The Frontmezzjunkies Interview: The Unauthorized Hallmark(ish) Parody Musical

Conducted by Ross

It’s beginning to look a lot like a Hallmark(ish) holiday in Toronto—only this time, the snow is falling with a wink and a belt. This winter, The Royal Theatre unwraps The Unauthorized Hallmark(ish) Parody Musical, a joyously irreverent send-up of those cozy, cookie-cutter Christmas films we pretend not to binge (but absolutely do). Running from November 20, 2025, to January 4, 2026, the show takes every small-town trope—bake-offs, chance encounters, and the inevitable returning hometown hero—and turns it into a glittery, self-aware spectacle that sleighs.

At the center of the cheer are Alexandra Clementi as Holly, the ambitious city exec who can’t decide whether she loves or hates Christmas, and Sean Meldrum as Mark, the rugged small-town sheriff with a heart big enough to melt a snowbank. Together, they bring both the romance and the ridiculousness to life in this new musical snow-globe of holiday chaos.

Frontmezzjunkies caught up with Clementi and Meldrum as rehearsals kicked into full candy-cane mode. We talked hometown hijinks, stage chemistry, and, yes, what it’s like to belt a ballad while a moose threatens a cookie contest.

FBJ: What drew you each to this holiday parody musical, and to your characters, Holly and Mark? Were you always Team Hallmark(ish), or did this show convert you? 

Sean Meldrum: I started out as a theatre actor while I was at school. But since moving to Toronto in 2017, all of my acting work has been in film and television. So when Hallmark(ish) came along, it felt like a perfect way to reconnect with my roots. I’ve been itching to get back on stage and – in the best way possible – Hallmark(ish) could not be more different from the horror and sci-fi series I’ve been working on. It’s been an absolute joy to reconnect with my love of theatre and deepen my knowledge of musicals while I’m at it. Hallmark(ish) is a love letter to musical theatre, and fans of the genre will have so many easter eggs and homages to pick up on. 

As for Christmas films, I was lucky enough to work with Tia Mowry a few years ago on a film called Yes Chef Christmas. So while I was preparing for that job, I watched a ton of the kind of movies we lampoon in our show.

Alexandra Clementi: I’ve been Team Hallmark(ish) for years! Every winter, my mom and I go on a mission to find the most absurd plotline possible, grab a bottle of wine, and lovingly make fun of it. Holly is basically the poster child for those movies.  She’s ridiculous in the best way, and I adore playing her.

FBJ: The musical blends classic Hallmark sweetness with some hilariously off-the-wall moments. What’s been the most delightfully absurd thing you’ve encountered in rehearsals so far? 

Alexandra: Joel Waggoner’s score is absurd in the best possible way. There have been times in rehearsal when we can’t learn the music because we’re laughing too hard to sing. It’s such a treat to watch everyone commit so earnestly to the bit.

Sean: “Delightfully absurd” is a very apt way to describe a few numbers in the show, especially my current favourite, “Moose Is Loose”. It is completely deranged; I love it. It has like four versions of the same chorus, and then we run them all together at the end, one after the other. We take a big breath and basically spit a Busta Rhymes verse. It’s a challenging song to sing because it’s so dynamic, but that’s exactly what makes it great.  

FBJ: Holly’s torn between corporate success and hometown hearth—if you had to choose between “Love or Career,” like the song says, what would you pick… or is there a third option? 

Alexandra: I would choose both and fight anyone who tried to stop me.

Sean: Love must come first. I think that’s a non-negotiable. And that goes for all love: for your partner, your family, friends, community. I am grateful to do the work I do, but when I think back on my life, it is the relationships that carry the most meaning. With that said, I am very fortunate to love what I do for work (most of the time), so in this case, I am spoiled.

FBJ: Sean, Mark is a sheriff with a heart of gold. How did you find the balance between comic charm and romantic sincerity? And Alexandra, where do you pull Holly’s transformation from?  

Sean: Mark is a more complex track than I had initially anticipated. The show is self-aware, but he is not; the show is a parody, but Mark is sincere. Initially, I almost thought of him as two different characters – one who’s played for laughs and one who’s emotionally rooted in the story. But, as we rehearse, the lines between them are disappearing.

Alexandra: For Holly, it’s about being the one semi-sane person in a world that’s completely lost its mind. She’s kind of the only self-aware character in the show, so a lot of the fun comes from watching the chaos unfold around her. It’s such a blast to play the straight man while everyone else goes full Hallmarkish mayhem. 

FBJ: The Hallmark formula is beloved for its predictability. What does this parody musical do that actually surprises you—even in a story we think we know so well?  

Alexandra: It leans into the tropes, but turns them inside out. Without giving anything away, the show is definitely self-aware, and doesn’t shy away from poking fun at the genre while still celebrating everything people love about it 

Sean: The biggest shock to me was just how good the music is. Leonard Bernstein? Never heard of him. As far as I’m concerned, Joel Waggoner is the maestro. I cannot stress enough how hard these songs go. And this high-quality music makes the show even funnier. We sing these absurd lyrics – be they inane or insane – but, because my castmates are very talented vocalists, it all sounds incredible. For instance, Alex – who has an incredible voice – is using it to sing lyrics like “I feel like I could kiss you but I’m not quite sure how”. It’s so dumb that it loops back around to genius. 

FBJ: How has working with director Tim Drucker and this creative team helped shape the energy of the show? Any behind-the-scenes rehearsal moments that already feel like holiday movie magic? 

Sean: Tim’s a very easy director to work with. He knows what he’s looking for, but he also gives you freedom to play and explore. Comedy is a delicate science – part of the rehearsal process is just trying stuff and seeing what sticks. But Tim is so precise with his instinct of where the lines are. Rehearsals feel like we’re bouncing on a big trampoline together, but Tim’s got all this netting up so we don’t fall off and onto our heads. 

Alexandra: Tim has brought such an infectious and collaborative energy to the room, and the entire creative team has been so incredible. I think what’s special about working on a new show is that there’s room for things to evolve and change as you rehearse, and find new jokes along the way. There is definitely more wig snatching now than was initially written in the script.

FBJ: Finally—if you could invent your own Hallmark(ish) holiday movie title about your time working on this musical, what would it be? And yes, including a pun is required. 

Sean: Title: Christmas Harmony. Logline: A film director goes home for the holidays and gets roped into joining the church choir, whose holiday fundraiser must save the church from being turned into condos. He’s mostly a karaoke guy – and there are a lot of harmonies to learn – but with some guidance from his old high school crush, he will find his note in the chord.

Alexandra: Oh my gosh. There’s Snow Business like Show Business: Will the TTC Get Me to Rehearsal on Time?  

FBJ: Perfection. Really. Thank you both for indulging me — and for proving that even parody has heart, harmony, and a little Hallmark(ish) holiday sparkle. Here’s wishing you a season full of showbiz snow and perfectly baked cookies.

For more information and tickets, click here.

TORONTO, ON – The Royal Theatre Toronto will host the world premiere of The Unauthorized Hallmark(ish) Parody Musical, a hilarious Broadway-style show that blends classic holiday movie tropes with high-octane pop showtunes. Running from November 20, 2025, to January 4, 2026, this festive new musical promises cookie contests, small-town romance, corporate intrigue, and even a runaway moose!

Directed by Tim Drucker (Friends Parody Musical, Trixie & Katya LIVE) and choreographed by Brooke Engen (Hairspray, Beetlejuice, Rock of Ages), the show lovingly lampoons the iconic Halli-day holiday formula, while inviting audiences to laugh, sing, and celebrate the season together. The premiere was written by Tim Drucker and Bonnie Milligan (Tony Award Winner, Kimberly Akimbo) with music by Joel Waggoner (Carolnder, School of Rock) and Lyrics by Tim Drucker, Bonnie Milligan, and Joel Waggoner.