J.C. Cutler to Lead A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Guthrie Theater, 11/13-12/29

The Guthrie Theater today announced the full cast and creative team for the Theater's 2012 production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, presented by U.S. Bank. The perennial holiday favorite, now in its 38th year at the Guthrie, will feature a script by British playwright Crispin Whittell and be directed by Joe Chvala. Chvala is the founder and artistic director of the Flying Foot Forum and has previously served as movement director for the production. Longtime Guthrie actor J.C. Cutler will take on the role of grubby miser Ebenezer Scrooge. Cutler has been involved in 30 productions at the Guthrie since 1993, including five productions of A Christmas Carol – appearing as Ebenezer Scrooge (2011), Bob Cratchit (1995, 1997), Banker (1996) and Young Scrooge (1993, 1994) – and was last seen on a Guthrie stage in this past spring's American premiere of Conor McPherson's The Birds.

More than 800 actors have appeared in the Guthrie holiday production of Dickens' immortal story over the last 37 years, including many recognizable local names, as well as actors with flourishing careers outside the Twin Cities in film and television. This year's production features returning cast members Sam Bardwell (Topper / Dick Wilkins / Jobber #2), Robert O. Berdahl (The Ghost of Christmas Present / Ali Baba / Bull, a Banker), Virginia S. Burke (Mrs. Cratchit / Robinson Crusoe's Parrot), Bob Davis (Old Joe / Jacob Marley), Nathaniel Fuller (George, the Bailiff / Mr. Sykes, the Schoolmaster / Bear, a Banker), Summer Hagen (Daisy Fezziwig / Mabel), Tracey Maloney (The Ghost of Christmas Past, Mrs. Polkinghorne), Kris L. Nelson (Bob Cratchit / Donald), Isabell Monk O'Connor (Mrs. Dilber / Bumble), Angela Timberman (Merriweather) and Suzanne Warmanen (Mrs. Fezziwig / Bunty).

In addition to Bardwell, this year's production will feature the talents of seven other University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater B.F.A. Actor Training Program alumni, including Paris Hunter Paul (Young Scrooge / Broker), Stuart Gates (Mr. Wimple / David), Hugh Kennedy (Fred / Daniel / Jobber #1), Susanna Stahlman (Belle / Wimple's Wife / Kitty, Fred's Wife), Anna Reichert (Deidre Fezziwig / Sally), Torsten Johnson (The Ghost of Christmas Future / Belle's Husband) and Christine Weber (Dora Fezziwig / Street Lady / Jane).

Returning to the production, after appearing in previous productions is Jay Albright (Mr. Fezziwig / Mr. Bones / Scrooge's Priest).

A 13-member children's ensemble rounds out the cast. Returning ensemble members include Hazel Cutting, Andrew Moy, Ella Nelson, Noah Ratgen, Alexis Torrez and Noah Ross as Tiny Tim.
Joining this year's ensemble are Carley Clover, Ethan Davenport, Shawnee Elliott, Alec Fisher, Delaney Murray, Martin Stewart and Saharla Vetsch.

The artistic team includes Walt Spangler (Set Designer), Mathew J. LeFebvre (Costume Designer), Christopher Akerlind (Lighting Designer), Ryan Conneally (Recreated Lighting Design), Keith Thomas (Composer) and Scott W. Edwards (Sound Designer).

The production team includes Jo Holcomb (Dramaturg), D'Arcy Smith (Voice and Dialect Coach), Lucinda Holshue (Voice and Dialect Coach), Michele Harms (Stage Manager), Doug Scholz-Carlon (Assistant Director) and Jason Clusman (Assistant Stage Manager).

Firmly rooted as a ghost story, just as Dickens conceived it, the Guthrie's production of A Christmas Carol begins in a snowstorm in the middle of a London graveyard, slowly receding as the hustle and bustle of the London streets come in to view. Most will know what happens next, but just how it will happen is a holiday surprise. A miserly and miserable man, Scrooge resents generosity on all occasions and greets each Christmas with his well-known "bah humbug," until he is visited one Christmas Eve by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future. Through a restless night, the three spirits show him happy memories from his past, cruel realities from the present and the desolate future should he continue his cantankerous ways. From that point forward, no one has kept Christmas as faithfully or fruitfully as old Ebenezer Scrooge, whose story of redemption, beloved by audiences for years, remains as powerful and uplifting as it ever was.

A Christmas Carol begins preview performances on November 13, opens November 17 and continues through December 29, 2012, on the Wurtele Thrust Stage. Single tickets start at $29 and are now on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE, 612.225.6244 (Group Sales) and online at www.guthrietheater.org.

The GUTHRIE THEATER (Joe Dowling, Director) was founded by Sir Tyrone Guthrie in 1963 and is an American center for theater performance, production, education and professional training. The Tony Award-winning Guthrie Theater is dedicated to producing the great works of dramatic literature, developing the work of contemporary playwrights and cultivating the next generation of theater artists. With annual attendance of nearly 500,000 people, the Guthrie Theater presents a mix of classic plays and contemporary work on its three stages. Under the artistic leadership of Joe Dowling since 1995, the Guthrie continues to set a national standard for excellence in theatrical production and performance. In 2006, the Guthrie opened its new home on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, the Guthrie Theater houses three state-of-the-art stages, production facilities, classrooms and dramatic public lobbies. www.guthrietheater.org

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