Renowned West Coast actor, musician and singer-songwriter, Zachary Stevenson is best known for personifying the lead role in the “Buddy Holly Story,” an award-winning performance he has honed in more than a dozen hugely popular productions across North America.

 

This holiday season, Stevenson is channeling the beloved rock and roll legend one more time. His Holly Jolly Christmas Show will hit B.C. stages throughout December, with much-anticipated concerts in Chilliwack, Maple Ridge and beyond. Looking for dates and booking information? Visit his website here.

 

Stevenson took some time out from his busy tour schedule to answer five questions about his holiday show as well as his favourite festive songs.

 

1. What can audiences expect from your Holiday Jolly Christmas concerts?

 

A toe-tapping, heartwarming, rock ’n' roll extravaganza to get you in the holiday spirit! Most audiences know me from portraying Buddy Holly in the stage play and also in my tribute concerts. A Holly Jolly Christmas has evolved from imagining what kind of seasonal concert Buddy might have played. You can expect some of the big ‘50s and ‘60s hits by Holly and other legends of the era––mixed with some classic and some quirky renditions of festive favourites.

 

2. Do your holiday concerts feel different to the shows you perform at other times of the year?

 

The holiday shows are defintely a little more personal. There are a lot of families that like to attend together around the holidays. And, of course, I dip into the kind of classic Christmas repertoire that everyone likes to hear at this time of year: including “The Christmas Song,” “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “Run Rudolph Run.” The show really is a blast!

 

3. You’ve also recorded an album called “A Holly Jolly Christmas” which sounds like it’s an ideal soundtrack for the holidays. What tracks mean the most to you?

 

Thanks! I had a lot of fun putting the album together. I’m most fond of my take on “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” in a minor key. And also my original song, “Wonderful Life.”

 

4. What songs or music mean the most to you personally during the holidays?

 

Like most people, I love classic Christmas songs. But I’m gonna give a shout out to a family favourite: “Radar the Happy Reindeer.” It’s an album that was produced in Vancouver in 1975. It’s got some great songs and a story that weaves them all together. I have a lot of fond childhood memories of listening to this with my family at Christmas. I still put it on every year when I decorate my tree!

 

5. Imagine your perfect Christmas concert, with artists drawn from any time period. Who would be performing and what would they be singing?

 

Ooh. That’s fun! I’d choose:

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Buddy Holly: “A Holly Jolly Christmas”

Brenda Lee: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”

Nat King Cole: “The Christmas Song”

Darlene Love: “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”

Bing Crosby: “White Christmas”

Wham! “Last Christmas”

Maria Carey: “All I Want for Christmas is You”

Michael Bublé: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

Elvis: “Blue Christmas”

John Lennon: “War is Over”

JD McPherson: “Socks”

 

Zachary Stevenson’s Holly Jolly Christmas Show is on stage in B.C. and beyond this December. Visit his website for dates, locations and tickets.