Tom Atkins & More to Lead Pittsburgh CLO's A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS CAROL; Full Cast Announced

Pittsburgh CLO has announced casting for the 22nd annual production of A Musical Christmas Carol this December at the Byham Theatre. This talented cast will feature Pittsburgh CLO veterans and an exciting group of newcomers, led by Pittsburgh's own Tom Atkins as Ebenezer Scrooge. Tickets are now available by calling 412-456-6666, online at pittsburghCLO.org or at the Theater Square Box Office.

Tom Atkins (Ebenezer Scrooge) returns for a sixth consecutive appearance in A Musical Christmas Carol. Mr. Atkins is perhaps best known for his numerous film and television credits, including "Escape from New York," "The Fog," "Creepshow," "Lethal Weapon," "Bob Roberts," "Striking Distance" and "My Bloody Valentine 3D," as well as "M*A*S*H," "The Rockford Files," "Homicide" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." A Pittsburgh native, he has performed in numerous Pittsburgh Public Theater Productions, most notably starring as Art Rooney Sr. in The Chief. On Broadway, he appeared in The Changing Room and The Front Page.

Patrick Cannon (Town Crier/Young Scrooge/Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come) is a Pittsburgh native last seen as George Gibbs in Our Town with Pittsburgh Public Theater and Eteocles in Oedipus with No Name Players. Mr. Cannon is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago and West Allegheny High School.

Justin Fortunato (Fred/Businessman) joins the cast of A Musical Christmas Carol for the second time. In 2011, he played the role of Dick Wilkins. Mr. Fortunato has worked as an actor and director for companies around Pittsburgh including Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh Public, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre, The REP, Primestage Theater, Carrnivale Theatrics and St. Vincent's Theatre.

Jodi Gage (Belle/Bess) returns to A Musical Christmas Carol for her sixth year. Selected credits include: Lady Windermere's Fan (Lady Windermere) PICT; [Title of Show] (Heidi) The Company of Pittsburgh; Becky's New Car (Becky) The REP; Crimes of the Heart (Meg) Theatre Factory. She is currently a M.F.A. candidate at Point Park University.

Lisa Ann Goldsmith (Mrs. Cratchit) has performed with many notable companies regionally and Off-Broadway, and her next role will be Laurel in Torch Song Trilogy at Human Race Theatre Company. Ms. Goldsmith has appeared locally with Pittsburgh Public Theater, PICT, The REP, Quantum Theatre, and Unseam'd Shakespeare. She is a member of AEA, SDC, and SAG-AFTRA, and has many notable film and television credits as an actor, director and casting director.

Tim Hartman (Charity Worker/Businessman/Mr. Fezziwig/Ghost of Christmas Present) returns to A Musical Christmas Carol for the 16th time. Broadway: A Tale of Two Cities and Finian's Rainbow. Favorite Pittsburgh roles include Don Quixote in The Man of LaMancha, Thenardier in Les Miserables, The Mysterious Man/Narrator in Into the Woods, Daddy Warbucks in Annie, El Gallo in the Fantasticks and Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music. Other favorites include Falstaff in Henry IV parts one and two, and C.S. Lewis in the Pittsburgh premiere of Shadowlands. Tim has also appeared as Merlin in Camelot, Ziegfeld in Funny Girl, Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, and 24 characters in the one man show The Cotton Patch Gospel. Movie credits include Silence of the Lambs, the Piano Lesson, The Mothman Prophecies, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh and The Fault in our Stars. Mr. Hartman is also an award-winning storyteller. www.timhartman.com

Jeff Howell (Bob Cratchit) counts Sunset Boulevard, Beauty and the Beast, Candide, Bells are Ringing, Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge, Chicago and Man of LaMancha among his many theater credits. Television credits include "All My Children," "The Young and the Restless," "Equal Justice" and "The Oksana Baiul Story." Films: "The Cemetery Club," "Sudden Death," "The Dark Half" and "The Bride in Black." Work with the Pittsburgh Symphony includes A Tribute to Lerner and Loewe, Of Thee I Sing, Classical Rap and Peter and the Wolf.

Brian Knoebel (Peter Cratchit) returns to the cast of A Musical Christmas Carol for the second year. Regional: Mirror Mirror (Tunnel Theatre Company), A Child's Guide to Heresy (The REP), Suite Surrender (St. Vincent Summer Theatre). Film: Yellow Fever, Legion, Last of Kin. Graduate from Point Park University. www.BrianKnoebel.net

Daniel Krell (Businessman/Marley) has appeared in over 30 productions with Pittsburgh CLO and has acted in major roles in the area's professional theatres such as the Public, City Theatre, Quantum, Bricolage, PICT, and The Playhouse Rep, to name a few and in regional theatres such as Clarence Brown Theatre and Gateway Playhouse among others. Mr. Krell is also a veteran of many films, commercials, industrials, and voice-overs. Up next: Company at the Public.

Simon Nigam (Tiny Tim) is a Pittsburgh CLO Academy student and eight-year-old second grader at Falk Laboratory School, reprising the role of Tiny Tim for a second time.

J. Alex Noble (Goose Vendor/School Master/Toy Train Vendor/Topper) returns to Pittsburgh CLO after appearances in A Musical Christmas Carol, Annie, Fiddler on the Roof and Sunset Boulevard at the Benedum Center. He has been seen on stage with Stage Right!, PMT, WVPT and The REP. Mr. Noble is a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Point Park University.

Amanda Serra (Charity Worker/Ghost of Christmas Past/Peg) returns to the cast of A Musical Christmas Carol for the 13th time. Other Pittsburgh CLO credits include: Music Man, Hello, Dolly, Me and My Girl and The Sound of Music. New York credits: Disembodied Heads, Dialing For Donna, Amahl and the Night Visitors and Ripper - the Musical. Regional credits: Evita, Oliver!, Light in the Piazza, Two By Two, Pajama Game and Bells Are Ringing. www.amandaserra.net

Garrett Storm (Dick Wilkins/Tom Watkins/Undertaker) is a graduate of Point Park University. This past spring he performed with the CLO Gallery of Heroes program in We the People - The Musical (Sam). Recent credits: Ferdinand in The Tempest (Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks), Domitian in Elephants (Raymond Laine One Act Festival), Ian in Helping Out (Pittsburgh New Works Festival, 2012).

Erika Strasburg (Missy Watkins/Laundress) is a graduate from Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama. Credits include: City Theatre, Bristol Riverside Theatre, Irondale Ensemble Project, Millbrook Playhouse, and a national tour with AFT.

Terry Wickline (Mrs. Dilber/Mrs. Fezziwig) returns to A Musical Christmas Carol for the 14th year. She was recently seen in Pittsburgh Public Theater's production of Our Town (Mrs. Soames) and in Theatre by the Sea's 80th Anniversary season production of Nunsense (Reverend Mother). Regional credits include The Importance of Being Ernest, The Grapes of Wrath and Crazy For You. Her Pittsburgh CLO credits include The Sound of Music, The Music Man, Hello, Dolly!, Me and My Girl, My Fair Lady, Funny Girl, Crazy For You and Bye Bye, Birdie, as well as Always...Patsy Cline and Nunsense at the CLO Cabaret.

Magan Dee Yantko (Fan/Alice) is making her Pittsburgh CLO debut. She is currently a Senior B.F.A. Musical Theater Major at Point Park University and has worked with companies such as, The Cleveland Public Theater, Prime Stage, Carrnivale Theatrics, The Theater Factory, and Playhouse Jr. Favorite roles include Natalie in Next to Normal, Clarisse in Fahrenheit 451 and Ollie in Yo! Vikings.

The cast is rounded out by a host of carolers and party guests.

Sal Bucci (Caroler) returns to Pittsburgh CLO after last appearing in the 2012 Summer Season productions of Annie, Sunset Boulevard and Fiddler on the Roof. His past credits include Kiss Me Kate, Rent, and Peter Pan (Dir. Michael Lichtefeld) with Penn State Centre Stage. Upcoming; Sweeney Todd (Penn State Centre Stage, Dir. Susan H. Schulman). www.sal-bucci.com. BFA-Penn State University, 2013.

Erin Lindsey Krom (Caroler/Martha Cratchit) returns to A Musical Christmas Carol for her second year. Most recently, Ms. Krom appeared in Our Town (Emily Webb) at Pittsburgh Public Theatre and just prior to that in Cabaret (Sally Bowles) at Playhouse on Park. Other credits: Side Show (Daisy) Secret Theatre, Peter Pan (Wendy) Tuacahn Amphitheatre, Private Lives (Sibyl) Everyman Theatre. For more information: www.erinlindseykrom.com.

Kara Mikula (Caroler) returns to Pittsburgh CLO after appearing as Lita Encore in Ruthless! The Musical and the 2012 Summer Season. Credits include: Grease (Cha-Cha) at The Gateway Theatre; Funny Girl (Mrs. O'Malley) at the Riverside Theatre; The Music Man (Ethel Toffelmier) at KCStarligh and The Boys from Syracuse (Luce) at Surflight Theatre. She is a graduate of Point Park University.

Scott P. Sambuco (Caroler) returns for his 13th appearance in A Musical Christmas Carol. PCLO: Bye, Bye, Birdie, Crazy for You, Grand Hotel, Guys and Dolls, Annie, My Fair Lady, Funny Girl, She Loves Me, Pirates..., 1776, 42nd Street and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Pittsburgh Public Theatre, PMT, WVPT, Stage Right, Stages St. Louis 10 seasons, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Bernstein Gala (European Tour), TUTS, Burt Reynolds Jupiter Theatre, North Shore Music Theatre, as well as many others.

Several Pittsburgh CLO Academy students will also take part in the holiday production.

JoNathan Parker (Turkey Boy, Cratchit Child) is an 11-year-old sixth grader at Propel East Charter School in Turtle Creek. He appeared in the Pittsburgh CLO Academy production of The Little Mermaid, Jr. this summer. Mr. Parker enjoys musical theater, and attends the Pittsburgh CLO Academy.

Felicia Niebel (Cratchit Child) is currently a 5th grade student at Sewickley Academy in her 5th year at Pittsburgh CLO Academy. She has appeared in the Pittsburgh CLO productions of Annie (Molly) and Jesus Christ Superstar. She previously performed in PBT's The Nutcracker.

Lucia Williams (Cratchit Child) is a sixth grade student at St. Louise de Marillac School who also studies at the Pittsburgh CLO Academy and the Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh. She has appeared in the Pittsburgh CLO productions of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Annie and Fiddler on the Roof, in addition to the Pittsburgh CLO Academy productions of Hairspray, Alice in Wonderland and Cats.

Mario Williams (Cratchit Child) is a third grader at St. Louise de Marillac School and 2nd year student at the Pittsburgh CLO Academy, where he appeared in Flat Stanley and Winnie the Pooh. He returns to the cast of A Musical Christmas Carol for the second year.

About the Creative Team

Tim Gregory (Director) is back for a sixth year directing A Musical Christmas Carol. He is the Founding Artistic Director of Provision Theater Company in Chicago, where some of his directing credits include Provision Theater's Jefferson Award-Nominated productions of A Christmas Carol, The Hiding Place and the critically-acclaimed production CS Lewis On Stage.

McCrae Hardy (Musical Director/Keyboards) previously served as music director/conductor for the North Carolina Theatre in Raleigh, NC from 1984-2005 as well as numerous other theatres. Currently, he is the Conductor for The Triangle Youth Symphony. He holds the Raleigh Medal of Arts "for extraordinary achievement in the arts."

Andrew David Ostrowski (Lighting Designer) has a host of international credits including productions in France, Scotland, Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands and Switzerland. National credits: The Asolo, The Arden, Madison Opera, Merrimack Rep., Virginia Stage, North Shore Music Theater, Spoleto USA, amongst others. Local credits: City Theatre, Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh Ballet, PICT, PNME, The Rep and many others.

The stage manager for this production will be Fredric H. Orner. This production features original scenery by D Martyn Bookwalter.

A Musical Christmas Carol will be presented at the Byham Theater (6th & Fort Duquesne Boulevard) December 6-22. Tickets range from $28.75 - $60.75 with half-price tickets for children 3-14 and are now available by calling 412-456-6666, online at pittsburghCLO.org or at the Theater Square Box Office.

Special events available for groups include School Matinees Dec. 5-6, 11-13 and 18-20, A Very Merry Meal with Lidia's Pittsburgh on December 8 and several Girl Scouting events including a Sleepover and Pizza Parties. You can also pair a meal at your favorite restaurant with a performance of A Musical Christmas Carol. Let our holiday party planners do the work for you. For more information on these and other group events and discounts, please call Group Sales at 412-325-1582.

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