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Directed by Alley Associate Director James Black, A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas runs through Sunday, December 28.
A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas instills a powerful message about redemption and the spirit of the holiday season. The dazzling production is created by Tony Award winning scenic designer Tony Straiges (Alley's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), costumes by Alejo Vietti (Alley's Cyrano de Bergerac, The Scene, Tryst, Orson's Shadow), lighting by Rui Rita (Alley's Cyrano de Bergerac, To Kill a Mockingbird, Bad Dates), and original music by John Gromada (Alley's Subject to Fits, The Pillowman).
Houston's seasonal favorite that the Houston Press said, ".....has spectacular London sets ... the inimitable Dickens tale -- spiced with the usual fog and an unusual twist on the ghosts past present and future." A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas returns this year with a re-telling of Charles Dickens' classic story that follows Ebenezer Scrooge's journey with the three ghosts that visit him on Christmas Eve.
This year, Alley Associate Director James Black directs this production and appears as Jacob Marley in this colorful, comical, and music-filled telling of Charles Dickens' "ghostly little book." Alley Theatre Company Actor Jeffrey Bean plays Ebenezer Scrooge after appearing in the title role of Alley Theatre's production of Cyrano de Bergerac.
The Alley Theatre began producing an annual production of A Christmas Carol in 1988. Michael Wilson's adaptation is an imaginative re-telling of the classic story. In 1990, Wilson - in his first directing project for the Alley - adapted and directed a version of the story that became a national standout for its dancing apparitions and Wizard of Oz like storyline.
Since its inception, the production has developed into a crowd-pleasing holiday favorite, delighting more than 37,000 individuals last holiday season. Dickens' classic tale is a heart-warming and bone-chilling story for audiences of all ages. Through encounters with ghosts - including his late business partner Jacob Marley - Scrooge learns what ill fate lies in store for him if he continues on his greedy and heartless course. An amazing story and an unforgettable theatrical experience, A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas fills audiences with warm sentiments of the holiday season.
The 2008 production of A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas is presented by Lead Sponsors ConocoPhillips, Entergy Solutions District Cooling and LyondellBasell as well as Supporting Sponsor Apache Corporation. Alley Theatre is supported by the 2008-2009 season sponsor Continental Airlines, the official airline of the Alley Theatre.
Charles Dickens' novella, whose full title is A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas was published in 1843 to instant success, selling six thousand copies within its first week. Originally written as a quick money maker to enable Dickens to get out of debt, the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and the three spirits that visit him on Christmas Eve has become one of the most popular and enduring Christmas stories of all time. The first stage adaptation of A Christmas Carol dates back to January of 1844 in London and movie adaptations of this story were filmed as early as 1910.
A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas will feature scenic design by Tony Straiges (Alley's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) costumes by Alejo Vietti (Alley's Cyrano de Bergerac, The Scene, Tryst, Orson's Shadow), lighting by Rui Rita (Alley's Cyrano de Bergerac, To Kill a Mockingbird, Bad Dates) and original music by John Gromada (Alley's Subject to Fits, The Pillowman).
The cast of more than 30 characters features Alley Theatre Company Actors James Black as Mrs. Dilber and Jacob Marley; Jeffrey Bean as Ebenezer Scrooge; Justin Doran as Mr. Marvel; Bettye Fitzpatrick as Mary Pidgeon and Spirit of Christmas Past; Paul Hope as Second Solicitor and Mr. Fezziwig; Chris Hutchison as Bob Cratchit; Charles Krohn as Undertaker and Old Joe; Philip Lehl as First Solicitor and Fiddler; Emily Neves as Belle and Fred's Wife; Melissa Pritchett as Rich Lady, Patricia and Ghostly Apparition; David Rainey as Bert and Spirit of Christmas Present; among others. -- www.alleytheatre.org
Posted December 2nd, 2008 by ruzik_tuzik
