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Community Corner

SWEET ADVENTURES WITH A CINNAMON BEAR










What could be sweeter as a family treat than a visit to Pantochino's new
holiday offering "The Great Cinnamon Bear Christmas Radio Show"?  This
is one confection that has no calories or risk of causing tooth decay. 
Until December 29, at Milford Center for
the Arts, 40 Railroad Avenue, Milford, decorations will  glow and hearts
will swell as this novel musical by Bert Bernardi, with music by Justin
Rigg, debuts.





Remember the old-fashioned radio shows, where the family would finish
Sunday dinner and gather round the big brown box radio to hear a tale of
adventure?  Bert Bernardi has recreated that bygone age with a fun and
mysterious tale about an Irish bear, a small
Christmas ornament come to life.





Ryan Eggensperger is one perfect Paddy O'Cinnamon, with just the right
balance of spunk and kindness.  He rises to the occasion when twins Judy
and Jimmy (Dani Corrigan and Carter Popkin) are sent to the attic to
find the prized silver star for the top of their
Christmas tree.





When they discover the star is missing, the cinnamon bear ornament
becomes real and offers to help them recover it.  That means adventures
to places like the Root Beer Ocean and Lollipop Mountain and encounters
with the Crazy Quilt Dragon, the Inkapoos, King
Blotto, a Woo-Woo Whale, Penny the Pelican, the Wintergreen Witch and,
finally, Queen Melissa.





Meanwhile at Radio Station WJBJ, the new station manager Mr. Coot (Jim
Cooper) is being mean-spirited and threatening to pull the holiday show
off the air.  While Harry Hammond (Justin Rigg) accompanies them on
piano, commercials about everything from soda
to shampoo to Spry are sung by Kylie Poggio, Dale Allen, Shelley Marsh
Poggio and Alex Koumbaros, while Meredith Checkerberry (George Spelvin)
and Finn Fenneman (Jimmy Johansmeyer) try to maintain order and decorum.





Authentic sound effects add to the fun.  At a recent show, Hannah Kupson
stepped in at the eleventh hour and did a splendid job as the radio
star Judy.  Bert Bernardi does a delightful turn staging and directing
this family treat, perfect for young ones.





For tickets ($17), go online to www,pantochino.com or purchase them at
the door.  Performances are Friday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday
at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.  For an added treat,
purchase a "Sweet Cupcasions," a sprinkled cupcake
on a stick.





Will Cinnamon Bear save the day and help July and Jimmy find their
beloved family silver star?  Tune in to Radio Station WJBJ and find out
what Mr. Coot learns about holiday spirit.  This new musical was
inspired by a real radio broadcast more than seven decades
ago.

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