The cabaret comedy from Nick Chase and Roslyn Hart lands at The Savoy in Denver
Nick Chase and Roslyn Hart have been collaborating on variety shows since they were in the 7th grade together. In their long partnership, one of their more enduring characters has been that of “Shells,” a boozy New York financial professional who expounds on her view of life in a cabaret show that was serialized at Joe’s Pub in Manhattan.
Chase and Hart moved to New York together 20 years ago, but while she’s remained back East, Chase is now in Colorado where he serves as co-artistic director at Boulder’s Local Theater. The pair have a new Shells show called Pop the Holidays, which premieres at Denver’s Savoy Nov. 30. Written and directed by Chase and with piano accompanist Alec Steinhorn, Hart will expose Denver audiences to the wonders and wisdom of Michelle “Shells” Hoffman — this time with a holiday flair involving song, jokes, games and more.
As Hart explains, Shells is a creative soul at heart who’s looking for something beyond her day job. The character manages to get booked in some clubs where she tries out her material.
“Her original show is fun and wacky but there’s this spark that, hey, this girl might have something here,” Hart says. “She’s very entertaining, she’s a little misguided, we feel for her we’ve made some of those mistakes in our life and we want her to win.”
Chase compares Shells to a lot of people questioning their lives in the post-pandemic era.
“She’s like many saying, ‘Is this it?’ Being a senior VP at J.P. Morgan Chase with this cushy life, is that enough for me? I really want to be this cabaret sensation,” he says.
For Pop the Holidays, Shells is mashing up pop songs with holiday classics. Without mentioning names, the songs and artists she blends in with the classics are unexpected but part of her own background.”
“She has a diverse catalogue of music she picks from,” Chase says, and Hart adds that Shells is very much a child of the ’90s.
“She’s always trying to be hip and current and cool, but more than anything she wants to show the audience a good time and so she picks songs people can sing along with” Hart says.
As the show progresses, however, there’s another element that starts to upend things that the pair says will have audiences wondering what’s really part of the show and what might be … something else.
“It’s a bit of a surprise,” Chase says. “And she starts to involve the audience in this alternate storyline.”
At The Savoy, expect an intimate, cabaret club vibe with tables as Shells does her thing.
“She’s half Christian and half Jewish so she makes sure to have a little something for everyone in there,” Hart says.
And leave the kids at home.
“It’s not raunchy, more irreverent,” Chase says. “But 16 and up is probably fine.”
Hart summarizes the show this way:
“It’s for anyone who wants a fun night out where they’ll get good comedy, get to sing along, and have a drink at the show,” she says.
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