Short Stories Live: A Rogue’s Christmas

Now in its roguish nineteenth (?) year, A Rogue’s Christmas returns (12/14 at 2PM) with an afternoon of stories, songs, and irreverent holiday cheer. We checked in with host and curator Jean Sherrard about what keeps people coming back for this beloved Town Hall tradition.

What’s the origin story of A Rogue’s Christmas?

Years ago, ACT’s artistic director Kurt Beattie and Town Hall’s legendary executive director Wier Harman asked me to host a holiday edition of Short Stories Live. The first year we coyly called it Up the Down Chimney — aiming for a touch of roguish irreverence. By the second year, we’d settled on A Rogue’s Christmas and never looked back.

How has the program changed over the years? What’s stayed the same?

The ironies of the season continue to offer ample fodder, from the silly to the serious. But one thing has never changed in nearly two decades: we always begin with the audience-assisted song “Pathetic Birdies.” You have to be there.

Is there one Rogue’s Christmas you remember most fondly?

A couple of years ago, we invited Wier to read an excerpt from David Sedaris’s Me Talk Pretty One Day. Just days before his retirement, he absolutely knocked it out of the park. The entire house — audience, actors, musicians — was gasping with laughter.

Former Executive Director Wier Harman (left) works the crowd, and the performers onstage, during A Rogue’s Christmas in 2022.

Can you give us a teaser of what’s in store this year?

Each year, we try to unearth a bit of pirates’ holiday treasure — where X marks the spot:

This year’s performers include Kurt Beattie, Marianne Owen, and Julie Briskman, with our musical guests, The Go Janes.

Who should come to the show?

Anyone who loves a good story and a good tune. It’s family-friendly, though attention spans are required (say, ages 10 and up).

Join us for A Rogue’s Christmas on Sunday, December 14 at 2PM!