Over a half dozen Theatre West member and a bevy of special invited guests joined vocal talents for four performances only of A Sleighful Of Songs, and at the risk of repeating myself, like So Many Stars two Decembers ago, this was the most glorious seventy-five minutes of songs, songs, and more songs I’ve seen and heard all year.

20th Century standards (vocal stunner Auriana Chisholm’s jaunty “Winter Wonderland,” Preston Simon’s heartfelt “The Christmas Song,” Michael Gabiano’s delightful “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” and Scottie Nevil’s equally bubbbly “Frosty The Snowman” and her bright and breezy “Let It Snow,” the latter duetted with charmer Cody Kelepolo, Aaron Gilliss’ heartstrings-tugging “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” and Michael Van Duzer’s engaging take on the All-Time Greatest Hit “White Christmas”) evoked memories of Christmases past.

Billboard Top 40 hits like the spectacular Vertreace Sanders’ clap-along “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” Chisholm’s rocking-the-night-away “Jingle Bell Rock,” and Anibal Silveyra’s muy picante “Feliz Navidad” with Victoria Lavin providing harmonies reminded audiences that there’s always room for new Christmas standards.

Constance Mellors seduced three boa-sporting male cast members (vocally that is) with a sultry “Santa Baby,” and things got even steamier when a trio of couples of assorted ages and orientations played the stay-the-night game with “Baby It’s Cold Outside.”

David Mingrino brought down the house with “Everybody’s Waitin’ For The Man With The Bag” and was joined by Gabiano, Silveyra and Van Duzer for a snappy “It Musta Been Ol’ Santa Claus.”

Joshua Bailey joined voices with Gillis, Kelepolo, and Simon for a gorgeous a capella “Silent Night,” Boyz II Men-style, and audience members of a more classical bent got treated to Lavan’s lovely legit soprano in “Ave Maria.”

 Meg Lin and child performers Jordan Elliot, Lulu Francis, and Stella, Delilah, and Mina Healy completed the all-around splendid cast under Lavan’s assured direction.

Backing up the whole shebang were music director Bailey on keyboard, Tom Cunningham on trumpet, Mark Day on saxophone, Ken LaSaine on guitar, James Varley on drums, and Bill Von Ravensburg on bass, as sensationally talented a six-piece band as any sleighful of singers could wish for.

A Sleighful Of Songs looked holiday gorgeous too on a Christmas-tree-festooned set dazzlingly lit by Garry Kluger, with Sammy Dallas ensuring a pitch-perfect sound design mix, and the cast’s costumes (presumably their own) were colorful seasonal treats each and every one.

 A Sleighful Of Stars was created by music supervisor John A. Goux and produced by Lavan and Dina Morrone. Sarah Acuna was stage manager. Philip Sokoloff was publicist.

As much as I raved about 2023’s So Many Stars, this year’s A Sleighful Of Songs turned out to be even more satisfying. With even brighter stars lighting up the Theatre West stage, this was once again the season’s most captivatingly tuneful holiday treat.

Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Los Angeles.
www.theatrewest.org

–Steven Stanley
December 14, 2025
Photos: Garry Kluger, Carlos Hernandez

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Tags: Los Angeles Theater Review, Theatre West