With the business and ‘busyness’ of the Christmas season approaching quickly, I’ve always found that live theatre audiences are looking for entertainment that is fluffy and heartwarming. The goal is to place us in the holiday mood. As a tired, old Seinfeld adage says: “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”

Artist Tim Drucker is most certainly aware of what audiences want to see at this most joyous time of year.

His upcoming artistic endeavour as Director makes me smile each time I see its title.

The Unauthorised Hallmark(ish) Parody Musical flies into Toronto before Santa’s arrival, November 20, 2025 – January 4, 2026, with performances held at 608 College Street, at the Royal Theatre in Little Italy in Toronto.

The creative team for the production includes Book and Lyrics by Tim Drucker and Bonnie Milligan (Kimberly Akimbo, Tony Award winner). With Score (Music and Lyrics) by Joel Waggoner and co-Choreographers Brooke and Tiffany Engen, Hallmark(ish) asks its audiences to come for the charm and stay for the chaos. There will be live musical mayhem and lovingly absurd humour to make the perfect holiday outing.

There’s hope to tour the production next year and then bring it back to Toronto.

For 2025, Toronto becomes the big-city tryout.

I was pleased Tim agreed to be profiled for OUR THEATRE VOICE. I was also appreciative that he could respond via email since it is a busy time of year for all of us right now.

He attended the NYU Tisch School of the Arts for drama.  A celebrated New York–based director, playwright, and producer, he has helmed hit comedies across North America, including tours for Trixie and Katya Live! and Love Actually: The Parody Musical. His Off-Broadway credits include Fat Camp, Perez Hilton Saves the Universe, and Spidermusical. Tim’s work is known for its heart, humour, and sharp theatrical flair. 

What prompted him and co-creator Bonnie Milligan to write Hallmark(ish)?

“Bonnie and I…[we] are the core demographic for holiday TV movies. By the time November 1st rolls around, I’m ready to turn off my brain and watch this year’s new slate of stories of hometown romances while I scroll on Instagram. I watch every single movie that comes out every season on every platform.”

Not only does Drucker have the most tremendous respect for Milligan, but he also sings the praises of the entire creative team. Tim calls Milligan a Tony-winning acting powerhouse and a brilliant writer and comedian. The two of them had great fun coming up with Hallmark(ish)’s whacky story.  Words of praise for Joel Waggoner, co-lyricist, composer and music director, whom Drucker calls a multi-hyphenate polymath and a true genius of comedy.

The choreography team of Brooke and Tiffany Engen understand how to take Broadway vernacular numbers and transfer them into parody musical hilarity. Brooke and Tiffany are also thrilled to return to Toronto. They were featured in the film version of Hairspray, filmed in the city. Brooke and Tiffany played twins, Doreen and Noreen.

 I’ll include the link to the show’s website, where you can read more about the cast. Suffice it to say that Drucker calls the cast:  

“A crackerjack group of local Toronto musical theatre actors and sketch comedians. Heidi Michelle Thomas is a regular fixture on the scene and a total diva icon. Emily Richardson comes to us by way of Second City and is an absolute riot. Alexandra Clementi, who plays heroine, Holly, is a tremendous talent of whom I have no doubt we will see starring in one of these movies in no time at all.”

Without giving away too much of the plot, Tim shared the story. Big City businesswoman, Holly Mark, has to get Big Merger done by Christmas Eve for her job at Big Bank. However, her mother, Merry Mark, is overwhelmed with all her businesses back home in Small Town. Holly has to return home to help her, and perhaps run into her high school prom date, Mark Hall, who is now the town’s sheriff and a lumberjack as well. There’s also the Small-Town Annual Cookie Bake-Off that is perhaps rigged by Merry’s high school rival, Cookie St. Claire. There’s also a moose that gets loose, causing total havoc.

Drucker then coyly commented about these characters: “You know, standard holiday movie tropes!”

What’s he hoping audiences will take away with them upon exiting Little Italy’s Royal Theatre?

Tim and the team want this show to be an alternative contemporary option to the standard Christmas Carol seasonal fare for people looking for a bit of unhinged musical comedy joy this season. There is so much darkness in the world right now; they want to provide 80-90 minutes of escape and healing through laughter! 

 What’s next for Tim once Hallmark(ish) concludes its Toronto run?

 Joel Waggoner and he will immediately go into rehearsal for Advent Carolndar at the Public Theater in NYC, which opens December 4th. This is their 4th year doing a live show of his super-viral Instagram account @adventcarolndar, and the Public is giving the two a full run in a theatre. The two are super pumped about it for the very reason they love Christmas! Then, in January 2026, Bonnie and he have a screenplay they’ve been dying to get written, and they’ll finally have the time to write it.

To learn more about the upcoming The Unauthorised Hallmark(ish) Parody Musical and to read the actor bios, visit: https://hallmarkish.com/toronto/#experience