Christmas with C.S. Lewis
Presented by Emery Entertainment
On sale: July 3
When and Where: Saturday, November 20, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Located in Manship Theatre
Genre: Theatrical Performance, Literary Theatre, Holiday Programming
Fans Also Like: The Screwtape Letters, Churchill, Mark Twain Tonight!
Ticket Price: $77.83, including tax and fees
About the show
In the early years of his young adult life C S Lewis believed the story of Christ’s birth was nothing more than feel-good myth. That all changed after a particular encounter with his great friend and fellow author, J R R Tolkien. Although both men loved mythology in general, Tolkien was convinced that the Jesus myth was the one true myth. That was the start of Lewis’ journey from Atheism to Christianity. From that point on Christmas, for Lewis, took on an entirely different meaning.
Here we find him at his home near Oxford on Christmas Eve hosting a group of Americans who are Christmassing in England. They are about to experience an unforgettable assortment of Yuletide recollections which stimulates a whole range of emotions – curiosity, laughter, gladness and even some tears. Above all, they will discover how that encounter with Tolkien forever changed his Christmas celebrations.
Featuring: Gregory William Welsch as C.S. Lewis:
An accomplished stage actor consumes the world around him and injects it into their roles with a skill and dedication that separates them from their colleagues on the small and big screen. There are no endless retakes and reshoots. There are no slick edits applied postproduction. They are in the moment in every sense of the word and live the roadmap that playwrights design for them with only the black and white words of a script to guide them. This is the world that acclaimed actor Gregory Williams Welsch lives in. Having trained in New York and based in Nashville, he has trod the boards in the guise of some of the greatest roles ever created for the stage and he has been entertaining audiences for years with the authenticity of his performances. Gregory has graced both the small and big screen as well, of course, but it is in the world of live theatre and performance where he truly shines.
A multi-award nominated actor, Gregory, has worked with theater companies that have showcased historic plays giving him the opportunity to bring such iconic characters as Vladimir in Samuel Beckett’s ‘Waiting for Godot’, and Mitch in the Tennessee Williams classic, ’A Streetcar Named Desire’ to life. With his versatility and his penchant for consistently tackling such challenging roles, it was hardly surprising when he received a First Night Theater Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of 12 different characters in ‘The Life and Times of Lenny Bruce’. He has toured nationally with renowned British actor David Payne, playing JRR Tolkien to David’s C.S. Lewis in, ‘Lewis and Tolkien’.
That outstanding performance has led to Gregory being entrusted with the role of C.S. Lewis in David Payne’s hit one-man show, “An Evening with C.S. Lewis” as well as ‘A Christmas with C.S. Lewis’ Described by critics as ‘Extraordinary!’, ‘A Must See!’ and ‘A Master Class!’, ‘An Evening with C.S. Lewis’ has proved again and again to be an enthralling theatrical experience which has led thousands to discover the continuing impact of a man who died over 50 years ago. These are giant shoes to fill, and yet Gregory has been able to apply his enormous talent to the role; resulting in his own unique portrayal of one of the greatest authors ever to put pen to paper. He also now tours as ‘Churchill’ in Payne’s hit one-man show about the iconic British leader. Oscar Wilde described the theatre as “the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being” Theatre changes opinions, and even changes lives.
Gregory’s artistry and skill continues to entertain audiences taking them on a journey each night to another world, back in time, through the lens of iconic characters, illuminating what it is to be human. That is the essence of art. It is Gregory’s time and, as the great C.S. Lewis himself wrote, his talents exist ‘Beyond the Bright Blur’.
‘Time and again Williams Welsch has proven his depth as an actor. With this role he displays a particularly effective blend of humor and pathos as he becomes Mitch….’
– The Nashville Theater Magazine
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Take a 3D tour of Manship Theatre! No matter where you sit, you'll feel close to the action. The first and second mezzanines are positioned over the orchestra ring, so every seat offers an intimate, exciting view of the stage.
Tickets to this event are sold directly by Manship Theatre. Third party tickets purchased outside Manship Theatre’s Website may not be valid. All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket to attend performances. Please carefully consider whether a performance is appropriate for children before planning to attend.