Trinity Rep Celebrates Charles Dickens' 200th Birthday with A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Now thru 12/29

Trinity Rep celebrates the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens with their annual presentation of his classic tale of A Christmas Carol, as adapted by Adrian Hall and Richard Cumming, presented by Cardi's Furniture with supporting sponsor Amica Insurance. Performances begin tonight, November 10th and run through December 29th. Appealing to young and old alike, this heartwarming story of the power of forgiveness shows us that anything is possible – and hope is always just around the corner. 

Tickets are on sale now and by phone at (401) 351-4242, online at www.trinityrep.com, or in person at the theater's box office. Adult ticket prices for A Christmas Carol start at $36. Children's tickets (age 2-14) start at $22. For information on group discounts for parties of 20 or more contact Group Sales at (401) 351-4242.

A timeless tale of forgiveness and hope enjoyed by generations of Southeastern New England, this holiday favorite earns rave reviews from audiences and critics year after year. The Boston Globe praises the annual tradition saying, "there is no better Carol than the one that Trinity Repertory Company puts on every Christmas season."

In this classic tale of redemption, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who warn him to change his heartless ways – or else. Directed by Associate Artistic Director Tyler Dobrowsky and starring resident Acting Company member Timothy Crowe as Scrooge, this year's production will feature lively musical numbers, special effects, traditional costumes and all the magic of the season.

"I'm so thrilled to have Tim on board as our Scrooge," Dobrowsky effuses, "He's not only a fantastic actor, but he truly loves playing the part. My friend's son could not get over seeing Tim in the role a few years ago, he kept saying, 'He's just so mean in the beginning…and then he's so happy at the end,' – which I think speaks to how much Tim relishes Scrooge's journey as a performer."

The director is also excited to bring the story back to 1843 London and a more traditional setting. "I'm over the moon that Eugene Lee has signed on with us to design this year's production. He hasn't designed a Christmas Carol here in over twenty years, and it is an incredible joy to work with him on the design process." In addition to Tony Award-winning Set Designer Lee, the production team includes Costume Designer Alison Walker Carrier, Lighting Designer John Ambrosone, Sound Designer Peter Sasha Hurowitz, Musical Director Darren Server and Choreographer Shura Baryshnikov.

This particular play holds a special meaning to Dobrowsky as it coincidentally was the first professional production that he ever attended. "My childhood experience with this show has really informed how I am approaching staging the play. I want to create a show that anyone seeing live theater for the first time ­- or the 31st time - would really, really love. For me, that means magic, wonder, humor and of course, some cool ghosts and surprises."

This year's Carol features many Trinity Rep resident Acting Company favorites. Timothy Crowe returns to the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, and is supported by a cast that includes Resident Acting Company Members Janice Duclos (Mrs. Dilber), Mauro Hantman (Bob Cratchit), Joe Wilson, Jr. (Undertaker's Man), Stephen Thorne (Jacob Marley) and Rachael Warren (Mrs. Cratchit) alongside guest artists Mia Ellis (The Ghost of Christmas Past), Tom Gleadow (Mr. Fezziwig), and Alyssa Gorgone (Fan). Joining the resident company onstage are Brown/Trinity MFA program actors Caitlin Davies (Belle), Daniel Duque-Estrada (Poor Husband), Peter Mark Kendall (Topper), Leicester Landon (Fred) and local musicians Kevin Fallon and Mike Sartini.

Trinity Rep is also proud to welcome fourteen talented local children to the stage as the 2012 children's cast of A Christmas Carol. Out of the 140 child actors that auditioned, the following were chosen for the rotating children's cast: Rehoboth, MA resident Liam Clancy, 11, as Turkey Boy; Hope resident Sean Connaughton, 11, as Peter and Young Scrooge; North Kingstown residents Mia Douglas, 10, as Belinda and Alison Hornung, 12, as Fan; Warwick resident Kate Fitzgerald, 11, as Martha; Cranston residents Connor Buonaccorsi, 11, as Peter/Young Scrooge, Benjamin Thornton, 11, as the Ghost of Christmas Present, and Bedros Kevorkian, 7, as Tiny Tim; Swansea, MA resident Lauren Durkin, 11, as Fan; Providence residents Lily Clurman, 12, as Martha, Maya Gabor, 11, as Belinda, Elliot Peters, 12, as Ghost of Christmas Present, Phineas Peters, 9, as Tiny Tim; and Pawtucket resident Taliq Tillman, 12, as Turkey Boy.

Director Tyler Dobrowsky has been a member of the Trinity Rep education and artistic teams since 2003. In 2010 he was named to his current position as Associate Artistic Director. He co-directed It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play alongside Artistic Director Curt Columbus, and then directed the show's return engagement in 2011. Most recently, he co-directed the world premiere of Love Alone with playwright Deborah Salem Smith. Dobrowsky is the associate producer for Brown/Trinity Playwrights Rep, and teaches for the Brown University/Trinity Rep MFA program as well as Trinity Rep's educational programs for children and adults. Tyler received his MA in Education Policy from Brown University, and studied history, theater and Russian at Holy Cross.

This Trinity Rep production is dedicated to Stephen Hamblett and his love for the story of A Christmas Carol.

Since its founding in 1963, Trinity Repertory Company has been one of the most respected regional theaters in the country. Featuring the last permanent resident Acting Company in America, Trinity Rep presents a balance of world premiere, contemporary, and classic works for an estimated annual audience of approximately 120,000. In its 49-year history, the theater has produced 61 world premieres, mounted national and international tours, and, through its MFA program, trained hundreds of new actors and directors. This season marks the 46th year of Project Discovery, Trinity Rep's pioneering educational outreach program. Each year, Trinity Rep's educational programs reach nearly 15,000 Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut students through matinees as well as in-school residencies and workshops. Brown University/Trinity Rep offers professional training for actors and directors in a three-year MFA program. Trinity Rep's 49th Season continues with The How and the Why by Sarah Treem; Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, adapted by Curt Columbus and Marilyn Campbell; Social Creatures by Jackie Sibblies Drury and House & Garden, an epic duo of interconnected plays by Alan Ayckbourn performed simultaneously in our upstairs and downstairs theaters. For more information, call the box office at (401) 351-4242 or visit Trinity Rep's website at www.trinityrep.com.

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