A CHRISTMAS CAROL Begins Tonight at Geva Theatre Center

Tonight, November 26, a beloved Rochester tradition returns to Geva Theatre Center on the Wilson Mainstage. A Christmas Carol, Dickens' classic tale of redemption for the most despised man in London, will awaken your heart and rekindle your spirit this holiday season. This production of A Christmas Carol premiered to great acclaim in 2010 and features a script adapted by Mark Cuddy from Charles Dickens' novella with music and lyrics by Gregg Coffin, composer of Geva favorites, Five Course Love and Convenience.

Geva's production of A Christmas Carol is not only a Rochester tradition; it has also become a traditional holiday return to Rochester for many members of the cast. Guy Paul (Broadway's Mary Stuart and Twelve Angry Men) reprises his role as Ebenezer Scrooge and Jim Poulos returns to the role of Bob Cratchit and to Geva and where he has appeared in numerous productions including Clybourne Park, You Can't Take It With You, Company, Amadeus and Convenience. Melissa Rain Anderson returns as Mrs. Cratchit and is also a veteran of many Geva productions including You Can't Take It With You, Convenience and Inherit the Wind, and most recently directed and choreographed Geva's Summer production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Remi Sandri who has appeared in Geva's productions of Wait Until Dark, The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs, A Christmas Story, Pride and Prejudice, Tuesday's With Morrie, Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure and 1776 returns as the Ghost of Jacob Marley. Making their Geva Theatre Center debuts are Tony nominee Joel Blum (Broadway's Steel Pier and Show Boat) as Mr. Fezziwig and The Ghost of Christmas Present; and Robert Adelman Hancock (national tour of Mamma Mia!) as Scrooge's nephew, Fred. Tess DeFlyer, most recently seen on the Geva Mainstage in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, appears as Belle, Scrooge's long-lost love. Local actors Aidan Bonacci, Stephen Clark, Anthony Grieco, Silas Holtz, Megan McCaffrey, Bella McGrath, CJ Roche, Katrina Marlett Ruggiero, Jacob Stewart, Shannon Toot, and Chelsea Zayas; and local, young actors Shannon Beel, Liam Berger, Casey Bronson, Aprell Davis, siblings Alden and Sawyer Duserick, Aidan Fish, Catherine Kennedy, Kemari McClary, Lilibeth McKechney, Bria Melrose, siblings Erin and Kyle Mueller, Jane Trybulski, Madison Wainwright and Leah Wirley complete the cast.

A Christmas Carol is adapted and directed by Mark Cuddy and features music and lyrics composed by Gregg Coffin with choreography by Meggins Kelley and musical direction by Don Kot. The design team includes Adam Koch (scenic designer), Devon Painter (costume designer), Paul Hackenmueller (lighting designer), Lindsay Jones (sound designer) and Dan Scully (projection designer).

A Christmas Carol is co-produced by JP Morgan Chase and The Pike Company, with additional support from Gastroenterology Group of Rochester and media sponsors WROC-TV and WARM 101.3.