Manitoba·THEATRE

Al Simmons presents extravagant show of wackiness

It's going to be a crazy good time at Manitoba Theatre for Young People.

Al Simmons is happiest when he is making people laugh

Al Simmons presents 'Twas the Night Before Christmas as part of his show. (alsimmons.com)

It's going to be a crazy good time at Manitoba Theatre for Young People.

Instead of the annual full-run holiday show, MTYP is offering up four presentations of Al Simmons is Home for the Holidays!

The whole show is like one little gift after another.- Al Simmons

It's a wild show of happy music, weird props and gadgets and crazy antics, all designed to send the little ones into fits of laughter. Simmons calls it "an extravagant show of wackiness."

He says his favourite part of Christmas is surprise, "wrapping things up and surprising people. In a way, that's what we're doing here. The whole show is like one little gift after another."

Simmons says he is most at home when he's on stage. "That's when I'm probably the most comfortable of all, when I'm faced with hundreds of giggling people. It's the laughter I'm after."

He has been associated with MTYP since the beginning and is thrilled to be doing this show.

"I am so thankful that MTYP invited me to do this Christmas show here because I love this theatre so much. My granddaughters come to see all the shows here and as a family we've grown to love this theatre, so I'm just so thrilled that it's ME! I'm doing a show here!"

Al Simmons will be joined on stage by pianist Michael McKay.

Al Simmons is Home for the Holidays is running at the Shaw Performing Arts Centre @ the Forks on December 21 and 22.