Non-Union National Tour of 'The Unauthorized Hallmark(ish) Parody Musical' Sets Rehearsals in NYC for November 2026

Following a sold-out world premiere run in Toronto, the laugh-out-loud holiday stage show 'The Unauthorized Hallmark(ish) Parody Musical' is heading to the United States, and the production is actively casting right now for its upcoming Non-Union National Tour. With rehearsals scheduled to begin November 2, 2026 in New York City and an opening night set for November 20 in Tampa, Florida, the timeline gives performers and touring crew a genuine runway to pursue this one. The tour is currently booked through December 31, 2026, making it a tight, holiday-focused run with a clear end date that appeals to performers looking for a defined seasonal engagement.

The show was co-written by Tony Award-nominated performer and writer Bonnie Milligan, whose standout work in 'Kimberly Akimbo' on Broadway earned her significant attention as both a performer and a creative voice, and director-writer Tim Drucker, who also helms the production. Together, Milligan and Drucker have crafted a parody musical built squarely around the well-worn tropes of Hallmark-style holiday films: the overworked city professional, the charming small town, the rekindled romance, and the third-act cookie contest conspiracy that threatens to derail everything. The original score is the work of Joel Waggoner, who also serves as Musical Director, composing and co-writing the lyrics for original pop songs including the already-buzzed-about 'Judge That Cookie' and the self-aware holiday number 'It Feels Like Christmas (Because It Is Literally Christmas).' The fact that Waggoner holds both the composer and Musical Director roles signals a strong creative continuity between the writing room and the rehearsal room, which tends to make for a more cohesive production process for performers and music staff alike.

Choreography duties are shared by Brooke Engen and Tiffany Engen, a pairing that suggests a collaborative sibling or family creative dynamic with the kind of shorthand that can move a production efficiently through staging. Casting is being handled by Holly Buczek of HDB Casting, the production company co-producing alongside PEG USA Inc. For performers and their representatives, Holly Buczek is the name to know right now. Getting submissions in front of HDB Casting at this stage, while the production is still in pre-production and actively building its company, is the most direct path to consideration for the tour.

PEG USA Inc is the producing entity shepherding the US tour, and the Non-Union designation is a key detail for anyone evaluating this opportunity. Non-Union National Tours operate outside of Actors' Equity Association agreements, which affects pay structures, working conditions, and who is eligible to participate. For emerging performers, Non-Union tours remain one of the most accessible entry points into professional touring theater, offering real experience on a properly produced, multi-city run. The Toronto world premiere sold out, which is a meaningful signal that the material has been audience-tested and received warmly. This is not a development workshop or a workshop-to-nowhere situation. This is a show that has already worked in front of audiences and is being expanded into a national footprint.

The logistics of this tour will center primarily around New York City for the rehearsal period starting November 2, followed by an opening in Tampa on November 20. Tampa has grown as a touring theater market with solid venue infrastructure, and Florida broadly has become an increasingly busy destination for touring productions in the fall and winter months. Beyond Tampa, the full routing has not been publicly announced, but a tour booked through the end of December is almost certainly threading through multiple markets during the peak holiday theater season, when audiences actively seek out exactly the kind of feel-good, broadly funny holiday entertainment this show delivers. For touring stage managers, company managers, production electricians, sound engineers, and wardrobe supervisors, the November start and compressed holiday timeline means staffing decisions are being made well in advance. If you are looking to attach to a touring company for the holiday season, this production is moving now.

For the full listing including casting contacts, production office information, and scheduling updates as the tour routing is confirmed, head to ProductionList.com. The production is in active pre-production with a firm rehearsal start date, which means the hiring window for both performers and touring crew is open and moving quickly. Bookmark the listing and check back regularly as additional cities, venues, and crew openings are confirmed in the months ahead.

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