Harry Shearer, Judith Owen set for ‘Christmas Without Tears’ benefit at Largo
The husband-wife team of Harry Shearer and Judith Owen will mount the 11th edition of their annual “antidote to Christmas” celebration on Dec. 17 at Largo at the Coronet. This year’s show is titled “Christmas Without Tears (Does This Tree Make Me Look Fat?).”
Following performances Dec. 8 in London and last Sunday in Evanston, Ill., they bring the show back to their part-time home in L.A., where they’ll be joined by Fred Willard, Julia Fordham, John Michael Higgins, Jane Lynch, Rebecca Corry, Amy Engelhardt, Doña Oxford, Schoolcraft and Murray and Godfrey Daniels, among other guests. They’ll be backed by a band that includes bassist Leland Sklar, guitarist Michael Thompson and percussionist Joe Pusateri under musical director C.J. Vanston.
For the record:
8:25 p.m. May 15, 2024An earlier version of this post included No Big Deal and Julia Sweeney among the guests for the L.A. edition of this show. They are not part of the official lineup.
A different set of friends and colleagues will join them when they conclude the short holiday tour with shows Dec. 22 and 23 in New Orleans, where Shearer and Owen also have a part-time residence.
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The show is staged as taking place in the living room of humorist/radio show host/musician/filmmaker/satirist Shearer and singer-songwriter-pianist Owen as a succession of guests stop in to talk, sing, play music and otherwise make merry.
Songs will range from traditionals such as “Winter Wonderland” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to fare more in keeping with their shared acerbic sense of humor, a la “Jesus Was a Dreidel Spinner” and Shearer’s recent composition, “Christmas a la Trump.”
The event began in 2005 as a fundraiser supporting those affected in New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina and has continued with other beneficiaries over the years.
This year’s proceeds are going to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, My Friend’s Place, Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré and the New Orleans Musicians Clinic & Assistance Foundation.
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