Vortex Stages New 'Christmas Carol' Musical Adaptation

For the third and final production in its 2007 season of musicals, the Vortex Theater Company will present a radical new adaptation of one of the most classic ghost stories of all time - Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol."

Created and adapted by downtown favorites, director Kris Thor and musician Joel Bravo, the Vortex version, A Christmas Carol: the new musical, stars anti-folk performance-art legend Jason Trachtenburg as Scrooge.  Also, in an attempt to bring environmentally conscious practices to theater production, the entire production will go green.  Performances will officially open on Thursday, November 29 at the newly renovated Sanford Meisner Theater, 164 Eleventh Avenue.  The production will close on Saturday, December 22.

Following the success of H.M.S. Pinafore (2007 Drama Desk nominated for "Outstanding Revival of a Musical"), and the controversial revival of Kiss of the Spider Woman - The Musical, the Vortex Theater Company will close the 2007 season with a brand new musical based on the Dickens classic, "A Christmas Carol." 

"This daring new adaptation, set in modern day North Carolina during a December heat wave, interweaves a haunting indie rock score by Joel Bravo with staging by Kris Thor.  The result will be a frightening vision of 'A Christmas Carol' that explores Dickens' original themes of greed, social responsibility, and redemption within a contemporary setting.  Not the miserly old misanthropic archetype, but rather a modern day twist on Scrooge -- a corporate philanthropist who must examine what it means to do good in a country faced with environmental destruction and corporate domination," explain press notes.

Joining with this Carol's environmental message, the Vortex Theater Company has decided to go green in an attempt to bring socially conscious practices to the New York theater world.  Working with companies such as Sterling Planet, and the Big Green Bus bio-diesel movement, the Vortex has committed itself to energy conservation, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.  By pledging to use only recycled materials, non-traditional theatrical lighting, and utilizing renewable energy sources such as wind power and bio-diesel generators, the Vortex is making a move in the right direction both for business and the environment. 

Jason Trachtenburg has been a downtown legend in New York since his musical career began in the late 80's.  Working in the anti-folk and performance-art scene of the Lower East Side, Jason has since formed a band with his wife and daughter, the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, released five records, and has received both critical and popular success.

A Christmas Carol: the new musical performances begin November 29 through December 22.  Show times: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8PM with Sunday matinees at 5PM.  There will be no performances on Saturday and Sunday, December 8 and 9, and there will be one additional performance on Monday, December 17 at 8PM.

The show will run two and a half hours with two intermissions.  Tickets start at $12 and there will be opportunities for additional donations based on each audience member's tax bracket.  TDF vouchers accepted.  Tickets for all performances are available at 212-352-3101 or www.theatermania.com.    

To post a comment, you must register and login.