. This cast loves to bring this genre and these stories to life. The joy I see in their eyes when performing is contagious, and it fills the audience’s hearts!”

One show had a big city woman traveling to a small town to steal their gingerbread recipe, but met a woman that held the secret to that recipe. In another, the small town gal had sworn never to ice skate again. One had magical elves that kept a magical forest of Christmas trees growing all year round! Each show is created with the input of the audience and promises quirky characters, unexpected love interests, and an abundance of delight for everyone this holiday season!

Opening Friday, November 28th, and running Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons until December 28th, tickets can be purchased by visiting the CSz Philadelphia online box office here. Treat yourself to holly jolly joy and make a date to see “Hallmarkable” this season.

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Happy "Hallmarkable" Holidays from CSz Philadelphia!

"Hallmarkable" Returns November 28-December 28!