A Lord of the Rings Christmas
Digital Program
Saturday, December 14, 2024 @ Littlefield
… is a band of adventurers known for their raunchy pop-culture parody songs paying homage to all things nerdy. Their rowdy live shows are full of audience interaction and themed cosplay, and have celebrated everything from Shrek II to Baldur’s Gate III. They’re your favorite bards’ favorite bards. Follow them on TikTok or Instagram @TheFantasyTavern
… is the only "Lord of the Rings" Christmas parody album you've ever heard of. It's a real album, recorded by a fictional group of musicians (the 1740 Boys Choir), and it took 8 years to complete (really). The first song started as a drunken joke, and the rest is unfortunate history - an unhinged bit that refuses to end. This music is pure parody. It is also our love letter to the books, the films, and the incredible score by Howard Shore. The full album is streaming everywhere, with limited vinyl as well. May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out. @christmas.in.middle.earth www.christmasinmiddleearth.com
Brendan Dalton is a New York-based actor / composer / musician / sound designer + engineer from Upper Darby, PA. He is also the creator of Christmas in Middle-Earth, whatever that is. He holds a BFA in Musical Theater from UArts in Philadelphia. He's played Blue Men, ghosts, robots, flamingos, and also humans. Theater: Hartford Stage, Playwrights Horizons, Clubbed Thumb, Atlantic Theater Company, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, New York Theatre Workshop, Ars Nova, The Flea, and Blue Man Group. TV: "Younger" (Paramount+ / TV Land), "FBI" (CBS), "Dickinson" (Apple TV+). @bren.dan.dalton www.brendan-dalton.com
Andrew Goebel is excited to bring a little cheer to Middle-Earth this year. He has had the privilege to listen to Brendan create this incredible project from the beginning. You inspire me every Christmas season and all year around, love you brother! Selected Credits: New York: To Be Young, Gifted, and Black; The Floor is Lava; Diaspora; Ragtime; Beardo; Summertime; Shelter. Regional: Sweeney Todd; Beauty and the Beast; Much Ado About Nothing; Macbeth; Titanic: The Musical; The Fantasticks. Thank you to Recent Cutbacks and Fantasy Tavern for helping to create a truly beautiful night of Tolkien and Merriment! Love to Erika for always supporting me. @marioandy9021 www.andrew-goebel.com
Jacob Brandt is an actor, composer, and musician based in Brooklyn. He created/composed/performed in the indie-folk musicals 1969: The Second Man (Next Door @ New York Theatre Workshop, Ars Nova ANTfest), HANG ON: A Subway History-Concert (The Civilians, Joe's Pub), and The Twelfth Night Show (Artistree Music Theatre Festival). His music has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, Paste Live, and Playbill.com, and has been performed at and/or supported by Ars Nova, NYTW, The Civilians, New York City Center, Joe's Pub, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Pipeline Theatre Company, Exponential Theatre Festival, and NYMF, among others. Regional acting credits include Shakespeare Theatre Company, Bucks County Playhouse, Huntington Theatre Company, Weston Theater Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Speakeasy Stage Company, Company One, New Repertory Theatre, and Wheelock Family Theatre. TV: Dear Edward, The Knick. Jacob is a former member of The Civilians R&D Group, and is an alum of Harvard College, where he studied acting and playwriting. MFA Shakespeare Theatre Company Academy/GWU. @baconjacob jacobbrandt.com
Created by Recent Cutbacks
Performed by Nick Abeel, Kyle Schaefer, and Regan Sims
Foley by Kristin McCarthy Parker
Acapella Arrangements by Kelsey Didion
Developed with Blair Busbee & Matt Zambrano
Stage Manager Erika Graff
Directed by Kristin McCarthy Parker
Nick Abeel (Co-Creator/Performer) is a NY-based Dad and artist who performs, writes, directs, edits video, designs sound, and occasionally works as a foley artist. You can hear Nick in the Recent Cutbacks Audible Original: History of the 3rd Robot War, a 6-part parody lecture series he co-wrote and starred in. Nick is also a veteran company member of Broken Box Mime Theater. These two companies form the backbone of Nick's creative work, but he's also performed at The PIT, UCB, 59E59, the Tank, Dixon Place, the Denver Center and the Kennedy Center. Nickabeel.com
Kyle Schaefer (Co-Creator/Performer) is a lifelong tinkerer/collaborator/maker, classically-trained actor and seeker of beautiful noise, powerful stories and collective liberation. His work has been seen and heard on the big/small screens, stages near/far, and all around the World Wide Web. He's based out of Brooklyn, NY, and is a proud co-founder of Recent Cutbacks. www.kyleschaefer.com @kvschaefer
Regan Sims (Performer) is an actor and mime from NYC and a proud Recent Cutbacks collaborator. Recently she worked on an RCB sketch show and is currently working at the Met Opera as an actor! She is a full time member of Broken Box Mime theater and supports her local community as a part-time babysitter. It is a dream of hers to be a part of Fly You Fools, much love to the RCB community!! @regansimsss www.regansims.com
Kristin McCarthy Parker (Director/Foley) is a NYC-based director of stage and film whose work has been produced across the US, the UK and Australia. They are the director of Puffs (Off-Broadway) and its live capture (Streaming). With RCB: Hold On To Your Butts, KEVIN!!!!!, Next Day Thrones, and the Audible Original Master Lecture Series. They have directed for Edinburgh Fringe, Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theater, Broken Box Mime, All For One, PEN America's Prison Writing Program, Ma-Yi, Columbia University, and many others. Recent film work includes the sci-fi short, ALPHA. They are a proud company member of Broken Box Mime. www.kristinmccarthyparker.com @kristinmcparker
Recent Cutbacks is an ensemble-driven company whose projects include the critically-acclaimed comedies Hold On To Your Butts (currently running in London), Fly You Fools, KEVIN!!!!!, Next Day Thrones, Zoomhog Day, There is No Spoon, and the Audible Original Master Lecture Series: History of the Third Robot War. RCB’s work invites audiences to see the world with a newfound exuberance and remind them why they fell in love with movies, theater, and storytelling in the first place. recentcutbacks.com @recentcutbacks
Thank you for coming. Please tip your bartenders!