HARRY SHEARER AND JUDITH OWEN PRESENT CHRISTMAS WITHOUT TEARS (Does This Tree Make Me Look Fat?)

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Nov 28, 2016, 07:00 ET

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This December, Welsh-born and Los Angeles-based pianist and singer-songwriter Judith Owen and her husband, actor and humorist Harry Shearer (The Simpsons, Spinal Tap) will once again spread their special brand of yuletide cheer with their Christmas Without Tears 2016 Tour. What Owen describes as "an antidote to Xmas," the witty and heartwarming show features an all-star array of friends and guests dropping into Owen and Shearer's onstage living room to share a song, a story or a laugh – a perfect mix that makes for a true variety show. The annual series kicks off on December 8 with a date at the Kings Place Concert Hall in London before coming to the United States for four shows:

HARRY SHEARER AND JUDITH OWEN PRESENT: CHRISTMAS WITHOUT TEARS (Does This Tree Make Me Look Fat?) 2016 Tour includes shows in Evanston, IL (Dec. 11), Los Angeles, CA (Dec. 17), and New Orleans, LA (Dec. 22 & 23).

Sun, Dec 11 – Evanston, IL – S.P.A.C.E.
With special guests: Anne Harris, Jon Langford, Howard Levy, No Big Deal quartet, Cathy Richardson, Julia Sweeney, Nicholas Tremulis, musical director CJ Vanston, and surprise guests.

Sat, Dec 17 – Los Angeles, CA – Largo at the Coronet
With special guests: Rebecca Corry, Godfrey Daniels, Amy Engelhardt, Julia Fordham, John Michael Higgins, Jane Lynch, Catherine O'Hara, Doña Oxford, Schoolcraft and Murray, and Fred Willard, with musical director CJ Vanston, Joe Pusateri on percussion, Leland Sklar on bass, Michael Thompson on guitar, and surprise guests

Thu, Dec 22 and Fri, Dec 23 in New Orleans, LA – Le Petit Théâtre Du Vieux Carré
With special guests: Bryan Batt, John Boutté, Michael Cerveris, Evan Christopher, Debbie Davis, Phil DeGruy, Helen Gillet, Tom McDermott (12/23 only), Aurora Nealand, Matt Perrine, and musical director David Torkanowsky

A reverent and irreverent antidote to the most stressful of seasons, each evening includes both 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. Song selections range from the sentimental ("Winter Wonderland" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas") to the irreverent ("F&*k Christmas" and "Jesus Was a Dreidel Spinner").

Past revelers have included Mario Cantone, Alan Cumming, Donald Fagen, Béla Fleck, Christopher Guest, Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Stephen Merchant, Tim Minchin, Paul Shaffer, Martin Short, Richard Thompson, and Weird Al Yankovic, to name but a few.

This Yuletide tradition started in 2005 with a Disney Hall benefit in support of the people of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. ALL proceeds go to charities, with performances from the 2016 U.S. Tour benefiting the Greater Chicago Food Depository, My Friend's Place, Le Petit Théâtre Du Vieux Carré and the New Orleans Musicians Clinic & Assistance Foundation.

A throwback to simpler times, this homespun variety show is both festive romp and salve for the soul, serving as a reminder to all that Christmas is a time to be with the ones you love…and sometimes, even family!

Christmas Without Tears 2016 U.S. Tour: