Holiday Jam! at The Studio@620: A Cabaret Built for Joy, Nostalgia, and Letting Yourself Have a Good Time
by Avery Anderson | The Arts Passport
If there was ever a year when Tampa Bay deserved a little extra sparkle, it’s this one. And that’s exactly what Holiday Jam! at The Studio@620 is trying to deliver — not the polished, buttoned-up version of a holiday show, but something warmer, closer, and delightfully more human.
Think: less Rockette precision, more “your favorite musicians inviting you into the living room with a mug of something warm and the permission to clap on the off-beat if you feel like it.”
Holiday Jam! is the brainchild of Latoya McCormick and Ryan Hill-Joustra — two powerhouse vocalists who can make a 620-square-foot room feel like both a studio session and a family reunion.
Both of them agree: this show isn’t about perfection.
It’s about participation.
“It’s okay to have fun, clap, sing along, dance if you want to,” Latoya says.
“We want everyone to feel comfortable participating,” Ryan adds.
That ethos shapes everything about this year’s Holiday Jam!: nostalgia, jam-session warmth, and the invitation to simply feel good for a night.
The Sound of the Season — With a Little Mischief Mixed In
Latoya and Ryan built this show the way any great mixtape gets made: trading songs back and forth that made them laugh, tear up, or suddenly remember a moment from childhood.
“We wanted songs that brought the jam vibe but also nostalgia — a little something for everyone,” says Latoya.
“The holidays are a time to come together, and we wanted an environment that reminded us of that,” adds Ryan.
Expect harmonies. Expect surprises. Expect at least one moment when somebody hits a note so bold the room collectively leans forward.
Musical highlights include:
- Gospel-infused power moments
- Modern holiday pop
- Soulful arrangements
- And, of course, Dolly Parton’s iconic “Hard Candy Christmas,” which Ryan calls one of his lifelong favorites. (“All hail Dolly!”)
For Latoya, the emotional anchor is crystal clear:
“I just really love Mary, Did You Know. I really do.”
It’s the kind of sacred quiet moment the Studio’s intimacy was built for.
Meet the 2024 Holiday Jam! Ensemble
This year’s cabaret features an eight-person vocal team — an unusually rich lineup for a holiday show of this scale — backed by a live band:
Vocalists
- Latoya McCormick (Vocalist/Keys)
- Ryan Hill-Joustra (Vocalist/Keys)
- Adrian De La Rosa
- Joseph Condon
- Kristin Brazzell
- AR Williams
- Spence Gabriel
Band
- Alex Braman — Bass
- Andi Tafelski — Drums
It’s a cast stacked with performers who know how to fill a room — even one as intimate as 620.
Why The Studio@620 Makes This Show Hit Different
Ask Latoya or Ryan why 620 is the perfect home for this show, and they’ll both say the same thing:
It’s the intimacy.
“You get to be up close and personal with the audience,” Latoya says.
“You can really connect in a space like this,” Ryan adds.
Holiday Jam! doesn’t want distance. It wants eye contact. It wants laughter. It wants the kind of audience energy you can actually feel humming in the air.
And there’s no better room for that than The Studio@620.
A Night Designed for Joy — And How You Can Experience It
This year’s Holiday Jam! offers multiple ways to experience the night, depending on how festive you’re feeling:
🍸 Holiday Cheer Package — Add $20
A festive upgrade that turns your night into an experience.
Perfect for couples, groups, or anyone feeling extra merry.
🎄 VIP Table — $150 (Limited to 4 per night)
If Holiday Jam! has a “best seat in the house,” this is it.
VIP includes:
- Reserved premium seating
- A table for your party
- Elevated, intimate proximity to the performers
- The closest thing to having your own private holiday cabaret
It’s the Studio@620 equivalent of courtside.
What the Artists Hope You Take Home
“I hope they leave with cheer and gladness,” Latoya says.
“We’re living in dark and unsure times. If we can bring a little light and love — why not? They can pass it forward.”
Ryan echoes the sentiment:
“Nostalgia. Excitement for the holidays. A reminder of the memories we all carry.”
Holiday Jam! doesn’t pretend to fix the world.
It simply offers one bright night inside it.
Three Words That Capture It
Latoya: “A good time!”
Ryan: “Fun, joy, holiday-spirit!”
It’s hard to argue with either.
🎟️ Tickets Are Moving — Claim Your Seat at Holiday Jam!
Whether you want the cozy general admission experience, a drink-in-hand cheer package, or the VIP table that makes the room feel like your own private concert — Holiday Jam! is built to make your night shine.