"With Bells On! is an enduring, endearing, comical tale and a much-appreciated dose of merry-merry that deserves its new-found place in the holiday canon."
—The Edmonton Journal
"FABULOUS!"
With Bells On is a two-person musical comedy that celebrates the holiday spirit by taking it to new heights!
One fateful Christmas Eve, Ted, a timid, middle-aged accountant is about to take an elevator to the roof to “end it all.” His efforts are suddenly interrupted by Natasha, the statuesque Drag Queen down the hall, dressed in the ultimate Christmas-Queen pageant outfit. When the elevator abruptly gets stuck between floors, both Ted’s plan and Natasha’s dream of competing for the title of “Christmas Queen” are in jeopardy. This unlikely duo is forced to work together to escape. Natasha is at first prickly and defensive. Ted is terrified but curious. Eventually native hostilities melt as they discover what they have in common–that deep down, they are not so different after all.
With Bells On is a holiday comedy for people who feel excluded from traditional Christmas entertainment.
Meet The Creative Team!
Get to know the minds behind the musical! From the creator of the original play, Darrin Hagen, to the musical storytelling of Tommy Newman and Devanand Janki, our team brings With Bells On to life.
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Co-book Writer, Music, and Lyrics
Tommy Newman
TOMMY NEWMAN is a published playwright, composer and lyricist and a 2013 ASCAP Foundation Cole Porter Award Winner. Three of his shows have participated in the annual NAMT Festival in New York. He is a recipient of an Anna Sosenko Assist Trust Grant, and a 2014 Kennedy Center ACTF National Musical Theatre Award Winner. Productions include: Band Geeks! (Published by MTI, Goodspeed Musicals, NAMT Fest '09). The Single Girl's Guide with Gordon Greenberg, (Capital Repertory Theatre and NAMT Fest '13). Tinyard Hill with Mark Allen (TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, NAMT Fest ‘07). Off Broadway: We the People: America Rocks (TheatreWorks, USA, NY Times Critic Pick, Lortel Nomination 2010), El Otro Oz with Jaime Lozano and Mando Alvarado (TheatreWorks, USA, NY Times Critic Pick), "29" with Gaby Alter (NYU Steinhart); The Teacher from the Black Lagoon and Other Stories (TheatreWorks, USA). Recent works include: Savage (created with Karla Koskinen, Quinton Cockrell, and Jaime Lozano, commissioned by UAB), With Bells On with Dev Janki (Theatre Network and Live and In Color), and Jenny's Damned Ex with Jessica Mazaheri. Tommy Newman is a professor of playwriting and musical theatre performance at Troy University.
He holds a BS in Music Education from Troy University and an MFA in Musical Theatre Writing from NYU Tisch
Co-book Writer & Director
Devanand Janki
Devanand Janki is an esteemed Director-Choreographer based in New York City, originally hailing from Canada. Celebrated for his award-winning productions and unwavering commitment to promoting diversity in the arts, Janki is the founder and Artistic Director of Live & In Color, passionately cultivating groundbreaking plays and musicals that boldly celebrate diversity and foster inclusivity. His extensive credits include hit Off-Broadway shows like Zanna, Don’t!, recipient of the Lortel, Callaway, and GLAAD Media Awards, and Little Girl Blue, among others. Beyond New York, Janki's influence extends globally, having directed productions in Canada, Taiwan, Tokyo, and Korea, including the Korean Premiere of Zanna, Don't! A dedicated philanthropist, Janki has contributed to numerous concerts benefiting the Actors’ Fund and served as an Artistic Associate for Broadway Bares. As a performer, his Broadway career includes appearances in Miss Saigon, Cats, Side Show, and The King & I, as well as national tours of A Chorus Line and West Side Story. In education, Janki has made a significant impact as Director of the Musical Theatre Division at The Stella Adler Studio of Acting and as guest faculty for esteemed institutions like Yale University and University of Michigan. Through master classes and workshops nationwide, he advocates for diversity and inclusion in the arts. With an impressive body of work spanning directing, choreography, performance, education, and philanthropy, Devanand Janki continues to enrich the theater world with his unparalleled creativity, social impact, and commitment to celebrating diversity.
Original Playwirght
Darrin Hagen
Darrin Hagen, a prolific playwright, actor, and drag artiste, has been a cornerstone of Edmonton's theater scene since 1982. He co-founded "Guys in Disguise" with his partner Kevin Hendricks in 1987, producing over forty plays exploring gay themes with humor and flamboyance. Hagen's works have received critical acclaim, including an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for his debut play, The Edmonton Queen: Not a Riverboat Story. His diverse repertoire includes comedies like With Bells On and musicals such as Klondykes, often featuring drag characters portrayed by Hagen himself. He is also a talented composer, crafting evocative sound scores for various productions. Beyond theater, Hagen has contributed to television and received numerous awards, including induction into the Canadian Q Hall of Fame in 2013. With an illustrious career spanning decades, Hagen continues to push artistic boundaries and advocate for LGBTQ+ representation in the arts.