(Charleston, SC) Charleston Stage celebrates the holidays with the return of its acclaimed musical adaptation of Dickens's immortal classic, A Christmas Carol, along with the return of the delightful, fun-filled story based on Barbara Park's book series, Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! Both productions will run throughout the month of December. “These two complimentary Christmas stories will give audiences, especially families, two delightful theatrical options during the holiday season,” says Charleston Stage Founder Julian Wiles.
First up is Charleston Stage’s spectacular production of A Christmas Carol, featuring a cast of 32 plus a live orchestra! Flying by Foy, who originally flew Peter Pan on Broadway, has returned to the Dock Street Theatre stage to fly Dickens's ghostly, enchanting spirits. “A Christmas Carol was the very first show Charleston Stage produced which opened at the Dock Street Theatre in December of 1978. And though this is our twenty-first production of A Christmas Carol, we knew we wanted to celebrate the holiday season by bringing back this classic which started it all,” says Charleston Stage Founder Julian Wiles. “This retelling features new orchestrations by our Resident Music Director Sam Henderson, a full-scale original set built from scratch, and colorful new costumes created just for this production by Production Manager and Costume Designer Rafael Colón Castanera. There’s also delightful choreography by choreographer Cara Dolan. And, though a few cast members from the past are returning to play their key roles, the majority of our cast of 32 are new to A Christmas Carol, each bringing their own imaginative take on these classic characters.”
The cast includes Charleston Stage Acting Ensemble Member David Loar as Ebenezer Scrooge (Richard Burbage and Robert De Lesseps/Shakespeare in Love). The role of Tiny Tim will be rotated between two students in Charleston Stage's TheatreSchool, Montgomery Smeaton and Lucas Shively. Charleston Stage’s Resident Professional Acting Company will play leading roles including Patrick Brett as Fred (Slim/Of Mice and Men), Scrooge’s estranged nephew; Mary Kate Foley as Caroline (Lisa/Mamma Mia!), Fred’s wife; Haley Denton-Hughes as Belle/Ensemble (Ali/Mamma Mia!); Sara Sanderson as Mrs. Cratchit/Ensemble (Sophie/Mamma Mia! and Curley's Wife/Of Mice and Men); Sergio De La Espriella as Young Ebenezer/Ensemble (Sky/Mamma Mia! and Curley/Of Mice and Men); Colin Waters as Mr. Wiggins/Ghost of Christmas Past (Lennie/Of Mice and Men); and Brian Nabors as Ghost of Christmas Future/Ensemble (Carlson/Of Mice and Men). Members of Charleston Stage's Acting Ensemble will also play featured roles including Jesse Siak reprising his role as Jacob Marley (George/Of Mice and Men); Andrea Rausch as Mrs. Taybor/Ghost of Christmas Present (Ursula/Disney's The Little Mermaid); Ryan Pixler as Bob Cratchit (Harry Bright/Mamma Mia!); and Cody Rutledge as Gentleman Visitor/Ensemble (Princeton/Rod/Avenue Q). An ensemble of over 18 additional performers will fill out the cast which include local actors, members of Charleston Stage's TheatreWings High School Apprentices, and a children's chorus made up of members of Charleston Stage's Performance Troupe.
“Like A Christmas Carol, Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! returns and is sure to delight families throughout the Lowcountry,” says Charleston Stage Associate Artistic Director Marybeth Clark. “We're excited to bring back this fun-filled holiday story to life on the Historic Dock Street Theatre stage, an endearing tale based on the best-selling book series by Barbara Park. The cast is made up of members of Charleston Stage’s Professional Resident Acting Company starring Mary Kate Foley as Junie B. It's sure to put audiences in the holiday spirit as they follow Junie B. and her quest in discovering the Christmas spirit of peace and goodwill."
Performances of A Christmas Carol run Nov. 28th - Dec. 19th at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! performances will run Dec. 8th and 15th.
November 28th: “A Christmas Carol.” Presented by Charleston Stage at Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church Street; From the Book by Charleston Dickens; Adapted for the Stage by Julian Wiles; Direction by Julian Wiles; Musical Direction by Sam Henderson; Choreography by Cara Dolan; Associate Sponsors: Dennis and Lynn Drew / The Peter Glenville Foundation. Last year’s production of Charleston Stage’s A Christmas Carol set box office records with sold out performances. By popular demand, this holiday favorite returns. Celebrate the warmth of the holidays with Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future in Charleston Stage’s original and imaginative take on Dickens’s immortal classic. A Christmas Carol is the show that always puts you in the Christmas spirit. Christmas card sets, hundreds of colorful costumes, a live orchestra, and a professional cast will help ring in your holiday season. This spectacular production is filled with visual marvels and special effects—including flying spirits and a ravishing holiday musical score. Nov. 28, Nov. 30, Dec. 1, Dec. 6-9, Dec. 13-16, Dec. 18-19 at 7:30pm, and Dec. 2 at 5:00pm, and Dec. 9 and 16 at 3:00pm. $33.75 - $70.75 for Adults, $31.75 - $70.75 for Seniors (60+) and $28.75 - $70.75 for Students (Ages 3-25) and Active Military. Tickets available online 24/7 at www.charlestonstage.com. Tickets by phone available Mon-Fri 1pm-5pm (Also open Sa 1pm-5pm show weeks only) by calling (843) 577-7183.
December 8th: “Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!” Presented by Charleston Stage at Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church Street; By Allison Gregory; Direction by Marybeth Clark; Supporting Sponsor - BlueCross BlueShield of SC. First-grader Junie B. Jones is super-excited about the upcoming Holiday Sing-Along and Secret Santa gift exchange at her school. Too bad tattletale May keeps ruining all of Junie B.’s fun. So when Junie B. draws May’s name for Secret Santa, she comes up with the perfect plan to teach her nemesis a lesson! But will the Christmas spirit of peace and goodwill interfere before she can give you-know-who what she deserves? A hilarious and endearing tale based on the best-selling book series by Barbara Park. Dec. 8 and Dec. 15 at 3:00pm and Dec. 15 at 11:00am. $30.75 for Adults, $30.75 for Seniors (60+) and $30.75 for Students (Ages 3-25) and Active Military. Tickets available online 24/7 at www.charlestonstage.com. Tickets by phone available Mon-Fri 1pm-5pm (Also open Sa 1pm-5pm show weeks only) by calling (843) 577-7183.
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