A celebrated Winner of the 2009 Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival, playwright Matt Hoverman brings an evening of hilarious short holiday comedies to the stage. A wonderful alternative for theatres tired of mounting the traditional seasonal play, Christmas Shorts offers five original plays that humorously comment on holiday themes: family, the nativity, Xmas cards, and elves. An outstanding Christmas collection for any theatre!

Included are the plays: Going Home, The Christmas Witch, Xmas Cards, Nativity, and the Samuel French Festival award-winning play The Student.

"The script is loaded with low-key, sweet humor." - Las Vegas Review-Journal

"Funny and profane." - Wisconsin State Journal

"Funny and heartwarming." - Isthmus Daily Page

Four Stars! "Touching and inspiring... a favorite!" - Indianapolis Performing Arts Examiner

"My favorite piece [in Indiana's Phoenix Theatre's A Very Pheonix Xmas #6: Our Goose is Cooked] was The Student by Matt Hoverman. I was surprised to find myself weeping during it. This little two-hander is on both of my 'BEST OF 2011' lists." - Indytheatrehabit.com

There are multiple ways to cast these plays. The playwright suggests:

ACTOR A - an “Archie”, perhaps tall and fair, goofy; with the ability to adopt a patrician air; to play Burt in The Student, Sam in The Christmas Witch, Ned in Xmas Cards, and Bob in Nativity

ACTOR B - a “Reggie”, could be dark and a little heavy, master of the slow burn; to play Greg in Going Home, Hugh in The Student, Sam in The Christmas Witch, and Jim in Nativity

ACTRESS A - a “Betty”, maybe blonde, open-hearted and dotty; to play Cheryl in Going Home, Nelly in Xmas Cards, and Juliet in Nativity

ACTRESS B - a “Veronica”, probably brunette, a barracuda who can also be vulnerable; to play Karen in The Christmas Witch, and Joan in Nativity

All actors are in their 30s - early 40s; although sometimes they play older, as indicated. If there are funds for two additional actors, an older actress could play Nelly in Xmas Cards, and an older actor could play Burt in The Student and Ned in Xmas Cards.