Ferrum, VA, December 3, 2025 — A holiday tradition at the Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre continues as the musical “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas” returns for its third run this year in Sale Theatre, with nine performances December 5-14. The ensemble cast, directed by Emily Blankenship-Tucker, program coordinator for Music and Theatre, will perform with many puppets created by Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts Rebecca Crocker and her students. Click here for information about dates, times, tickets, and meals available before some shows.
“In bringing this heartwarming story back to our stage, our talented cast and dedicated crew demonstrate the very best of creativity, collaboration, and community spirit,” said Ferrum College President Mirta M. Martin. “‘Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas’ has quickly become a cherished tradition in Franklin County, and we are proud to share it once again with audiences of all ages across the region.”
In the tradition of the Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre, the intergenerational cast and crew include college students, faculty, alumni, and community volunteers. Some performers are repeating beloved roles for their second or third year and some are taking on new roles, or performing for the first time. As in 2024, the company has been refurbishing many elements of the snow-covered sets, puppets and costumes to make the show better than ever.
The story of Emmett Otter is familiar to many from the 1977 film “Emmett Otter’s Jug Band Christmas,” which originally debuted as a television special directed by Jim Henson. It is based on a children’s book by Russell and Lillian Hoban, with a plot inspired by O. Henry’s classic Christmas story “The Gift of the Magi.” The Hobans created a community of riverside animal characters who live in and around a town called Waterville.
The story was adapted for theatre by Timothy Allen McDonald, Christoper Gattelli and Paul Willams. Ma Otter and her son Emmet decide secretly that they want to enter the town’s first annual Christmas talent contest, with the goal of winning a $50-dollar prize to buy each other a nice gift. Emmet’s jug-band and Ma’s beautiful solo face some stiff competition from a variety of entertaining creatures, especially the raucous River Bottom Nightmare Band with its wild rock music.
In 2023 the Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre was the only company granted a special license to perform this show outside of Timothy Allen McDonald and Music Theater International (MTI). It had been performed only a few times on the East Coast before 2023. When the Ferrum theatre faculty dared to ask for special permission to stage the show, McDonald said he knew that Emmet and Ma and all of the critters in Waterville would feel right at home with this production by Ferrum College, where the Jack Tale Players have known how to perform with traditional instruments for five decades. This show was presented only in Chicago and Ferrum in December 2023. The Blue Ridge Theatre has made it a Franklin County holiday tradition by reviving the production in 2024 and 2025.
The Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre and Ferrum College are grateful for the support of Carter Bank, a sponsor of this year’s production.
Click here for information about dates, times, tickets, and meals available before most shows.
About the photograph: In rehearsal, Emmet’s jug-band, played by humans and also puppets in the tree, practices for the talent show, with accompanist David Mitchell on piano.
Announcement of 2023 production at Ferrum College
Iron Blade article about 2024 production
Iron Blade article about preparations for 2023 production
Cardinal News article by Lindsey Hull on making of the puppets and 2023 production
