Goodman Theatre Celebrates 40 Years Of A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Nearly 100 actors, crew, staff and audiences of A Christmas Carol have smiled, spoken and shared. Today, Goodman Theatre launches a multimedia showcase reflecting the impact the production has made over 40 years: the "Humans of A Christmas Carol" photo project, featuring the cast, crew and staff captured by famed Chicago-based photographer Frank Ishman; and "A Christmas Carol All-Stars," stories from a variety of patrons-from those who have attended nearly every year, to the couple married by "Bob Cratchit," to the fan named for Tiny Tim.

A Christmas Carol begins preview performances this Saturday, November 18 (opening/press night is November 27 at 7pm) and appears through December 31; Tickets ($25 - $112; subject to change) are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Carol, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 N. Dearborn). Fifth Third Bank is the Major Corporate Sponsor and Allstate Insurance Company and KPMG LLP are the Corporate Sponsor Partners. Photo/video are available in the Press Room.

"It was such a pleasure to photograph the cast and all of the behind-the-scenes workers at the Goodman; I was truly amazed at the honest love everyone had for each other, and their connection to the theater," said Frank Ishman, whose work has been seen in more than 20 national and regional magazines including Fader, Conde Nast, CS, InStyle , CBS Watch Magazine and more. "After hearing the stories and experiencing the first-hand emotion from the actors about their personal connections to the play, I am excited to see the production for the first time this year."

Ishman has traveled extensively, living and working in various cities around the world and received his education and training from Morehouse College and the Art Institute of Atlanta and worked with celebrated photographers Brigitte Lacombe, Mary Ellen Mark and Arnold Newman, among others. His commercial work includes advertising campaigns, celebrity portraiture, magazine spreads and not-for-profit assignments. Born in Connecticut and raised in southern California, Ishman is at home on sets having worked as a child actor for many years in Los Angeles. He has lived in London, India, New Zealand, Chicago and now, after more than a decade in New York, has moved his studio back to California and divides his time between coasts. FrankIshman.com

Over four decades, 1.5 million people have delighted in the spectacular storytelling, glorious music and Scrooge's unforgettable discovery of kindness, generosity and love. Ten directors, eight Ebenezer Scrooges and 29 Tiny Tims later, Goodman Theatre's A Christmas Carol celebrates 40 years, November 18 - December 31. Larry Yando marks his 10th year as Scrooge, and for the fifth year, Artistic Associate Henry Wishcamper directs Charles Dickens' universal tale of hope and redemption with a cast of 25 featuring Paris Strickland in her Goodman debut as the theater's first female Tiny Tim-and returning cast members: Kareem Bandealy as Narrator/Scrooge Alternate; Ariana Burks as Martha Cratchit; Lisa Gaye Dixon as Ghost of Christmas Present; Joe Foust as Jacob Marley; J. Salomé Martinez as Abe; Ron E. Rains as Bob Cratchit; Sadieh Rifai as Mrs. Cratchit; Penelope Walker as Mrs. Fezziwig; Jonah D. Winston as Mr. Fezziwig; and musicians Justin Amolsch, Andrew Coil, Greg Hirte and Malcolm Ruhl. The newcomers include Breon Arzell as Dick Wilkins; Molly Brennan as Ghost of Christmas Past; Ali Burch as Frida; Meighan Gerachis as Schoolmaster; and Michele Vazquez as Mrs. Cratchit. The young performers in A Christmas Carol, cast from hundreds of Chicagoland children who auditioned, also include Maggie Chong, 10 (Chicago), as Emily Cratchit; Andrea Crisp, 10 (Darien), as Belinda Cratchit; Cameron Goode, 15 (Chicago), as Boy Scrooge; Kei, 9 (Chicago), as Turkey Boy; and Aaron Stone, 14 (Round Lake Beach), returning as Peter Cratchit.

AMERICA'S "BEST REGIONAL THEATRE" (Time magazine), Goodman Theatre is a premier not-for-profit organization distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and civic engagement. Led by Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the theater's artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics (celebrated revivals include Falls' productions of Death of a Salesman and The Iceman Cometh). Goodman Theatre artists and productions have earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards, over 160 Jeff Awards and many more accolades. In addition, the Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson's "American Century Cycle" and its annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this season, has created a new generation of theatergoers. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production partner with local off-Loop theaters and national and international companies by providing financial support or physical space for a variety of artistic endeavors.

Committed to three core values of Quality, Diversity and Community, the Goodman proactively makes inclusion the fabric of the institution and develops education and community engagement programs that support arts as education. This practice uses the process of artistic creation to inspire and empower youth, lifelong learners and audiences to find and/or enhance their voices, stories and abilities. The Goodman's Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home of such programming, most offered free of charge, and has vastly expanded the theater's ability to touch the lives of Chicagoland citizens (with 85% of youth participants coming from underserved communities) since its 2016 opening.

Goodman Theatre was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago's cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family's legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth's family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation of the new Goodman center in 2000.

Today, Goodman Theatre leadership also includes the distinguished members of the Artistic Collective: Brian Dennehy, Rebecca Gilman, Henry Godinez, Dael Orlandersmith, Steve Scott, Chuck Smith, Regina Taylor, Henry Wishcamper and Mary Zimmerman. David W. Fox, Jr. is Chair of Goodman Theatre's Board of Trustees, Cynthia K. Scholl is Women's Board President and Justin A. Kulovsek is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.

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