New Lighting, Costumes and Special Effects to Bring Magic to A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Hartford Stage, Now thru 12/28

Hartford Stage will intensify the magic and merriment of A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas with state-of-the-art lighting, new costumes, and awe-inspiring special effects for its 16th annual production of the Charles Dickens' masterpiece, for only four weeks, from tonight, November 29 to December 28.

A Christmas Carol is adapted by Michael Wilson, directed by Maxwell Williams, and supervised by original director Michael Wilson. In recognition for its generous Legacy Sponsorship for the 50th Anniversary season, United Technologies serves as the Exclusive Presenting Sponsor for A Christmas Carol.

A Christmas Carol's world of flying ghosts, Tiny Tim, and Ebenezer Scrooge will dazzle anew with a refurbished set; many redesigned costumes; enhanced flying effects and choreography for the ghostly apparitions; the introduction of additional characters; and the latest in lighting design technology. Over the past 15 years, more than 250,000 Connecticut families have been thrilled by Dickens' supernatural tale, which introduced the exclamation "Bah! Humbug!" and popularized the perennial greeting "Merry Christmas."

The theatre is offering a Special Holiday Discount of 25% off adult tickets or 50% off children's tickets for A Christmas Carol. Use the discount code ACC13 before November 29. For children's tickets, please contact the Hartford Stage box office at 860-527-5151. (Offer not valid on SuperSavers or previous purchases. All tickets subject to facility and handling fees.)

Bill Raymond returns this season as Ebenezer Scrooge for all evening performances, while Charles Turner will lead the cast as Scrooge at the student matinee performances. The cast will also include Curtis Billings as Fred, Young Scrooge; Robert Hannon Davis as Bob Cratchit; Rebecka Jones as Mrs. Fezziwig, Mrs. Cratchit; Sarah Killough as Ghostly Apparition, Fred's Sister-In-Law; JohAnna Morrison as Bettye Pidgeon, Spirit of Christmas Past, Old Josie; Michael Preston as Mr. Marvel; Alan Rust as Bert, Spirit of Christmas Present, Mr. Fezziwig; Noble Shropshire as Mrs. Dilber, Jacob Marley; Charlie Tirrell as First Solicitor, Undertaker; and GillIan Williams as Fred's Wife, Belle.

The cast of A Christmas Carol also features student actors from The Hartt School: Lexi Alioto, Jenny Brescia, Patrick Chittendon, Alex Dilallo, Jacob Grannan, Michael Coale Grey, James Hussey, Laura Sue Johnson, Timothy Longo, Rebecca Maddy, Andrew Mazer, Madison Obery, Emmaline Riley, and Julian Sarria.

Local youngsters Ethan Pancoast and Fred Thornley IV will return to rotate the role of Tiny Tim. Other youth actors include Sophie Alter, Tiana N. Bailey, Alexander Bilodeau, Luciana Calcagno, Lauren Cassot, Meg Conner, Bridget Dawson, Padraigh Fitzgerald, Miranda Flood, Silvan Friedman, Tyra Harris, Campfield Heinrich, Emily May, AiDan McMillan, Dermot McMillan, Eric Murphy, Allegra Rosa, Ankit Roy, Ava Rozmajzl, Aleksei Sandals, Ben Stone-Zelman, Brandon Szep, John Henry Wenz and Sammy Wetstein.

A Christmas Carol features scenic design by Tony Straiges; costume design by Alejo Vietti; original costume design by Zach Brown; lighting design by Robert Wierzel; original music and sound design by John Gromada; choreography by Hope Clarke; and musical direction by Ken Clark. Derric Harris will serve as assistant choreographer; Gillian Lane-Plescia as dialect coach; Sarah Killough as dance captain; and Christina Pellegrini as youth director.

Since its arrival in Hartford, A Christmas Carol has garnered rave reviews not only from audiences, but from critics as well. The Hartford Courant calls A Christmas Carol at Hartford Stage, "the most sought after holiday experience going . . . It widens the eyes and hearts of children while redelivering adults to the most magical Christmases of their lives." The Wall Street Journal raves, "Outstandingly well-performed - a merry medley of trap doors, flying ghosts and sound effects that tickles the senses."

Information and Special Events

• Press/Opening Night is at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 6.

• A Christmas Carol Experience - Make your child's experience extra special with our A Christmas Carol Experience package. Enjoy unlimited hot cocoa, fill up a bag at our pre-show Candy Bar, decorate a cookie at intermission, and take photos with real costumes from the show. $10 per person (in addition to purchase of ticket for selected performances). December 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22 matinee performances.

• Behind the Magic - Our technically talented production staff hosts a behind-the-scenes look at all the amazing special effects that make ghosts soar through the air, snow fall, and bring our beloved production of A Christmas Carol To life! Take an exclusive look at the world of technical "magic" with the whole family. December 15 at 4 p.m. $5 per person (in addition to purchase of ticket for December 15 matinee performance).

• Family Fun Night - This is the night to bring kids of all ages to see A Christmas Carol! Before the show, our spooky ghosts will greet and entertain. After the show, get autographs from all your favorite characters! Thursday, December 19 at 6:30 p.m. Free with purchase of ticket for evening performance on December 19.

• Market Days - Get all of your holiday shopping done at Hartford Stage! Local vendors will showcase unique gift items in our lobby, free to the public from 12:30-2 p.m. Buy a ticket for the matinee performance of A Christmas Carol and you will have an extra chance to shop during intermission and post-show. Sundays, December 8 and 15.

The production runs November 29 to December 28. Evening performances are weeknights and weekends at 7:30 p.m. Matinee performances are Saturdays, Sundays and select weekdays at 2 p.m. For specific schedule of performances or to buy tickets for A Christmas Carol, call the Hartford Stage box office at 860-527-5151 or visit www.hartfordstage.org.

History of Hartford Stage: Now in our 50th Anniversary Season, Hartford Stage is one of the nation's leading resident theatres, known internationally for producing classics, provocative new plays and musicals, and neglected works from the past, as well as a distinguished education program that reaches 21,000 students annually. Hartford Stage has earned many of the nation's most distinguished awards, including a Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, the Margo Jones Award for Development of New Works, OBIE awards, two New York Critics Circle Awards, a Dramatists Guild/CBS Award and an Elliot Norton Award, and has produced nationally renowned titles, including the Broadway productions of Enchanted April and Our Country's Good and the Off-Broadway productions of The Orphans' Home Cycle and The Carpetbaggers Children. On November 17, 2013, the Hartford Stage production of A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder will open at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Broadway.

The leading provider of theatre education programs in Connecticut, Hartford Stage's offerings include student matinees, in-school theatre residencies, teen performance opportunities, theatre classes for students (ages 3-18) and adults, afterschool programs and professional development courses.

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