“Baggage” the Perfect Prelude to the Holiday Season

“Baggage,” a comedy written by playwright Sam Bobrick and featuring an exceptional cast of local performers, is currently performing at the Arts Center Theater through November 23, 2025. “Baggage reminds us that everyone has a past and that it’s possible to find connection, humor, and hope after life’s toughest moments,” said director Pattie Ziesig.

The quartet of local talent reminds us that we are all carrying a little “baggage,” as the first scene in act one opens when lonely and difficult Phyllis and Bradley meet when their baggage gets mixed up at the airport. Jean Rowles portrays Phyllis as looking for that happy, trusting, long-lasting relationship and admits she has a commitment problem. Ron Trebilcock, as Bradley, describes himself as a boring, humorless, and cranky husband who is trying to get over a marriage breakup. Glenn Davis, as Dr. Jonathan Alexander, is a therapist specializing in “nipping bad relationships in the bud,” and warns the audience, “you are watching a train wreck about to happen.” Carolyn Davis, as Mitzi, is a dear friend of Phyllis and with three bad marriages, might be a possible match for Bradley – as in “finding comfort in each other’s misery.” Is there hope for Mitzi? Dr. Alexander warns, “We all come with baggage, but who knows how anything ends up.”

“Baggage” is a comedy play that is a perfect prelude for the holiday season,

as it captures the essence of how humor and comedy can emerge from painful experiences. Given enough time, we will eventually find the funny side of unpleasant circumstances.

Two holiday productions are also coming up at the Arts Center Theatre – the Marco Island Center for the Arts invites the community to gather for two festive performances that celebrate storytelling, laughter, and songs.

Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris and directed by Brett Marston runs December 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 2025. This is a witty and irreverent collection of holiday tales from acclaimed humorist David Sedaris and includes “Front Row Center with Thaddeus Bristol,” “Based Upon a True Story,” “Christmas Means Giving,” and “The Cow and the Turkey.” Read with permission of the author, from HOLIDAYS ON ICE by David Sedaris, published by Little, Brown and Company, ©1997, 2008 by David Sedaris.

Singing and Swinging, the Holiday Songbook with Charlie Blum and special guest Kristyn Estes, runs December 20 and 21, 2025. An uplifting evening of holiday favorites, Blum and Estes perform classics such as Winter Wonderland, White Christmas, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Baby It’s Cold Outside, Santa Baby, My Favorite Things, and many more.