photo/Damon R. Smith

The Charleston Christmas Special Marks 20th Anniversary of Spectacular Holiday Entertainment

Former Broadway stars and now Charleston locals Brad and Jennifer Moranz are back with an all-new Charleston Christmas Special running Dec. 5-20 at the Charleston Music Hall. This marks the 20th anniversary for what has become an annual holiday tradition for Lowcountry families and visitors. 

Filled with holiday classics, hilarious comedy, and a chorus line of incredible dancers, the cast features professional singers, dancers and musicians from around the country as well as some of Charleston’s most talented performers.

New to the Christmas Special this year are Malia Davis (who played Evita in the national tour of “Evita”) and Rodney Archie (principal soloist with the Harlem Gospel Choir).   

“Getting these two singers this year is incredibly exciting,” Brad Moranz said. 

They join Garrett Graham (former lead singer at the Starlite Theatre in Branson, Missouri), Julie Bell (whose credits include “Phantom of the Opera,” “Ragtime,” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat”), Tim McManus (featured singer in Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand LIVE” at Lake Tahoe, Nevada), and Charleston’s very own Tiffany Parker (former lead singer on international cruise ships). 

Kids of all ages will love ventriloquist Michael Minor who returns with his reindeer puppet Clarence.  This year Clarence has a case of amnesia and must be reminded of who he is in a hilarious rendition of “Must Be Santa.”

 Also returning this year is virtuoso violinist Robbi Kenney and teenage singing sensation Kindred Moore of Mount Pleasant who will join Malia Davis in an unforgettable duet of “Let it Go” from the movie “Frozen.” 

“What makes this show amazing is the variety of the music you will hear,” Moranz said. “Everything from big band arrangements of ‘Let it Snow’ and ‘Man with the Bag’ to the rockin’ sounds of ‘Sock it to Me Santa’ and ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ to spirituals like ‘Joy to the World’ and ‘Go Tell it on the Mountain’ plus take-your-breath-away acapella arrangements of ‘Carol of the Bells’ and ‘Hey Santa.’” 

Twenty years ago, Brad and Jennifer Moranz moved to Charleston to be part of what is now the longest-running show in the Lowcountry. The Mount Pleasant-based couple spend about six months creating an entirely new Christmas Special each year – everything from writing, choreographing, costuming and arranging the music. The cast then gathers to rehearse for a month before the show opens. By the end of the show’s run, some 10,000 people have filled the Charleston Music Hall – thousands coming back year after year.   

The Charleston Christmas Special performances are:

Dec. 5, Saturday 2 p.m.

Dec. 6, Sunday 3 p.m.

Dec. 8, Tuesday 7 p.m.

Dec. 10, Thursday 7 p.m.

Dec. 11, Friday 7 p.m.

Dec. 12, Saturday 2 p.m.

Dec. 12, Saturday 7 p.m.

Dec. 13, Sunday 3 p.m.

Dec. 17, Thursday 7 p.m. (Kids’ Free Night)

Dec. 18, Friday 7 p.m.

Dec. 19, Saturday 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Dec. 20, Sunday 3 p.m. 

To commemorate the show’s 20th anniversary, Brad and Jennifer Moranz are donating $1 from each ticket sold for the Dec. 20 show to the Charleston Animal Society. 

Tickets are $36 for adults; $33 for seniors (age 62 and up) and military; $19 for students 21 and under; $16 for children 12 and under. Tickets are on sale atetix.com or by calling etix at 800-514-3849. (Additional etix fees may apply.) For more information on the show, visit www.bradandjennifermoranz.com 

Group rates are available; call 843-416-8453. On Kids Free Night Dec. 17, guests can receive one free kid’s ticket (age 12 and under) with the purchase of a paid adult/senior ticket. 

Purchase a Dinner & Show Ticket for a night out on the town. This ticket is $68 per person and includes one adult/senior ticket to the Charleston Christmas Special and a pre-fixe dinner menu at Vincent Chicco’s, located next door to the Charleston Music Hall. Purchase Dinner & Show tickets at etix.com. Dinner reservations required; call Vincent Chicco’s at 843-203-3002(Package available for evening shows and Sunday matinee only; quantities are limited.)