North Raleigh Arts and Creative Theatre Presents JACOB MARLEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL

North Raleigh Arts and Creative Theatre Partners with Actors Comedy Lab to present "an alternative holiday production": Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol by Tom Mula.

"We're delighted to present Tom Mula's zany, charming and, at times, spooky look into the afterlife of Scrooge's deceased partner Jacob Marley. It's the perfect holiday treat for theatergoers of all ages," Actors Comedy Lab producer Nancy Rich said. "It's for anyone who ever wondered 'Why did Marley come back for Scrooge in the first place?' or 'But what happens to Jacob Marley at the end of A Christmas Carol?' This is the perfect companion piece or alternative to Dickens's holiday classic. I adore this play and we're delighted to be sharing it with Triangle audiences. I find it has more emotional ups and downs than most stagings of A Christmas Carol, which is always good for a tale of redemption. And we could not be more pleased to have one of the Triangle's favorite comedy directors, the ingenious Rod Rich, at the helm."

Adapted for four actors from Charles Dickens's 1843 novella A Christmas Carol, Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol makes the old story new again. The play opens as does the Victorian classic, with Marley dead as a doornail - "there is no doubt whatever about that". This festive ghost story takes place in the ethereal planes of the afterlife. The production uses lights, music, and sound effects to transport Marley to various locations and times. Marley scrambles to redeem himself by reforming "that squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner" Ebeneezer Scrooge...in just 24 hours.

Director Rod Rich returns to NRACT where he previously co-directed last season's Peter and the Starcatcher, which was given "FIVE STARS" by IndyWeek Magazine. Marley features the return of two beloved Actors Comedy Lab actors - Tony Hefner (Jacob Marley) and Scott Nagel (Scrooge). New to the Actors Comedy Lab troupe are Bridget Patterson and Bonnie Webster. Bridget plays the The Bogle, a malicious little hell-sprite who thoroughly enjoys his work. Veteran Triangle actor Bonnie Webster rounds out the story by playing multiple roles. Bonnie appeared in last year's NRACT holiday favorite, It's a Wonderful Life.

Mula, an actor as well as a playwright and director, performed the role of Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at The Goodman Theatre in Chicago for seven seasons. Inspiration came to him to write his own adaptation when his friend's ten-year-old daughter commented that "Jacob Marley got a raw deal." He first wrote Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol as a novel in 1995 which became a Chicago Sun-Times bestseller. For six seasons, an audio version was broadcast nationwide on NPR.

Recommended for ages 8 and up. This show be too spooky or scary for young children because of dark lighting, sound effects, and ghosts. Call NRACT for more information, 919-866-0228.

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