By Robert Weiler
The Provo Arts Center will introduce a new genre of holiday entertainment with the help of local talent Friday evening, Dec. 12.
CrashUtah.com is presenting 'A Christmas Barrel,' a Christmas-themed variety show loaded with musicians and comedians performing their original stylings in a Christmas setting.
'We think this is going to be a hoot and a holler,' said Mike Hammari, one of the comedian/musicians who will take stage in the event. 'I''ve always been a big fan of variety shows and of Christmas, so why not blend the two?'
Along with Hammari, the variety show includes comedian Ed McBand and comedy troupe Brand X Comedy, with musicians Tiffany Fronk, Rick Reeve and Matt Lewis.
Reeve, a pianist from Atlanta, Ga., said he looks forward to adding contrast in the variety show.
'Most of the other music will be different styles of bands,' Reeve said. 'A solo piano will bring the show down a notch to a nice, solemn mood with a different atmosphere.'
Reeve''s musical resume includes a CD, titled 'In My Life,' and music written for 'Day of Defense,' one of the recent LDS- themed movies.
Reeve said most of his music fits a new age, contemporary category along the lines of Yanni. He will play renditions of 'Joy to the World,' 'Silent Night' and 'O Holy Night.'
'Piano has a way of bringing out different emotion that really fits this time of year,' he said.
Reeve said he looks forward to performing with Fronk again. He first heard Fronk''s music when she opened for him at a concert.
'Fronk is like Norah Jones and Jewel,' Reeve said. 'Her voice is very down to earth and personal. When she finished her set, I was blown away.'
Joel Frost, 25, member of Brand X comedy, said the comedy troupe has found preparing Christmas skits a challenge.
'We rarely have a theme for our comedy,' Frost said. 'We usually do more of a Saturday Night Live format that can include anything from politics to talk shows.'
Frost, a senior at BYU from Show Low, Ariz, majoring in advertising, said the comedy troupe will feature some non-traditional characters.
'We will be doing a skit with Carl the Forgotten Christmas Angel,' Frost said. 'One of our guys, Jason Sparks, will be doing ventriloquist skit of ''The Night Before Christmas'' with Sparky .'
Frost said the Christmas season is a good fit for a comedy show.
'This is a time to be jolly, and we know that because we see life a little bit differently,' Frost said.
'A Christmas Barrel' begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at crashutah.com for $3.