About the Project
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – “His stories are hilarious, heartfelt, and wonderfully specific.” “His warmth and sincerity fill the room, creating the same feeling many of us chase every December but rarely find.” – Eloise Coopersmith/GiaOnTheMove
Audience reviews:
“Funny, charming, enlightening, a little bawdy, and ultimately quite unexpectedly moving.”
“A gem of the Fringe!”
“Jim Blanchette is a delight to watch. He delivers a smart, witty, and charming performance…”
“Jim has a way of telling his story with such honesty, a wink and a nod but also so much sincerity! This show is the perfect vehicle to show off all the things that make him unique, genuine and wickedly smart!”
“I want to see this performed in the run up to EVERY holiday season.”
“How can you not love Jim Blanchette? He is a comedic mastermind, who draws you into his caroling life immediately.”
“I laughed until my face hurt. And even cried a bit. I love Christmas! But you don’t have to be a fan of Christmas, or Christmas music or even celebrate the holiday to enjoy this little slice of life show!”
“This is an absolute riot. Jim Blanchette is so funny, honest, conspiratorial, and passionate about caroling…”
“a wild, wonderful ride! Highly recommend.”
“You know that uncle that you see around the holidays that would always make you laugh as a kid, and then as you grew up you got to know the real him and he was even better? That’s what Jim feels like in this show.”
“Engaging and a laugh out loud treat (well, except a few more touching moments).”
Jim Blanchette, Fringe Veteran and Caroling Nerd, takes you through the whirlwind of months of prep and rehearsal to one month of singing Christmas songs as a caroling mercenary. Jim starts working towards caroling season in July, and now you can too. Come along as Jim guides you through rehearsing, learning the book, costuming, and vocal training, as well as the less obvious skills of singing in restaurants with wait staffs and patrons that hate you, disappointing a person who requests a song that no one has ever heard of, and ruining the holidays by simply existing. By the end of the show, both Jim and you will either want to be a caroler forever or never want to hear another holiday song as long as you live. Either way, FUN!
Happy! Merry! Joyous! is brought to you by the delightfully cluttered mind of Jim Blanchette (Transference, The Best of Albuquerque Fringe). Jim has been collecting caroling stories and holiday trivia for 30 years. Sometimes funny, occasionally alarming, and surprisingly poignant, HMJ delves through Jim’s mind and learn what all the fuss over caroling is about. Herding Jim’s brain kittens are the brilliant director Corey Lynn Howe ([title of show], Best of Albuquerque Fringe 2025) and the equally skilled producer Lisa K Wyatt (Transference, Why We Become Witches).
Production Team
