A Sacramento theater is showing 2 unconventional holiday tales this week. How to buy tickets

A Sacramento theater this week is showing a pair of unconventional holiday tales with one play meant to tug your heart and the other aiming to make you burst out laughing.

Both plays in the double-feature at the Ooley Theater at 2007 28th St. were written by local authors, and both are cast with diverse Northern California actors.

Sacramento theater veteran Brooklynn T. Solomon and 2020 America’s Got Talent winner Brandon Leake co-star in the plays Mississippi Motel and A Naughty Christmas. The double-feature has a short run with 8 p.m. performances scheduled from Thursday to Saturday.

“We have two very juxtaposing pieces because (one) is a very drama, character driven piece. Whereas the second one is like straight out of an SNL skit, kind of meant to be resilient and funny”, said Elise Hodge, founder of the Artist’s Collective and EMH Productions.

The Ooley Theater, Hodge said, is a home for artists to explore their talents as writers, directors, actors, producers, set, light, and sound designers.

She connected with talents such as Solomon and Leake, bringing them on the stage together to execute dramas by local playwrights.

Solomon is a Sacramento-native who has been a part of productions at the B Street Theater, Capital Stage Theater, and the Sacramento Theater Company.

“Sacramento does have a good theater following, I will say not as great for Black theater. We need to get out and support each other,” said Solomon. “There is a large cultural hub here that is largely untapped.”

Leake, a Stockton native, is a poet who is trying his hand at acting and in theater. He got his start in Sacramento performing at places such as Brickhouse Gallery, or for the Sacramento Poetry Slam. It led to an appearance on America’s Got Talent, which he won in Season 15 in 2020.

“I promise you we’re going to throw a phenomenal (event) on stage for you,” said Leake. “This is a great opportunity for people to come and commemorate a year of people finally starting to get back out.”

The showcase

Sacramento author Tim Foley wrote the first showing, Mississippi Motel. It takes place in the South on Christmas Eve when a musician facing a depressive period has to give up his itinerant life. He must decide whether to live a life on the road with his mistress or return home to his pregnant wife in a nuanced love tale.

The second showing, A Naughty Christmas, is written by Sharon Perpignani but adapted to the stage by Hodge.

A Naughty Christmas isn’t your tradition Christmas story. This twist on Twas The Night Before Christmas is filled with chaos and humor.

“It’s a good little story,” said Solomon. “It’s something people can definitely relate to. It’s a struggle that people tend to have, getting in situations that aren’t necessarily great for you.”

The plays star, Solomon, Leake, Joanna Johnson, Robyn Colbourn, Nathaniel Mercier, and Heidi Schuyler.

The showcase is intended for audience members ages 16 and up. Viewer discretion is advised as the acts contain topics of drugs, alcohol and raunchy jokes.

Tickets are $18 for general admission, $12 for live streaming or $30 for a watch party live streaming. Tickets can be purchased at www.emhboxoffice.com.

“Come out Thursday night and if you like the show, come back again, we’ll have a great time,” said Leake.

This story was originally published December 13, 2022 at 6:00 AM.