Rehearsals for Guthrie's 39th annual holiday production of 'A Christmas Carol' begin Tuesday, Oct. 2
Contact:
Seena Hodges
612-225-6142
THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS NIGH!
Rehearsals for the 39th annual holiday production of Charles Dickens
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
begin Tuesday, October 22; Tickets now on sale
Previews begin November 14; Opening November 20;
Playing through December 29, 2013
on the Wurtele Thrust Stage at the Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis
PRESENTED BY U.S. BANK
(Minneapolis/St. Paul) Tuesday, October 22 marks the first day of rehearsal for the Guthrie Theaters 2013 production of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, presented by U.S. Bank. The perennial holiday favorite, now in its 39th year at the Guthrie, features a script by British playwright Crispin Whittell and is directed by Joe Chvala. Chvala is the founder and artistic director of the Flying Foot Forum and has previously served as both director and movement director for the production. Longtime Guthrie actor J.C. Cutler will reprise the role of grubby miser Ebenezer Scrooge. Cutler has been involved in 30 productions at the Guthrie since 1993, including five productions of A Christmas Carol appearing as Ebenezer Scrooge (2011), Bob Cratchit (1995, 1997), Banker (1996) and Young Scrooge (1993, 1994) and was last seen on a Guthrie stage in this past summers original romantic comedy Pride and Prejudice.
More than 800 actors have appeared in the Guthrie holiday production of Dickens immortal story over the last 38 years. This years production features returning cast members Jay Albright (Mr. Fezziwig / Mr. Bones / Scrooges Priest), Robert O. Berdahl (The Ghost of Christmas Present / Young Marley), Virginia S. Burke (Mrs. Cratchit / Dora Fezziwig), Bob Davis (Old Joe / Jacob Marley), Nathaniel Fuller (George, the Bailiff / Mr. Sykes, the Schoolmaster), Summer Hagen (Daisy Fezziwig / Mabel), Tracey Maloney (The Ghost of Christmas Past / Jane), Kris L. Nelson (Bob Cratchit / Donald), Isabell Monk OConnor (Mrs. Dilber / Bumble / Mrs. Polkinghorne), Angela Timberman (Merriweather) and Suzanne Warmanen (Mrs. Fezziwig / Bunty).
This years production also features the talents of eight University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater B.F.A. Actor Training Program alumni, including Sam Bardwell (Topper / Dick Wilkins), Eleonore S. Dendy (Mrs. Wimple/Belle/Kitty), Torsten Johnson (Mr. Wimple / David / The Ghost of Christmas Future / Belles Husband), Paris Hunter Paul (Young Scrooge), Hugh Kennedy (Fred / Daniel) and Anna Reichert (Deidre Fezziwig / Sally).
A 13-member childrens ensemble rounds out the cast. Ensemble members include Hazel Cutting, Dora Dolphin, Alec Fisher, Maia Hernandez, Samuel Keller-Long, Soren Miller, Delaney Murray, Ryan McCormick, Ella R. Nelson, Tess Nelson, Noah Ratgan, Noah Ross, Emmanuel R. Torrez and Zel Weilandgruber as Tiny Tim.
The artistic team includes Walt Spangler (Set Designer), Mathew J. LeFebvre (Costume Designer), Christopher Akerlind (Lighting Designer), Ryan Connealy (Recreated Lighting Design), Keith Thomas (Composer) and Scott W. Edwards (Sound Designer).
The production team includes Jo Holcomb (Dramaturg), DArcy Smith (Voice and Dialect Coach), Michele Hossle (Stage Manager), Joseph Stodola (Assistant Director) and Jason Clusman (Assistant Stage Manager).
Firmly rooted as a ghost story, just as Dickens conceived it, the Guthries production of A Christmas Carol begins in a snowstorm in the middle of a London graveyard, slowly receding as the hustle and bustle of the London streets come in to view. Most will know what happens next, but just how it will happen is a holiday surprise. A miserly and miserable man, Scrooge resents generosity on all occasions and greets each Christmas with his well-known bah humbug, until he is visited one Christmas Eve by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future. Through a restless night, the three spirits show him happy memories from his past, cruel realities from the present and the desolate future should he continue his cantankerous ways. From that point forward, no one has kept Christmas as faithfully or fruitfully as old Ebenezer Scrooge, whose story of redemption, beloved by audiences for years, remains as powerful and uplifting as it ever was.
A Christmas Carol begins preview performances on November 14, opens November 20 and continues through December 29, 2013, on the Wurtele Thrust Stage. Single tickets start at $28 and are now on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE, 612.225.6244 (Group Sales) and online at www.guthrietheater.org.
The GUTHRIE THEATER (Joe Dowling, Director) was founded by Sir Tyrone Guthrie in 1963 and is an American center for theater performance, production, education and professional training. The Tony Award-winning Guthrie Theater is dedicated to producing the great works of dramatic literature, developing the work of contemporary playwrights and cultivating the next generation of theater artists. With annual attendance of nearly 500,000 people, the Guthrie Theater presents a mix of classic plays and contemporary work on its three stages. Under the artistic leadership of Joe Dowling since 1995, the Guthrie continues to set a national standard for excellence in theatrical production and performance. In 2006, the Guthrie opened its new home on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, the Guthrie Theater houses three state-of-the-art stages, production facilities, classrooms and dramatic public lobbies. www.guthrietheater.org
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FACT SHEET
For more than 38 years audiences have enjoyed the Guthrie's annual production of Dickens' tale with their families, making it a tradition not to be missed. Firmly rooted as a ghost story, just as Dickens conceived it, the Guthries production of A Christmas Carol begins in a snowstorm in the middle of a London graveyard, slowly receding as the hustle and bustle of the London streets come in to view. Most will know what happens next, but just how it will happen is a holiday surprise. A miserly and miserable man, Scrooge resents generosity on all occasions and greets each Christmas with his well-known bah humbug, until he is visited one Christmas Eve by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future. Through a restless night, the three spirits show him happy memories from his past, cruel realities from the present and the desolate future should he continue his cantankerous ways. From that point forward, no one has kept Christmas as faithfully or fruitfully as old Ebenezer Scrooge, whose story of redemption, beloved by audiences for years, remains as powerful and uplifting as it ever was. Give your family an experience this holiday they'll remember for years to comesecure your seats today!
Cast:
Jay Albright (Mr. Fezziwig / Mr. Bones / Scrooges Priest), Sam Bardwell (Topper / Dick Wilkins), Robert O. Berdahl (The Ghost of Christmas Present), Virginia S. Burke (Mrs. Cratchit ), J.C. Cutler (Ebenezer Scrooge), Bob Davis (Old Joe / Jacob Marley), Eleonore S. Denby (Mrs. Wimple/Belle/Kitty), Nathaniel Fuller (George, the Bailiff / Mr. Sykes, the Schoolmaster), Summer Hagen (Daisy Fezziwig / Mabel), Torsten Johnson (The Ghost of Christmas Future / Belles Husband), Hugh Kennedy (Fred/ Daniel) Tracey Maloney (The Ghost of Christmas Past / Jane), Kris L. Nelson (Bob Cratchit / Donald), Isabell Monk OConnor (Mrs. Dilber / Bumble/Mrs. Polkinghorne), Paris Hunter Paul (Young Scrooge), Anna Reichert (Deidre Fezziwig / Sally), Angela Timberman (Merriweather) and Suzanne Warmanen (Mrs. Fezziwig / Bunty).
Childrens Ensemble:
Hazel Cutting, Dora Dolphin, Alec Fisher, Maia Hernandez, Samuel Keller-Long, Soren Miller, Delaney Murray, Ryan McCormick, Ella R. Nelson, Tess Nelson, Noah Ratgan, Noah Ross, Emmanuel R. Torrez and Zel Weilandgruber as Tiny Tim.
Creative Team:
Joe Chvala (Director/Movement), Walt Spangler (Set Design), Mathew J. LeFebvre (Costume Design), Christopher Akerlind (Lighting Design), Ryan Connealy (Recreated Lighting Design), Keith Thomas (Composer), Scott W. Edwards (Sound Design), Jo Holcomb (Dramaturg), DArcy Smith (Voice and Dialect Coach, Michele Hossle (Stage Manager), Joseph Stodola (Assistant Director), and Jason Clusman (Assistant Stage Manager).
Performance Dates: November 14 December 29, 2013
Opening Night: Wednesday, October 20 at 7:30 p.m.
*Performance Times: Tuesday through Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
and matinees on selected weekdays at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
visit www.guthrietheater.org for the complete performance schedule
Location: Guthrie Theater Wurtele Thrust Stage
818 South 2nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Pricing: Single tickets priced $28 - $85
(Discounts for children, students and seniors available)
Tickets: Tickets may be purchased online at www.guthrietheater.org
Guthrie Box Office: 612.377.2224 or 877.44.STAGE
Box Office hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Tuesday- Sunday)
Group Sales: 612.225.6244 or 877.225.6211
ACCESS PERFORMANCES
Learn more online at http://www.guthrietheater.org/accessibility
OPEN CAPTIONED
Captioned by c2 inc.
Sunday, December 1 at 7:00 p.m.
ASL INTERPRETATION
Interpreted by TBD
Saturday, November 30 at 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m.
AUDIO DESCRIBED
Described by TBD
Saturday, November 30 at 1:00 p.m. with sensory tour at 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m.
If you have specific program questions or need an accommodation, please contact the Accessibility Office by phone at 612.225.6390 (voice) or 612.225.6391 (TTY) or email at accessibility@guthrietheater.org.
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