They say early childhood experiences can shape someone’s future.
For Melissa Glasgow, it was the Naperville Park District’s “Mommy and Me” dance classes with her mother, Lori, that helped set her on the course of her future career.
“It was the classes and community theater shows that I saw in Naperville that got me motivated to keep dancing and performing,” said Glasgow, now 25. “Because when we did end up moving, one of the first things I asked my mom to do was put me in dance class.
“I knew that I had loved dance, from the classes I had taken in Naperville,” she said. “It kind of started the whole process of becoming an actor.”
The former Naperville resident returns to the Chicago area this weekend as part of the touring production of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical.” The family show stops at the Chicago Theatre Nov. 17-20 to bring the 1964 television classic to life on stage.
“The cool thing about our show is we have puppets in our show that play a lot of the Claymation characters from the movie,” Glasgow said.
Glasgow plays multiple roles in the musical, including the puppet Dolly, who is part of the Island of Misfit Toys. She learned how to work the puppets when she was cast in the first national tour of “Rudolph” in 2014.
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“And then I also play Mrs. Donner, Rudolph’s mom,” she said. “I’m a reindeer, but I’m using my full body as opposed to a puppet. There are other various woodland creatures that all of the actors play throughout the show. I’m also responsible for puppeteering baby Rudolph.”
The musical tells the tale of young Rudolph, who is excluded from the Reindeer Games because of his bright and shiny red nose. He leaves Christmastown and meets Hermey the Elf and Yukon Cornelius. After finding the Island of Misfit Toys, Rudolph heads home, where a snowstorm threatens Christmas. But Rudolph might just be the one who can help his friends and Santa save Christmas.
“We try to stay as true to the movie as possible. However we do have some new additions to the story,” Glasgow said. “Because it is a stage show, and it is a musical, we do have a few songs that are not in the Claymation movie.”
For instance, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” which was in the underscoring of the movie, is now in the show in a different way, she said.
“So people can look for added things that make our show exciting and fresh, but they will still get all of the same nostalgia that they have in the movie, and they will see everything that they want to see – that they expect to see – from our show,” Glasgow said.
Being part of the cast reminds her of watching the holiday classic with her family, she said.
“When Rudolph flies, that brings back all the nostalgia. There are a lot of good moments like that,” she said. “The first day that the puppets arrived for rehearsal, I was beside myself. I was so happy. It really is like stepping into the movie, how accurate these puppets look. It just brings up good memories and generates a feeling of happiness within me, and the rest of the cast, too.”
Although Glasgow was born in Naperville, her family moved when she was 4 years old. But they would often return to see loved ones over the years, she said.
“We continued going back there throughout my childhood to visit neighbors, and we still have family in the area,” she said. “So I’ve got watch Naperville grow as I’ve grown up as well when we come back to visit.”
Glasgow spent many years living in Los Angeles, where she performed in a lot of regional theater, she said. More recently she just finished touring with a production of “The Little Mermaid.”
Now living in New York, Glasgow said she is excited this year’s tour of “Rudolph” kicks off in Chicago.
“I couldn’t ask for a better place to open because I have so many friends and family to come see the show,” she said. “It’s just a really good excuse to reunite with them.”
The musical “Rudolph,” she said, is very magical experience for all ages.
“Because it’s a show that many of us have watched growing up. My grandparents watched this show when they were younger, and so did my mom and dad. And now I do. And now I have cousins that are four years old that started watching the movie,” Glasgow said. “(There’s) something very special about our show that I don’t think a lot of musicals have to offer. And it teaches a great lesson about embracing your differences, and loving yourself and relying on friends. It’s just a wonderful holiday tradition to get to share.”
Kathy Cichon is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical’
When: Nov. 17-20
Where: Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago
Tickets: $35-$125
Information: 800-745-3000 or www.thechicagotheatre.com