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Yes Dear: Lena (Lindsay Urbank) and Carl (Jason Young) Johnson contemplate the advantages of moving from the Frozen North to the Valley of the Sun in Alexx Stuart's "Coyote Deams: A VERY Arizona Christmas" on Dec. 7 at The Satisfied Frog in Cave Creek.
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‘Coyote Dreams’ a howl
by Jim Crawford

Alexx Stuart’s wit and humor know no bounds.

Witness the 100 plus diners who attended the premiere of Stuart’s newest production “Coyote Dreams: A VERY Arizona Christmas,” on Dec. 7 at The Satisfied Frog in Cave Creek.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house and no one was crying, it was from laughter. Plain ‘ol gut grabbing guffaws.

The production is a musical parody of holiday tunes telling the story of a Scandinavian couple from Minnesota who visits Arizona during the holidays to determine if they will make the move from the land of snow to the Valley of the Sun.

Carl and Lena Johnson run into a cast of characters, who everyone from these parts has come across at some time, on their journey around the local environs.

You’ll recognize the list of holiday songs, but it’s guaranteed you’ve never heard the lyrics Stuart applied to them. On a visit to Sun City, the Johnsons hear “O Little Town Built by Del Webb” (“O Little Town of Bethlehem”) or in Tombstone they hear “Have Yourself a Tacky Tombstone Christmas” (“Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas”) as well as “Clayton the Modern Cowboy (Rudolph the Red‑Nosed Reindeer).

In addition, the Johnsons encounter a lady of the evening who encourages Sheriff Joe Arpaio to “come on down to her cell tonight” as she sings to the tune of “Santa Baby.”

A crowd of Phoenix sports fans at the local sports grill make melodious about the woes of their professional sports teams to the tune of “Jingle Bells,” and an accountant by day/biker by weekend carols about his joy rides through Cave Creek to the tune of “Let it Snow.”

He says he rides with “Satan’s Accountants” and he’s come to audit the whole place, sending shivers of terror through everyone, audience included.

Stuart leaves no stone unturned as he exposes the characteristics that make the Valley and its inhabitants so unique.

“I had 20 things I wanted to highlight, and I think I got them all,’ he said after the production.

Directed by Stuart’s wife, Diedre Kaye, the Desert Foothills Theater/Darknight production features a cast of six hilarious actors who play their parts to a T.

Kevin Young plays Omar and Harriet Fusaro is Greta, the older characters; Myke, the younger man and Brittany, the younger woman are played by Tyler Herald and Meghan Rudisell; and Carl and Lena are played by Jason Young and Lindsay Urbank, respectively.

Darknight Productions takes “Coyote Dreams” to the Desert Rose Dinner Theatre located in the Ramada Inn‑Peoria, 8955 N.W. Grand Ave. in Peoria for performances at 7 p.m. Dec. 16, 23 and 30. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with dinner served shortly thereafter.

Tickets are $35, and $65 per couple, plus tax. Group discounts for parties of 20 or more are $5 off per ticket. Reservations are required. Order by phone by calling (480) 595‑7346, or online at www.Showup.com.

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