ISCLA's 10th Anniversary Production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL WITH CHARLES DICKENS Begins Tonight

INDEPENDENT SHAKESPEARE CO. (ISCLA), producers of the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival, presents the 10th anniversary production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL WITH CHARLES DICKENS.

In his lifetime, Charles Dickens was recognized not only as a great writer, but as an actor. His greatest successes on the stages of Britain and the United States were his solo performances of his own work. One of the first pieces he presented to great acclaim was A Christmas Carol. A CHRISTMAS CAROL WITH CHARLES DICKENS will perform at two venues this season.

ISCLA and Westfield will present four admission-free performances at The Village at Westfield Topanga from tonight, December 3 - Sunday December 6, (Thursday and Friday at 7pm, Saturday and Sunday at 6pm). Performances will also be presented at Independent Studio from Thursday, December 10 - Sunday, December 20 (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm) at Independent Studio in the Atwater Crossing Arts + Innovation Complex, 3191 Casitas Ave., #168 in Atwater Village.

In what has become a holiday tradition, ISCLA re-creates (with a little artistic license) the experience of a public reading given by Mr. Dickens himself. Based on the novelist's own adaptation, A CHRISTMAS CAROL WITH CHARLES DICKENS is performed by ISCLA co-founder David Melville as Charles Dickens, playing nearly every character in the story with musical accompaniment and dramatic interjections by a young American actress, Miss Aks.

This is ISCLA's tenth anniversary of presenting A CHRISTMAS CAROL WITH CHARLES DICKENS. Says David Melville, "In 2005, we put together this production as a little experiment. It was really supposed to be a one-off but it quickly became a holiday tradition for us and for audience members, many of whom have become close friends over the years. We have performed in numerous venues from living rooms to big theaters like The Geffen Playhouse and The Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara, from The Huntington to a 9th century Saxon church in Colchester, England. No matter where we are it is always a privilege to perform Mr. Dickens' wonderful words."

The performance of A CHRISTMAS CAROL WITH CHARLES DICKENS is full of the acting pyrotechnics Dickens was famous for as the two actors conjure a magical evening full of wry humor, ghosts, romance, and redemption.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST:

MELISSA CHALSMA (Director) is the Co-founder and Artistic Director of Independent Shakespeare Co. Under Melissa's leadership, the company created the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival, which has grown into the largest theater event of its kind in Los Angeles. She directs many ISCLA productions, including last season's Los Angeles Times Critic's Choice Twelfth Night at the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival, and at Independent Studio, Romeo & Juliet and Doctor Faustus. Other directing projects include the Western Premiere of Akio Miyazawa's Hinemi (California State University, Northridge). As an actor, she has been seen in leading roles in ISCLA productions, including Katharine in last season's The Taming of the Shrew and has performed at Shakespeare festivals across the US, on Broadway (including the American premiere of Harold Pinter's Moonlight with Jason Robards, Blythe Danner and Liev Schreiber) and in the UK, including at the Derby playhouse and London's Battersea Arts Center.

DAVID MELVILLE (Charles Dickens) is co-founder of Independent Shakespeare Co. and the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival. Roles for ISCLA include Hamlet, Richard II, Iago, Macbeth, Henry V, Benedick, Dr. Pinch, Feste, 10 seasons as Charles Dickens performing A Christmas Carol, a one-person Nicholas Nickleby, Charles Dickens in The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord, WH Ireland in the one man show Solemn Mockeries and Beauty Smith in the original musical Red Barn. Most recently, David starred in and co-wrote, with William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, Strange Eventful History. As a composer David has written the music for most of ISCLA's Shakespeare productions, Red Barn, and many of the songs for Dr. Pinch's vaudeville show. London appearances include the Almeida Theatre productions of Hamlet (also Broadway) and Ivanov(both of which featured Ralph Fiennes), Mother Courage (with Glenda Jackson) and Henry VI in The Wax King (The Man in the Moon). TV and film includes: Lawrence of America; Ironclad; The Understudy andPerfection. Earlier in his career, David was a private detective and then brand ambassador for Bombay Sapphire - traveling the United States preaching the virtues of gin and discussing golf with liquor executives. David trained at the Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

JULIA AKS (Miss Aks) is a Los Angeles-based singer/actress, with work spanning Shakespeare, opera, musical theater, plays, and film. She is a proud member of the Independent Shakespeare Co., and has performed as Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Fabian in Twelfth Night, and Pimple in She Stoops To Conquer at the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival. A trained mezzo-soprano, she has sung the roles of Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro , Nicklausse in Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Pitti-Sing in The Mikado, and Dorabella in Così fan tutte. She also sings seasonally with the L.A. Opera Chorus and the innovative contemporary opera company The Industry, recently appearing in Hopscotch. Regional musical theater roles include Cinderella in Into the Woods, Ulla in The Producers , and Mary Moore in the world premiere musical Red Barn. Ms. Aks is also a member of the Ovation Award-winning Fugitive Kind Theater Company, devoted to new works and reimagined classics. On screen, Julia can be seen as Kelsey Peterson in the horror comedy feature film Clinger and as The Artist in the feature The Watermelon. She is also leading lady Scarlet Ruby Müller in the groundbreaking transmedia romance series The Elements Club. Upcoming projects in 2016 include: Orfeus and Euridice with Brava Opera Theater in Ashland, OR and La Bohème with the L.A. Opera Chorus.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL WITH CHARLES DICKENS will perform at two venues -

The Village at Westfield Topanga

Thursday, December 3 - Sunday, December 6.

Thursday & Friday at 7pm

Saturday & Sunday at 6pm

The Koi Pond, 6250 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Independent Studio

Thursday, December 10 - Sunday, December 20.

Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2pm

Atwater Crossing Arts + Innovation Complex, 3191 Casitas Ave., #168 in Atwater Village, Los Angeles, CA 90039. Ample free lot and street parking.

For tickets, call (818) 710-6306 or buy online at www.iscla.org.

ISCLA's NEW TICKETING PRICES

Generous Admission - $35. Support ISCLA's initiative to provide access across income and age!

General Admission - $20. ISCLA's affordable ticket price.

Free! 10 free tickets are available for each performance so that price is not an obstacle to attending live theater. Call the office for information and to make a reservation.

For tickets, call (818) 710-6306 or buy online at www.iscla.org.

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