A Christmas Carol at ACT Dec. 5 - 24

American Conservatory Theater presents Charles Dickens's holiday classic A Christmas Carol, adapted by ACT Artistic Director Carey Perloff and Paul Walsh and directed by Perloff, December 5 through 24, opening Friday, December 8 at 7PM.

"A Christmas Carol follows the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, who over the course of a long Christmas Eve is visited by four ghosts (Christmases Past, Present, and Future, as well as Scrooge's former business partner, Jacob Marley) who guide his transformation from cold-hearted miser into open-armed philanthropist," explains press notes.  This year's production of A Christmas Carol features new and revised scenes that Perloff and Walsh have developed from the Dickens novel, a major revision to the musical score and a new Christmas hymn (based on Dickens's own lyrics).

The 2006 production of Perloff and Walsh's A Christmas Carol features a brand new Scrooge as portrayed by beloved Bay Area actor James Carpenter, last seen at ACT in productions of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and A Doll's House.

Joining Carpenter as a newcomer to ACT's A Christmas Carol is Jack Willis (ACT's The Little Foxes, Happy End, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and The Black Rider), who plays Scrooge's foreboding nightmare of a guest, the Ghost of Jacob Marley. Carpenter and Willis are joined by Jud Williford as Scrooge's doting employee Bob Cratchit, and Steve Irish and Sharon Lockwood as the ever-festive Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig. Williford, Irish, and Lockwood reprise the roles they created in last year's production.

A Bay Area tradition for 30 years, ACT's A Christmas Carol features sets by Tony Award-winning designer John Arnone, original songs and score by composer Karl Lundeberg, costumes by Beaver Bauer, choreography by Val Caniparoli, and musical direction by Laura Burton. Domenique Lozano is associate director for the production. The design team also includes Nancy Schertler (lighting), Jake Rodriguez (sound), and San Francisco Ballet choreographer Val Caniparoli. Laura Burton is musical director for the production. Domenique Lozano is Associate Director.

Show times:
December 5, 6, 8, 9, 14 - 16, 19 - 23 at 7PM
December 10 at 1 & 5:30PM
December 9, 12 - 14, 16, 17, 20, 22 & 23 at 2PM
Dec. 24 at 12PM

Tickets: Previews December 5 & 6 ($13.50-$56.50), Dec. 8 - 15 ($17.50-$73.50), and Dec. 16-24 ($26.50-$81.50) are available by calling ACT Ticket Services at 415-749-2ACT or online at www.act-sf.org.

The American Conservatory Theatre is located at 415 Geary Street, San Francisco two blocks from Union Square.