{"id":24726,"date":"2016-12-05T09:26:27","date_gmt":"2016-12-05T09:26:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=24726"},"modified":"2016-12-05T09:36:34","modified_gmt":"2016-12-05T09:36:34","slug":"essential-advent-calendar-dog-of-xmas-wanted-for-christmas-without-tears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2016\/12\/essential-advent-calendar-dog-of-xmas-wanted-for-christmas-without-tears\/","title":{"rendered":"Essential Advent Calendar: ‘Dog Of Xmas’ Wanted For ‘Christmas Without Tears’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"advent<\/p>\n

A different surprise behind door number 5! A ‘Dog Of Xmas’\u00a0is wanted for a Christmas show to star with Harry Shearer, Stephen Merchant, Elizabeth McGovern, Judith Owen, Chris Difford and many more.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"christmas-without-tears\"<\/p>\n

Comedian-actor-satirist Harry Shearer<\/strong> (Spinal Tap, The Simpsons) and his musician-singer-songwriter wife Judith Owen<\/strong> are searching for the \u201cDog Of Xmas\u201d to appear in Christmas Without Tears, a charity evening of music, comedy and variety taking place at King\u2019s Place Concert Hall, London on December 8th<\/sup> 2016.<\/p>\n

Dog owners who fancy their beloved pooch as the next star of the stage should tweet a Christmassy attired pic of their canine and she\/he could be picked to join the cast on December 8 as the ‘Dog of Xmas’.\u201cBesides, don\u2019t we all just want to look at photos of dogs in antlers?!\u201d\u00a0<\/em>said Judith.<\/p>\n

Tweet @Hamandhigh<\/a> and @JudithOwen<\/a> with a picture by December 6.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The ‘Dog Of Xmas’ will join a formidable list of special guests including writer, director, radio presenter, comedian, actor and star of Extras <\/em>and The Office<\/em> Stephen Merchant<\/strong>, Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy nominated actress of Downton Abbey<\/em>, Elizabeth McGovern<\/strong>, Grammy and Emmy winning producer and instrumentalist Kipper Eldridge<\/strong> (known for his work with Sting), Jacqui Dankworth,<\/strong> one of the most highly regarded vocalists in the UK, and Memphis treasure jazz pianist\/singer Charlie Wood.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

They are joined by Chris Difford<\/strong>, co-founder of Squeeze, and singer songwriter and BBC Radio 2 favourite Nell Bryden<\/strong> and the rocking American singer and boogie-woogie pianist extraordinaire Do\u00f1a Oxford<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Adding to the Christmas feast of talent come lords of the London jazz scene The Kansas Smitty\u2019s House Band<\/strong>, one fiddler fiddling in the shape of the classical violinist with attitude, Lizzie Ball and Classical Kicks<\/strong>, Brazilian drummer and percussionist Pedro Segundo<\/strong>, the most versatile and exciting cellist of her generation Gabriella Swallow<\/strong>, the country singer, poster girl of American democracy and global brand that is Tina C<\/strong>, all topped off with a partridge in a pear tree – darling of the airwaves, lifestyle guru for the over-eighties Barry From Watford,\u00a0<\/strong>aka the superlative Alex Lowe<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

As Harry Shearer tells it,<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cthe show started as a party in our home to try to comfort Judith, a Welsh woman prone to melancholia, who could not stand that the fact that Christmas in Southern California was about 78 degrees and sunny.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

What began as a humble holiday house party to chase away Judith\u2019s yuletide blues became a charity event and performance in 2005 when they staged it to aid the people of New Orleans after Katrina. This year\u2019s shows in London, Chicago, LA and NOLA will benefit a variety of different charities raising money for the homeless, mental health and musician\u2019s assistance (USA shows)<\/p>\n

Guests in previous years have included Tim Minchin, Alfie Boe, Richard Thompson and Maureen Lipman.<\/p>\n

Christmas Without Tears will be performed on 8 December 2016, starting at 8pm, at Kings Place Hall 1, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG. Contact the box office on\u00a0020 7520 1490 or\u00a0http:\/\/www.kingsplace.co.uk<\/a>.\u00a0Ticket prices \u00a324.50 Standard, \u00a339.50 VIP post show private meet and greet.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Visit the following for further details.<\/p>\n

kingsplace.co.uk<\/a>\u00a0 harryshearer.com<\/a> \u00a0judithowen.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\"Harry