J.C. Cutler to Play Scrooge in Guthrie's 37th Annual A Christmas Carol

Guthrie Theater Artistic Director Joe Dowling today announced that longtime Guthrie actor J. C. Cutler will play the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in the Theater's 2011 production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, presented by U.S. Bank. Cutler has appeared in 30 productions at the Guthrie since 1993, including five productions of A Christmas Carol - appearing as Bob Cratchit (1995, 1997), Banker (1996) and Young Scrooge (1993, 1994) - and was last seen on a Guthrie stage in this past spring's production of George Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man.

The perennial holiday favorite, now in its 37th year at the Guthrie, will again be directed by Dowling and feature a script British playwright Crispin Whittell.

"I played Young Scrooge twice, so it will be interesting to explore the older side of him. I've never done that before in my entire career," said Cutler. "I've watched a lot of great actors play this character - Nat Fuller, Richard Ooms, Jarlath Conroy and Raye Birk. I'm thrilled and humbled that I'll get to work with Joe and Crispin on this production."

Cutler is the 20th Guthrie actor to play the role of Scrooge since the Theater began presenting Dickens' immortal story as an annual holiday tradition in 1975. Past Scrooges include, King Donovan (1975), Jeff Chandler (1976-1977), Jake Dengel (1978-1979), Richard Hilger (1980-1981), Seth Allen (1982), Richard Ooms (1983-1985, 1991-1995), John Lewin (1986-1988), John Bottoms (1989), Bruce Bohne (1990), Nathanial Fuller (1992-1995), Robert Stattel (1996), Jarlath Conroy (1997-1998), Philip Goodwin (1999), Charles Janasz (2000), Peter Michael Goetz (2001-2003, 2009), Charles Keating (2004), Raye Birk (2005-2008) and, most recently, Daniel Gerroll (2010).

The complete cast and creative team will be announced shortly.

A Christmas Carol begins preview performances on November 19, opens November 26 and continues through December 30, 2011, on the Wurtele Thrust Stage. Single tickets start at $29 and go on sale Tuesday, September 6 at 11 a.m. through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224 <tel:612.377.2224>, toll-free 877.44.STAGE, 612.225.6244 <tel:612.225.6244> (Group Sales) and online at www.guthrietheater.org <http://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 <http://www.guthrietheater.org/>

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