Review: Stocking Stuffers

Review: Stocking Stuffers | Miners Alley Performing Arts Center | Golden, CO | Curtain Up! | Eric Fitzgerald | December 2, 2025

Forget the fruitcake—this year’s must-have holiday treat is Stocking Stuffers, the musical premiere playing at Miners Alley Performing Arts Center in Golden. Guided by Associate Artistic Director Warren Sherrill’s spirited direction, the production features music and lyrics by Denver’s incomparable David Nehls and a hilariously crafted book by Betsy Kelso, promising audiences a lively mix of humor and heart. Nehls and Kelso are the creators of the hit musical The Great American Trailer Park Musical, which enjoyed a successful run off-Broadway and at Miners Alley several years ago.

Commissioned by Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, Stocking Stuffers launches with the side-splitting, and somewhat audacious opening number, “Jesus Christ It’s Christmas Again,” immediately setting the irreverent tone for what follows. From there, the show unfolds as a gleeful parade of holiday antics, stitched together in a rapid-fire style that recalls the mischievous spirit of late-night sketch comedy. Scenes tumble one after another with quick-change energy, outrageous characters, and sly musical punchlines, inviting the audience to revel in the variety-show rhythms where each vignette delivers its own burst of seasonal absurdity.

This production is anchored by a dynamic cast of local favorites whose presence lights up the stage. Damon Guerrasio pulls double duty, balancing his comic turns here with a role in Miners Alley’s Theatre for Young Audiences’ production of The Story of the Nutcracker. Norrell Moore and Leiney Rigg, both longtime Miners Alley favorites, bring ease and charisma that make them audience darlings. Clark Destin Jones, fresh off a highly successful run as Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, adds sharp timing and a flair for character work, rounding out a company that ensures each vignette lands with personality and punch.

The collaboration between David Nehls and Betsy Kelso fuels the show’s comedic engine, delivering a series of sketches that lampoon the quirks of the season with sharp wit and musical punch. Nehls’s songs range from outrageous parodies to clever commentary. Meanwhile, Kelso’s book sets up a comic montage that speeds through an AI weather report gone wrong, a barrage of groan-worthy Christmas jokes, and a parody of our collective obsession with the Hallmark Channel. It all leads to “Stuff,” a number that captures the chaotic spirit of the holiday season in a satirical climax, reminding audiences that December’s clutter is as much emotional as material.

Warren Sherrill steers the evening with a mischievous touch, letting the sketches tumble forward like ornaments spilling from a holiday box. His staging keeps the comedy nimble and the surprises coming, while David Nehls, at the piano helm, drives the score with a wink and a sparkle. Joined by Skip Lynch on drums and percussion and Jon Cullison on bass, the onstage band adds rhythmic punch and warmth, giving the music its festive lift. Together, they shape Stocking Stuffers into a merry romp that feels as spontaneous as a party game yet polished enough to keep the laughter ringing clear.

The production’s design elements add a striking layer of polish and playfulness. Jonathan Scott-McKean’s scenic design makes inventive use of projections, expanding the comic vignettes with visual wit. Crystal McKenzie’s costumes capture both holiday sparkle and character-specific humor, enhancing the show’s quick-change energy. Vance McKenzie’s lighting keeps the pace bright and lively, shifting moods with precision, while John Hauser’s sound design ensures the jokes and music land cleanly.

Sherrill keeps the evening moving with a sly touch, shaping the sketches into a merry cascade of comic surprises. Nehls’ musical direction gives the score its sparkle and lift, while Kelso’s book provides the irreverent framework that makes the whole package click. All of this is elevated by an excellent cast whose comic instincts and ensemble chemistry ensure that every gag lands and every moment of mayhem feels joyously shared with the audience.

Stocking Stuffers, suitable for adult audiences, runs through December 28 in repertory with It’s A Wonderful Life: A Radio Play—a companion piece I’ll be reviewing in the days ahead—making Miners Alley Performing Arts Center a holiday destination brimming with variety and cheer.

Information and tickets:https://minersalley.com/event-list/