Chriskirkpatrickmas: A Boy Band Christmas Musical

Reviewed by Julyza Commodore
The Actors Company
Thru December 11 

^RECOMMENDED

Calling all fans of boy-band NSYNC before this production says “Bye, Bye, Bye!” With a blend of holiday spirit and NSYNC history, Chriskirkpatrickmas: A Boy Band Christmas Musical is a parody with 12 original songs written by Valen Shore (music) and Alison Zatta (book and lyrics). With musical direction by Taylor J. Williams. The result is some very fun and catchy numbers.

The show is set in 2009 Los Angeles on Christmas Eve (as well as the late ‘90s when NSYNC was catching fire). The band’s founding member, Chris Kirkpatrick (Valen Shore), is met by guardian angel Marky Mark (Alison Zatta) – who was formerly known as, yes, Mark Wahlberg. Marky has been sent to help Chris and, with the guidance that he is offered, Chris goes back and forth between the past and present in order to come to terms with the band’s 2002 disbandment.

Choreographed by Lilli Fuller, each cast member gets to show off their dance skills. Additional NSYNC members Lance (Riley Rose Critchlow), Joey (Elizabeth Ho), J.C. (Mia-Carina Mollicone) and Justin (Nicole Wyland) as well as developer Lou Pearlman (Emily Lambert) are all played by women – the cast identifies as female and non-binary – seamlessly and enthusiastically portraying multiple characters.

As someone who didn’t experience the reign of NSYNC in the early naughts, I was nonetheless able to catch and understand whenever the jokes landed. No need to worry if you are not a NSYNC fanatic; however, if you are, so much better for you.

The show only takes but so much of itself seriously as it is so otherworldly and really serves as a reminder of the virtues of being imaginative. The intimate venue invites you into the story all the more.

The Actors Company, 916 N. Formosa Ave., Hlywd.; Wed.-Fri., 8pm; Sat., 2pm, Sun., 3pm; thru Dec. 11. https://chriskirpatrickmas.com