A CHRISTMAS CAROL Returns for 25th Anniversary with Maryland Ensemble Theatre

Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol" is returning to Frederick for its 25th anniversary of Maryland Ensemble Theatre's production at the Weinberg Center for the Arts. The ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future will transport audiences to Victorian England as the penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge learns the error of his miserly ways and embraces the true spirit of Christmas. "It's such a treat to bring this classic to life each holiday season," said the show's director Julie Herber. "The spirit of the show is infectious, the energy we feel greeting the audience after the show is always so cheerful and heartwarming."

"A Christmas Carol" is a stirring tale that has endured and delighted since being greeted with critical and popular acclaim upon its publication in 1843. Dickens himself was the first to add a performance element to the story personally performing 127 public readings of "A Christmas Carol". Since then it has been adapted hundreds of times to nearly every medium possible including the first surviving film version in 1901, Orson Wells on CBS Radio in 1938, both opera and ballet adaptations, a Muppets' movie and a Broadway musical.

Maryland Ensemble Theatre's version was adapted by Theatricks, a theater company co-founded by MET Associate Artistic Director Julie Herber. Theatricks first produced the show at Frederick Community College and then The Fun Company (MET's Family Theatre, also founded by Julie Herber) began producing the show at the Weinberg Center in 1996. The Fun Company became part of Maryland Ensemble Theatre in 2003. "The entire 'Christmas Carol' team looks forward to it every year," said Herber. "I've directed twenty-four of the twenty-five years and each year it feels like coming home. We have so many cast members that return year after year, it's like having a holiday family reunion and that really comes across on stage." Over the past couple decades thousands of families have celebrated the holidays with this production of "A Christmas Carol", making it a holiday tradition in downtown Frederick.

Tad Janes, MET's Artistic Director, will portray Scrooge for the sixteenth straight year. Returning veterans Gené Fouché, Bill Stitely, Jack Evans, James McGarvey, Jeremy Myers and Ashley Hall will be joined by Jennifer Pagano as The Ghost of Christmas Past. The production also includes a number of younger performers the majority of whom are students or alumni of MET's Ensemble School classes. The young cast members who will be performing in repertory are Cash Ritchie, Lucy Campbell, Josie Ritchie, Ysa Seltzer, Isabelle Vicari, Aleesha Bora, Hayden Hauptman, Wilson Seltzer, Kristin Proffitt, Emily Loecken, Keegan Remphrey, Chase Bannister, Cyra Ottinger-McKain, Marie Sheets, Nadia Hunt, Charlotte Hay, Reese Hauptman, Elizabeth Mooney, Mari Barchi, Sophie Beers Arthur, Barbara Stultz, Zoie Higgs, Shaylee Chubin, Rowan Huy, Olivia Blair-Smith, Bethany Fitch, Blakely Massey, Maya Douez, Elizabeth Shannon, Kerala Bannister. Also familiar to returning audience goers will be the fantastic music by composer John Walker that underscores the show.

The show will run December 14 and 15 at 7:30pm and December 15 and 16 at 2pm at the Weinberg Center for Arts (20 West Patrick Street, Frederick). Tickets are $12 - $24 and can be purchased at the Weinberg Box Office, at 301-600-2828 or online at weinbergcenter.org.

The show will also be presented at the Carroll County Arts Center on December 7 and 8 at 8pm and December 8 at 3pm.(carrollcountyartscouncil.org). Weekday performances for schools and study guides are also available for teachers and their classes at both locations.


Now in its twenty-first season in downtown Frederick, the Maryland Ensemble Theatre produces thought-provoking theatre, fun family entertainment, artist residency programs for public schools, theatre camps, challenging classes and sidesplitting comedy. For more information on "A Christmas Carol" or any of MET's other shows or programs visit marylandensemble.org or call 301-694-4744.

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