“Christmas With Nova Y. Payton and Friends,” which opened December 8, is filled with some of Payton’s holiday favorites, including “This Christmas,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Santa Baby,” “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” and many more. Music director Darius Smith, along with a chorus and band, join Payton during the evening.

Payton is known for her powerhouse voice. For years, she sang backup for legendary songstress Roberta Flack, joining Flack’s international tour to over 150 major cities across the U.S, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and Europe. She also has toured with shows such as the blues-to-classical showcase Three Mo’ Divas with Laurice Lanier and Jamet Pittman as well as Smokey Joe’s Café, the juke joint-set musical revue of the songs of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

Payton made her Signature Theatre debut as “Motormouth Maybelle” in Hairspray for which she won a 2012 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Resident Musical. She also received the 2005 Barrymore Nomination for Best Actress for her role as “Effie White” in Dreamgirls at Prince Music Theatre. Payton recently reprised her role in the Milwaukee Repertory Theater production of the musical. The DC native also has appeared in regional productions of The Happy Elf, and Ain’t Misbehavin’.

Payton’s musical chops are clearly genetic as her mother is singer Thomascena Nelson, widely considered to be the “First Lady of Gospel Jazz.” According to Payton’s biography, it was Nelson who exposed Payton to “all things creative and artistic.”

Payton’s cabaret runs through December 24 and tickets can be purchased here.

Nova Y. Payton singing “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”

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The dynamic cast includes Nova Y. Payton, (Dreamgirls Signature Theatre; Hairspray Signature Theatre, Helen Hayes Award) as Effie, Trisha Jeffrey (Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors; 2013 Broadway World Chicago Best Actress, Black Excellence Award, Black Theatre Alliance Award for “Celie” in The Color Purple at Mercury Theater Chicago) as Deena; and Dan’yelle Williamson (Broadway: Memphis; National Tour: The Lion King) as Lorrell– collectively known as “The Dreamettes.” Rounding out the cast is Jared Joseph (Broadway: Holler if Ya Hear Me) as Curtis Taylor Jr.; Richard Crandle (National Tour: Hairspray) as CC White and Cedric Neal (Broadway: The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess) as James “Thunder” Early, a role that won him the Helen Hayes Award in Washington, D.C. for the Signature Theatre production; and Nathaniel Stampley (Broadway: The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, The Lion King; The Color Purple at Milwaukee Rep) as Marty.

Dreamgirls runs in the Quadracci Powerhouse until November 1, previews began on Sept 22 with an opening on September 26. Tickets starting at $30 can be purchased online at www.MilwaukeeRep.com, by phone at 414-224-9490, or at the Ticket Office (108 E Wells Street).

If you are in the Milwaukee area, I’d advise you to see this show as fast as you can. It’s one you just do not want to miss. Don’t believe me? Just watch this clip of Nova Y. Payton singing “And I Am Telling You” and see if you don’t change your mind.

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