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Cotuit Center for the Arts presents “Christmas Shorts,” five merry little comedies by Matt Hoverman, December 7 to 22. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 1 PM. Melinda Gallant directs. A lively naughty-and-nice collection of five humorous award-winning and nominated plays, “Christmas Shorts” looks at traditional holiday themes in whole new way, commenting on family, the nativity, Christmas cards, relationships, and the sex lives of the elves. The San Jose Mercury News called the show “a perfect little holiday diversion—funny, entertaining, and with just enough warmth for the holidays.” The Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote that it is “loaded with low-key, sweet humor,” and others have praised it as “delightful,” “funny and profane,” and “touching and inspirational.” “The show is great fun, silly and a little naughty—which is fun,” said Gallant, who directed a well-received staged reading of the play last January. “It’s entertaining, but it makes you think. It plays with our thoughts about Christmas, and it has a message: Don’t take Christmas so seriously—have fun and enjoy the moment.” Bobby Genereau, Frank Hughes, Jr., Charlotte Green, and Janet Geist Moore all play multiple roles in the show. “The cast is fabulous,” said Gallant. “They play all the different parts, which is great fun for actors.” In “Going Home,” newlyweds Greg and Cheryl have resolved to spend Christmas together alone in their tiny apartment for the first time. But, when Cheryl decides at the last minute she can't resist the siren call of her dysfunctional family, it's all Greg can do to keep her from Going Home. In “The Student,” which won Hoverman the coveted Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival award in 2009, a burnt-out adult education writing teacher rediscovers his passion in one of the strangest student-teacher conferences of all time. “The Christmas Witch” tells the story of two long-time buddies and roommates who find their relationship challenged when an ex-girlfriend with a penchant for breaking hearts and feasting on human flesh shows up one holiday eve. Can even the bond that unites two male roomies withstand the coming of the Christmas Witch? “Xmas Cards” takes a look at the holiday tradition—and stress—of sending Christmas cards. Every year, prosperous, conservative couple Ned and Nelly fill out their cards together. Or rather, Ned tries to fill them out and Nelly slowly drives him insane. Why should this year be any different? In “Nativity,” two strangers (one dressed as Mary, the other as Joseph for separate upcoming holiday pageants) meet in the waiting room of the Bethlehem, PA, fertility clinic one Christmas morning. Hoverman is an Emmy Award-winning TV writer and playwright with numerous witty plays and television shows to his credit. He won the 2014 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program and the 2015 Humanitas Prize for Children's Animation for his work on the long-running PBS Kids TV show “Arthur.” His play “In Transit” won the FringeNYC Award for Outstanding Playwriting. He is also a professional actor, director, voice-over artist, and teacher, specializing in helping playwrights create solo shows, many of which have gone on to win FringeNYC Best Solo Show awards. Gallant appeared in “Hitched” at the Woods Hole Theater Company last spring, and will be directing “Cougar: The Musical” this spring at the center. She has directed both on the Main Stage and in the Black Black Box at Cotuit center for the Arts and also teaches improv for adults at CCftA. Tickets are $18, $15 for members. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit artsonthecape.org, or call 508-428-0669. Cotuit Center for the Arts is at 4404 Route 28 in Cotuit. # # #