Farmington Players Presents A CHRISTMAS CAROL, 12/2-12/18

The Farmington players will bring Charles Dickens' classic ghost story to life in a whole new way December 2nd - 18th. This fresh approach to A CHRISTMAS CAROL, finds Dickens himself hosting a Christmas Eve party in 1843 for friends and family. They ask him to tell a story, but he refuses to work. So, if they are to be entertained they will have to improvise their own tale.

They soon transform into the familiar characters of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, to perform a play within a play. The story unfolds with ten cast members handling more than 40 parts and Dickens doubling as Scrooge.

On The Farmington Players stage, Dickens/Scrooge is played by well-known Barn member Dorne LeFere, who most recently portrayed Max Bialystock in the Barn's spring musical, THE PRODUCERS.

LeFere enjoys switching between Dickens, whom he calls a "fun loving full-of- life writer," and the crotchety Scrooge, who interacts with the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future on the road to redemption. "I love the challenge of going between the characters, sometimes within the same paragraph," says LeFere.

He believes audiences will be captivated by the unique version of the familiar holiday fable. "The story is so timeless and uplifting that you can't watch it without coming away feeling good," says LeFere.

Director Nancy Cooper feels this version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL is a real treat for families. She invites parents and children to visit the Barn and experience "the spirits" of Christmas. "The Christmas Carol allows audiences to see within the heart and soul of Dickens," says Cooper. "Who would ever think of a ghost story at Christmas? But the story wasn't just scary. It was happy, sad, funny, joyful, remorseful, and above all, hopeful! ," she says. "How wonderful to think that you can wake up in the morning and truly be a better person! "

Tickets for A CHRISTMAS CAROL are available now at farmingtonplayers.org or at the box office 248-553-2955. Questions about the show may be emailed to Achristmascarol@farmingtonplayers.org.

On Friday December 2nd, patrons can mingle and share holiday treats with Dickens/Scrooge, and the rest of the cast and crew of A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

The Barn added two Saturday matinees on December 10th and 17th at 2pm to accommodate families who prefer to come during the day. Children will get to take photos with Scrooge after both shows.

Show Dates & Times

Friday December 2, 8pm
Saturday December 3, 8pm
Sunday December 4, 2pm - seniors $2 off
Thursday December 8, 8pm - Thrifty Thursday $2 Off
Friday December 9, 8pm
Saturday December 10, 2pm & 8pm
Sunday December 11, 2pm
Thursday December 15, 8pm-Thrifty Thursday $2 Off
Friday December 16, 8pm
Saturday December 17, 2pm & 8pm
Sunday December 18, 2pm

Tickets are available at both www.farmingtonplayers.org and the box office at 248-553-2955.

Ticket prices are:

• Adults: $16
• Students: $2 off any performance
• Senior Sunday: $2 off ONLY on December 4
• Thrifty Thursday: $2 off ONLY on December 8 & December 15
• Group Discounts: $2 off any show with a group of ten or more people.

The Farmington Players Barn is located at 32332 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills Michigan 48334. It's the big white barn on the north side of 12 mile between Orchard Lake and Farmington Rd.

You can find The Farmington Players at farmingtonplayers.org and also on Facebook. The Barn began as an off-shoot of the American Association of University Women. Their first production, The Torchbearers, was performed at a local church. After performing in various city and educational locations, The Farmington Players moved into an old dairy barn located on the site of their present facility on West Twelve Mile Road.

Initially, productions were staged downstairs on a dirt floor. Over the years, improvements to the original Barn transformed it into a more finished space, with the theater itself eventually moving upstairs into a traditional and finished setting.

Since 1953, The Farmington Players have staged more than 185 different musicals, dramas, mysteries and comedies, all as a community theater with 100% volunteer membership.
People from Farmington, Farmington Hills and beyond have come to recognize the group as a true community resource. Since the completion of its state-of-the-art facility in 2003, The Farmington Players Barn Theater has expanded its mission, serving as the site for city-sponsored events such as youth theater camps in the summer, concerts with groups as varied as Blackthorn and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and as a meeting place for various groups.

The Farmington Players have been saving money over the years to enhance the onstage experience at The Barn. In November, 2009 they installed a new rigging system in the vast fly space. Show Directors are thrilled to finally have the ability to fly in flats and use drops to set scenes in a matter of seconds. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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