An Authentically American Christmas Show For The Entire Family
Moonshine & Mistletoe is a one-act holiday offering chock full of Appalachian carols and foot-stomping novelty songs with a narrative that’ll warm even the humbuggiest of hearts.
Written for 11 adult actor-musicians and 2 children, the show can also be performed by actor-singers and a side band.
The premiere production played in 2023 at the Garden Theater in Winter Garden, Florida to enthusiastic audiences.
The studio cast album produced by Kevin Duda was released in November 2025 by Joy Machine Records and is available on all streaming platforms.
Photo from the 2023 premiere production at the Garden Theater
featuring (L to R) :
John Rochette, Allison Kelly, David Finch, Jennifer Teel, Maggie Hollinbeck, Pedro Ka’awaloa, Kamilah Lay,
Luke Darnell, and Kelan Smith.
Seated far R: Blakely McKellare and DeChang Li
Set design by Duane Harvey
Costumes by Jesssica Huckabey
Click the image below to access
the concept album on streaming services
Listen up, y’all!
This is what an Appalachian Christmas sounds like.
Recordings courtesy of Kevin Duda Productions.
"My Love Brought Me Summer On A Gray Winter's Day..."
"My Love Brought Me Summer On A Gray Winter's Day..."
“My Love Brought Me Summer On A Gray Winter’s Day”
Allison Kelly and John Rochette
Premiere 2023, Garden Theater
Premiere 2023, Garden Theater. From L: Amanda Giese, Maggie Hollinbeck, Addalyn Jaye, David Finch, Megan Lai, Kamilah Lay
The Ballards, Ulysses (called “Lessy Boy” ) and Curleen, welcome family and friends into their Kentucky mountain home to celebrate Christmas Day, 1937. In the midst of the Great Depression, they have no gifts to exchange. Instead, they celebrate by sharing a love of Appalachian music, fellowship, and good food.
Among the holiday guests are Wilmer Flutie, the local moonshiner, Lessy Boy's's widowed sister Mamie and her emotionally challenged but musically gifted adult son Arlie, the Ballard’s eldest daughter Della, her coal miner husband Jarrett, and their two children, and the new, young, unmarried pastor on whom the family's spinster daughter Dovey has pinned her matrimonial hopes.
Unexpectedly, the Ballard’s son Dewey Joe arrives with his young, very-soon-to-be-a-mother wife Joy Lynn. He'd left the family fold two years prior without warning in order to escape a certain but unsavory fate as a coal miner. He's returned to make amends with his parents, but mama Curleen, deeply wounded by his disappearance, is less than welcoming. When it seems Curleen may never find peaceful reconciliation with her son, a Christmas miracle opens up a new possibility of forgiveness.
“Christmas time Comes
‘Round Again!”
Developmental production featuring (L. to R. ) Megan Loomis, David Lutken, Barbara Brown, Rob McCaffrey, Michael Hicks, Scott Moss, Julie Foldesi, and Jarod Valvo
“Snowman on the mountaintop, who put you up there?”
Through its generous helping of songs and folksy scenes highlighting both
the humor and the heartache of a life in Depression-Era Appalachia,
Moonshine & Mistletoe is a wholesome holiday theatrical event for every family.
Toe Tappin’ Tunes a-plenty!
Songs in the show include…
Children, Go Where I send Thee
Good Ol’ Mountain Dew
Snowman on the Mountaintop (original)
My Love Brought Me Summer on a Gray Winter’s Day (origianl)
Christ Child’s Lullabye
The Cherry Tree Carol
I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again
Brightest and Best
I Wonder as I Wander
Christmas Time’s Come ‘Round Again (original)
“Christ Child’s Lullabye”
Jared Sampson, Stepanie Sanford, and Julie Foldesi.
Developmental production, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
“I Wonder as I Wander”
Rob McCaffrey and David Lutken.
Writer DJ Salisbury and arranger Larry Moore both have roots in eastern Kentucky. Hearing Larry’s beautiful arrangements (“Appalachian Carols Suite”) written for a prominent NYC chorus’ holiday concert had DJ ponder the possibility of a new Christmas-themed theatre piece that would —unlike the beloved but ubiquitous dramatization of A Christmas Carol —focus on genuine American holiday traditions and cultural heritage.
The two Kentuckians crafted a 90-minute theatrical piece set in the hills of the Appalachian mountains circa 1937. The show has had 3 staged readings in NYC, a developmental production in South Carolina and a full production in Winter Garden, Florida.
With three original songs added to the hauntingly beautiful collection of music authentic to early 20th century Appalachia, Moonshine & Mistletoe is available for production.
“Brethren We Have Met to Worship”
Scott Moss, Deb Lyons, and David Lutken
Feel good folk music.
A story of family forgiveness.
Moonshine and Mistletoe is a 90-minute musical
valentine to a by-gone era,
rich with colorful characters, traditional family values, and the authentic sounds of
Appalachian mountain people in the
early 20th century.
A cast of 11 actor-musicians and 2 children bring enraptured audiences
the bluegrass and folk tunes, spiritual hymns and carols of a simpler time…
sprinkled with the raucous good humor of mountain life.
Grateful.
The actor-musicians in the photos (as well as the unseen music director Brent Frederick, associate director Chad Larabee, producer Kevin Duda. and studio cast vocalists and musicians) contributed their time and talent to help Moonshine & Mistletoe become a beautiful piece of theatre. Heartfelt thanks to ALL who participated in readings and recordings.