Curtain Up Productions and Downtown Arts Center of New Jersey to Present A CHRISTMAS CAROL and A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

Curtain Up Productions and the Downtown Performing Arts Center of Lambertville, NJ are ready to ring in the holiday season with the annual return of two special productions: A Christmas Carol and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Both shows, set to run from Friday, December 16 through Sunday, December 18, will be performed at the South Hunterdon Regional High School Theatre located at 301 Mount Airy-Harbourton Road in Lambertville, New Jersey.

A Christmas Carol will be performed on Friday, December 16 at 7:30, Saturday, December 17 at 3 pm and 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 18 at 3 pm. Tickets are $18.00 for adults, $13.00 for children (12 and under) and seniors. Special rates are available for groups of 12 or more. Tickets can be purchased online at www.downtownpac.com.

This season's production will include a first. On Sunday, December 18, A Christmas Carol will be ASL-interpreted for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Prior to each show, audience members are asked to bring new or gently used mittens, hats and scarves that will be donated to Fisherman's Mark in Lambertville, NJ. For over 30 years, Fisherman's Mark has supported low-income individuals and families with programs designed to create a sense of dignity by providing basic needs and the skills necessary to become self-sufficient.

Called by The New York Times "a tonic for adults, and for children a transfixing journey," A Christmas Carol ran for ten years at Madison Square Garden and in 2004, became the basis of an NBC Hallmark Entertainment special starring Kelsey Grammer as Ebenezer Scrooge. But even without starry casts and spectacular trappings, this A Christmas Carol retains its emotional power and pure joy, thanks to the marvelously-told story by Mike Ockrent and Lynn Ahrens, and the Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens score filled with beautiful melodies and emotional lyrics. In fact, their song "A Place Called Home" has become a holiday standard.

Since 2010, the Downtown Performing Arts Center and Curtain Up Productions have made A Christmas Carol a holiday staple featuring several actors who return annually to perform in the production. Lambertville resident David Whiteman reprises the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, a part he first played in 2010. David has performed extensively on Pennsylvania and New Jersey stages and appeared this past summer in numerous productions at the Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre. Louis Palena will again play Bob Cratchit. Louis has entertained audiences on both sides of the Delaware River for almost two decades and has been the Artistic Director for the Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre. The cast of A Christmas Carol also includes Jill Palena who returns as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Michael Moeller as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Damian Bartolacci who will once again play Jacob Marley along with many performers from the Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre.

In addition to A Christmas Carol, A Charlie Brown Christmas returns for two special performances on Saturday, December 17 at 11 am and 1 pm. Tickets are $6 for children and adults and available on the day of the performance prior to each show.

Based on the holiday television special and featuring Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the Peanuts gang, A Charlie Brown Christmas touches on the commercialization of Christmas and serves to remind audiences of the true meaning of the season.

A Christmas Carol and A Charlie Brown Christmas presented by Curtain Up Productions and the Downtown Performing Arts Center and winter clothing drive to benefit Fisherman's Mark in Lambertville, NJ will take place on Friday, December 16 through Sunday, December 18 at the South Hunterdon Regional High School Theatre located at 301 Mount Airy-Harbourton Rd. in Lambertville, New Jersey. Reserved seating for A Christmas Carolmay be purchased in advance online at www.downtownpac.com. Tickets for both productions will also be available at the door prior to each performance.

Discover why A CHRISTMAS CAROL is a true community creation here.

Photo caption: The cast of A Christmas Carol presented by the Downtown Performing Arts Center and Curtain Up Productions returns to Lambertville, NJ in December. Photo by Chris Green

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