Department Of Theatre Arts Presents One-Man Play 'Christmas in Montpelier' Set in Idaho

LOGAN, Utah — The Lyric Repertory Company will spread holiday cheer in Logan with a one-man performance of “Christmas in Montpelier,” a memoir written by former USU History Professor Ross Peterson. The show is set to take the stage in early December at the Caine Lyric Theatre.

Department Head of Theatre Arts Richie Call will be the sole actor in the production, playing Ross Peterson. Adapted by Mary Heers, “Christmas in Montpelier” brings to life Peterson's witty and heartwarming stories from his youth in his southern Idaho hometown.

“It's a nostalgia piece, certainly a love letter from Ross to his home community. But that community feels so close to us here in Cache Valley, so it also feels like a love letter to Cache Valley,” Call said. “Or just to anybody who has sweet, tender memories of Christmases growing up.”

USU Assistant Professor Stephanie White is directing this production and emphasized the collaborative creative process that occurs among the Department of Theatre Arts faculty for this production.

“I learned quickly that you rely on people and their specializations right away. I have an incredible team that Richie was able to gather,” White said. “Our first initial meeting was, ‘What did you think reading the script? What did you see?’ And then suddenly, the ideas start to percolate, and it becomes a greater thing than just the concept of one individual.”

Call has played well-known figures in past productions, but this is the first time playing someone he knows personally.

“That's an intimidating thing, and Stephanie's been very helpful with that,” Call said. “We're by no means trying to do an impression of Ross, it's just kind of our own interpretation.”

The artistic team visited Montpelier to explore the locations Peterson wrote about, which provided valuable insights for the play’s set design and allowed them to incorporate a personal touch.

“They had trees that would line Center Street and for Christmas, they would light them up. The set designer also wants to include a railroad because Ross talks about the significance of the railroad in the community,” White said. “Amy Critchfield came up with the idea of having the design team share design work of their homes so we could see what their growing up space was like. Recognizing that we all grow up, we all have these stories to tell, and we're so grateful that Ross shared that with us.”

“Christmas in Montpelier” will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6-7, 9 and 12-14, and at 1 p.m. Dec. 7 and 14 at the Caine Lyric Theatre. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit online.