Harry Shearer and Judith Owen will present an antidote to the most stressful of seasons, the Annual Christmas Without Tears Variety Charity live program which goes virtual for its 15th year.
“The show started as a party in our home to try to comfort Judith, a Welsh woman prone to melancholia, who could not stand that the fact that Christmas in Southern California was about 78 degrees and sunny,” as the This Is Spinal Tap star tells it.
What began as a humble holiday house party to chase away Judith’s yuletide blues became a charity event and performance in 2005 when they staged it to aid the people of New Orleans after Katrina. Over the years, live shows in London, New York, New Orleans, Chicago and Los Angeles raised funds for selected charities benefitting for those who are at risk including Elton John’s Aids Foundation, Our Friends Place. West London Mission, Snow City Arts, The New Orleans Musicians Clinic among others.
The show has featured invited performers and surprise guests who drop into Harry and Judith’s onstage living room and share a song or a joke to bring the holiday spirit to all. Comics, magicians, and even circus acts have been welcome additions, adding the perfect mix that makes this a true variety show.
Hosted by Harry Shearer and Judith Owen CWT 2020’s with guest video appearances by:
Richard Thompson, Jon Cleary. Julia Fordham, Steve Lukather (featuring Ringo Starr), Topsy Chapman & Solid Harmony, Jeff Goldblum , The Stanton Moore Trio, Howard Levy, Trixie Minx, Paranormal phenomenon Clinton Baptiste, Paul Shaffer, Amy Engelhardt (the Bobs), David Blenkhorn, Miss Hope Springs, Davell Crawford, Evan Christopher & David Torkanowsky, The Orion Orchestra, Donald Fagen, Bryan Batt, John Goodman, Chris Difford, Kermit Ruffins, Tommy Foster with Scott Nesbit, Phil DeGruy, Leland Sklar, and house band: CJ Vanston.
Don’t worry if you can’t watch it live, your ticket will allow you to watch the show as many times as you want within a 48-hour period.
CWT 2020 will be webcast on Nugs.net December 11 4 p.m. CST. Your ticket will allow you to watch the webcast as many times as you want all weekend from the time you activate the stream for 48 hours. Tickets are a $9.99 donation and may be purchased here.
