JACOB MARLEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL Comes to Stage West

"Scrooge? I have to redeem old Scrooge? The one man I knew who was worse than I was? Impossible!"

That's Jacob Marley's reaction when he finds out what he has to accomplish, in order to change his fate. Tom Mula's amazing and funny tour-de-force Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, starring acclaimed actor Emily Scott Banks, comes back by popular demand for a 3-week run in The Studio at Stage West on Thursday, December 6.

We're all familiar with Jacob Marley's nocturnal visit to his former business partner, Ebenezer Scrooge. But how did it come about? This piece takes audiences along for Marley's amazing (and often hilarious) journey to the Mouth of Hell-and beyond! After his death, Marley learns of the chains he is doomed to wear for all eternity-unless he can manage to bring about a change of heart in Scrooge. But how? With the questionable aid of a hell-sprite called The Bogle, Marley concocts a desperate plan. And if it works, Marley may not only open Scrooge's heart, but his own as well. This "behind the scenes" look at a much-loved story provides a fun holiday treat for audiences.

Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol played for two seasons at Chicago's Goodman Theatre, receiving four Joseph Jefferson Award nominations, and the Goodman School of Drama's Cunningham Prize for Playwriting. The play has since been performed to rave reviews and standing ovations in theatres such as Cincinnati Shakespeare, American Stage Festival, Delaware Rep, Bristol Riverside Theatre, Stages Repertory in Houston, North Coast Rep, Third Avenue Playhouse, Sage Theatre Group, and the 1894 Opera House. For seven seasons, it has also been broadcast nationally on NPR.

The Star-Telegram said, of our 2015 production, "Brilliant. You are not likely to find a tastier Christmas pudding at any theatre this holiday season."

Tom Mula has been an award-winning playwright, actor, and director for more than twenty-five years. He received two Joseph Jefferson Awards for his play Golem at the National Jewish Theatre and for his work on Nicole Hollander's hit musical, Sylvia's Real Good Advice. His novel of "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol" was published by Adams Media; it became a best-seller. The audio version received an INDI Award for Spoken Word. Mr. Mula teaches at Columbia College as an Artist-in-Residence.

Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol is being directed by Stage West's Garret Storms, who just directed The Moors for Theatre Three, and also directed Stage West's 2018 productions of HIR and Like a Billion Likes. It will star local favorite Emily Scott Banks, whose recent acting credits include Agatha in The Moors (Theatre Three) and Angel in Angels in America Part II: Perestroika (Uptown Players).

Set and Lighting by L. W. Miller. Costume design is by Garret Storms and Peggy Kruger-O'Brien, with sound design by Storms. Props and set décor are by Lynn Lovett.

Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol will preview Thursday, December 6 at 7:30 and Friday, December 7 at 8:00, and will run through Sunday, December 23. Performance times will be Thursday evenings at 7:30, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00, with Sunday matinees at 3:00. There will be an opening night reception on Saturday, December 8. Ticket prices range from $31 to $35, with discounts for the preview performance, and for students, seniors, and military. Food service is available 90 minutes prior to performances (reservations are necessary). Reservations and information are available through the Box Office (817-784-9378), or on the website, www.stagewest.org.

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