The Meaning of Christmas

Commissioned by Milwaukee Opera Theatre
Music and Lyrics by Adam Quataishat

The Meaning of Christmas is a brief summary of all the history, traditions, stories, songs, and carols of Christmas -- around the world and throughout the years...in about five minutes. It is a story about a holiday that means everything to some and nothing to others, and what we do for one another to show that we care.

 

DOC the Halls

Premieres December 2, 2022

 

Artists

Ashley Oviedo
Mohammad ElBsat
Cecilia Davis

Production Team

Animator: Eric Miranda
Arranger: Mark Wurzelbacher
Sound Engineer: Ryan Rosmann of Hi-Five Studios

Adam Qutaishat

Adam Qutaishat is a multi-disciplinary theatre artist with a passion for creating and cultivating new works. As a composer Adam has written book, music, and lyrics for Micro (co-written with Heidi Joosten) which is part of the Wisconsin New Musicals Cycle. It received its first reading in 2021 and will receive a workshop in 2023 and a full production at Music Theatre of Madison in 2024. Adam wrote music and lyrics for Finding Me, a musical children's book due for release in 2022. As a playwright, Adam wrote the full length play Absent, which was workshopped with All In Productions in 2021, and Adam's newest podcast radio play, Vigil, has been added to the Fable and Folly Podcast Network. You can learn more by checking out adamqutaishat.com.

Eric Miranda

Eric Miranda is a Milwaukee-based artist with a genuine passion for character art and visual storytelling. His work explores the inner dialogue that goes on in people's minds on a day-to-day basis, whether it be dreams of a fantasy land, what it’s like to fall in love, or the everyday anxieties of life. Exploring these thoughts visually is of paramount importance in his art.  Learn more at https://ericmiranda.rocks.

Ashley Oviedo

Ashley is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, with a BFA in musical theater and minor in dance. She was most recently seen in 54 Sings Barbie at Feinstein's 54 Below. Some of her favorite roles include Beth in Little Women at Forte Theatre Company, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at Skylight Music Theatere, Ann in Babel at The Constructivists, Miss Jenny in The Whitlings with First Flight Theater Company, Cecily in Being Earnest at Skylight Music Theatre, and Bonnie in Bonnie and Clyde at UWM. She is super excited to be making her Milwaukee Opera Theatre debut and could not be happier with the beautiful art she has gotten to be a part of in this wonderfully artistic city! 

Mohammad ElBsat

Mohammad is very excited to be part of this project with MOT. He would like to thank Jill Anna and Adam for this great opportunity. Mohammad is a Principle Systems Engineer at Carrier. Acting credits: “The Who & The What” (Afzal U/S), The Milwaukee Rep, "Back of the Throat" and “Laughter on the 23rd Floor”, Next Act Theatre, “Much Ado About Nothing”,  “King Lear”, Optimist Theatre, "RED", ”Red Herring”,  “By Jeeves”, "The Metromaniacs", "Sons of the Prophet", “City of Angels”, “Prin” , “An Empty Plate in the Café du Grand Boeuf”, and “Omnium Gatherum” at Windfall Theatre, and “Dr. Faustus” and "Call Me Ishmael", Off the Wall Theatre. Exhibit credits: “Chasing Rainbows” and "Ordered Chaos”: Acrylic paintings. Mohammad would like to thank his family and friends for their continuous love and support. 

Cecilia David

Cecilia Davis is thrilled to lend her voice as the cookie/Christmas tree/caroling/all things holiday-loving mom in MOT’s The Meaning of Christmas! Cecilia’s previous performances include Skylight Music Theatre’s 2021 premiere of Forgotten Voices, and the Skylight Music Theatre/Milwaukee Opera Theatre productions of Carmina Burana (soloist) and The Tales of Hoffmann (Olympia/Dr. Miracle). Other Milwaukee Opera Theatre productions include Fairy Queen Fantasy, Ernest in Love, Victory for Victoria, and Handel’s Bestiary. With Skylight, Cecilia has also appeared as Clara in Porgy and Bess and in the featured ensemble of Les Misérables. In February 2023, Cecilia will join Sunset Playhouse’s Best of Bachrach as a principal performer. Cecilia also loves the intimacy of the recital setting. She’s excited to join fellow soprano Ruth Brown and pianist Maggie Rebers in a whimsical, parenting-themed recital at Grace Lutheran Church on Friday, June 2, 2023.

Passionate about arts education and youth development, Cecilia has held community engagement, education, and development positions with several of Milwaukee’s finest youth arts and educational institutions. Her signature roles are mom to spirited sons Owen and Milo, and spouse to loving and supportive Jon.

Mark Wurzelbacher

Mark is a Madison-based music director, accompanist, teacher, arranger, and composer. He has worked with numerous regional organizations in different capacities, including Music Theatre of Madison (Artistic Associate), Children's Theater of Madison (Artistic Associate), Forward Theater, Theatre Lila, Whoopensocker, Capital City Theatre, UW-Madison University Theater, Madison Savoyards, and Fresco Opera. Mark teaches 5th-8th grade general music in Fitchburg, WI, and he also maintains a private piano teaching studio. He is the composer and lyricist for The Puppet, a satirical, tragicomic musical about a presidential election, which enjoyed a reading in Madison in the fall of 2017. markwurzelbacher.com