Artists Rep Presents Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol

Literature's favorite quirky inquisitor is infused with the spirit of a crotchety Ebenezer Scrooge in an unusual holiday show crafted by Seattle veteran playwright John Longenbaugh. After failed attempts by Dr. Watson to cheer Holmes into celebrating the holiday season, the unrepentant, ill-tempered detective is forced to deduce the facts and solve the most important mystery of his life - past, present and future.

"It is truly remarkable how Longenbaugh has intertwined the two stories, two literary characters, in such a seamless, graceful and witty way," said Jon Kretzu, Director and Artists Rep's Associate Artistic Director. "He honors the Christmas Carol and Dickens without being over the top, and understands that the three themes Dickens uses time and time again are the most important elements for keeping an audience captivated: Fear, regret and hope."

Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol premiered at Taproot Theatre Company in Seattle to standing room only houses for the 2010 holidays and received excellent reviews. This is its second production and first production outside of Seattle. The playwright is currently working on the novel with talk of a screenplay in the future. "It is very exciting to be on the ground floor of this production's life," said Jon Kretzu.

Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol
Written by: John Longenbaugh
Directed by: Jon Kretzu
Performance Dates: November 15 - December 24
Wednesday through Sunday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2pm
Wednesday matinee at 11am on Dec. 7
Opening Night is Friday, Nov. 18
No performance on Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 24
7:30pm performance on Tuesday, Nov. 22
2pm performance on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24
Venue: Artists Repertory Theatre - Alder Stage (16th and Alder St.)
Tickets: $25-$50; Students $20
Box Office: 503.241.1278 or www.artistsrep.org

CAST
Holmes Michael Mendelson
Watson Todd Van Voris
Mrs. Hudson Vana O'Brien
Becky Amy Newman
Moriarty Tobias Anderson
Young Holmes Matthew Kerrigan
Lestrade Nathan Crosby
Old Garrison Gary Powell

PRODUCTION
Set Designer Jeff Seats
Lighting Designer Jeff Forbes
Sound Designer Rodolfo Ortega
Costume Designer Jessica Bobillot
Props Designer Kate Mura
Stage Manager Tozzi McDowell
Production Assistants Olivia Murphy, Lauren Mitchell

John Longenbaugh, Playwright
John Longenbaugh has been writing and directing plays in Seattle and elsewhere for over 20 years. A graduate of London's Central School of Speech and Drama, he's been the artistic director of Ursa Major Theatre and Theatre Babylon, and has written nearly a dozen full-length plays and a lot of shorter ones. Favorites include Scotch and Donuts, Little White Pill, The Man Who Was Thursday (staged at Taproot in 2002), How to be Cool, and the collected evening of shorts Arcana, recently staged at Open Circle Theatre. He is a member of the Dramatist Guild, a board member of Seattle Playwrights Alliance, and an active member of The Sound of the Baskervilles, a scion organization of the Baker Street Irregulars and most recently was nominated for a 2011 Gregory Award as a playwright.

Jon Kretzu, Director
Jon Kretzu is in his 19th season as Associate Artistic Director at Artists Repertory Theatre, where he has directed over 40 productions for the company including the world premieres of Tracy Letts' Three Sisters, Marc Acito and C.S Whitcomb's Holidazed, Joseph Fisher's The Seagull, The New House, Richard Kramer's adaptation of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard as well as The Lieutenant of Inishmore, A Streetcar Named Desire, The History Boys, Othello, Design For Living, All My Sons, Speech and Debate, Orson's Shadow, The Retreat from Moscow, Mr. Marmalade, Assassins, Humble Boy, Death of a Salesman, Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge, The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?, The Laramie Project, Dinner with Friends, Master Class, Present Laughter, A Question of Mercy, Indiscretions, Keely and Du, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Breaking the Code, Chaps!, The Sea, The Normal Heart, The Destiny of Me, Buried Child, The Artificial Jungle, Three Tall Women (USIA International Tour) and co-directed House and Garden with Allen Nause. Other Portland directing credits include Cloud 9 for Theatre Vertigo, Dracula for Northwest Classical Theatre Company; The Carpetbagger's Children for Profile Theatre; Guys and Dolls for The Musical Theatre Company; Romeo and Juliet, A Winter's Tale, Much Ado About Nothing and As You Like It for Tygres Heart Shakespeare Company; Waiting for Vern, Jeffrey, Bent and The Sum of Us for triangle! productions; Broadway Bound and Hay Fever for Portland Repertory Theater; The Importance of Being Earnest for New Rose Theatre; The Mystery of Irma Vep for Storefront Theatre; and Down the Road for the Oregon One-Act Festival. Jon has also directed numerous productions in Seattle, Milwaukee, San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles, including Abduction from the Seraglio, Lips Together, Teeth Apart; Sweeney Todd, Wonderful Town, Inventing Van Gogh, The Taming of the Shrew; A Doll's House; Cloud 9; The Outsiders; Terra Nova; Reckless; Streamers; Private Lives; Arms and The Man; 84 Charing Cross Road, and Frankenstein. Jon was the dramaturg for Portland Repertory Theatre, has served as a guest director and professor at a number of West Coast and Midwest universities, and has worked as an acting coach in Los Angeles, Seattle and Portland. He has also served as the London and New York theater and classical music correspondent for a variety of Northwest newspapers and magazines.

Artists Repertory Theatre
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol is supported by City Center Parking and individual show sponsors Kay & Roy Abramowitz and Mary Tooze. The 2011/12 Artists Repertory Theatre season is presented by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. The 2011 print media sponsor is The Oregonian, the season radio sponsor is KINK.FM. Season hotel sponsors are Mark Spencer Hotel and Hotel deLuxe. Other support comes from All Classical, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Oregon Arts Commission, the Regional Arts & Culture Council, Work for Art and Maletis Beverage. Now entering its 29th season, Artists Repertory Theatre is the longest-running professional theater company in Portland. Artists Rep strives to challenge artists and audiences with plays of depth and vibrancy in an intimate setting. Artists Rep explores the strengths, frailties, and diversity of the human condition primarily through regional premieres, commissioned works and selected classics appropriate to contemporary issues.

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