A.C.T. To Present A CHRISTMAS CAROL 12/1-24

The Bay Area's favorite holiday tradition returns with American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.)'s acclaimed production of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, playing December 1-24, 2011. Adapted by Carey Perloff and Paul Walsh and directed by A.C.T. resident artist Domenique Lozano, A Christmas Carol celebrates its 35th anniversary on the A.C.T. stage and has introduced generations of Bay Area residents to the magic of live theater.

The most recent version of the annual production-unveiled in 2004-has garnered much critical acclaim: Jan Wahl of KCBS called it "the best Christmas Carol ever," while the Stark Insider exclaimed, "A smash hit! Holiday traditions don't get any better." The Oakland Tribune praised it as "a Carol built to banish 'bah humbugs' for years to come," and KGO Radio extolled it as "a holiday treat for the entire family." San Francisco Chronicle said of Bay Area favorite James Carpenter, who returns for his sixth year as the iconic curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge: "Scrooge is a joy. James Carpenter's stunning central performance as Scrooge can't be upstaged." A Christmas Carol runs December 1-24, 2011, and press night is Tuesday, December 6, at 7 p.m. VIP seating is available for all performances, and VIP ticket holders enjoy the best seats in the house, a special Carol gift, and delicious treats during intermission. This year's production has set an advance sale record, and several performances have already sold out. Early ticket purchases are recommended.

Tickets, starting at $15, are available by calling the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or online at www.act-sf.org.

"We're hearing from parents and grandparents that the Carol experience is more important to their families now than ever. This story has particular resonance at this particular moment when issues of greed and generosity must be part of the discourse about our humanity and civility," says A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff. "We're thrilled to continue to present this production, featuring a multigenerational cast including our very own M.F.A. Program and Young Conservatory actors, and to keep it affordable for everyone who wants to make this a part of their family holiday traditions." A.C.T. is committed to making this family-oriented classic affordable for the Bay Area community by offering discounted family four-packs and special group discounts. With a family four-pack, a family (or group) of four can attend select performances of A Christmas Carol for the price of two tickets-packages start at $36. Visit www.act-sf.org/promotions or call 415.749.2228 and mention the code MARLEY for more information and to purchase family four-packs. This limited-time offer ends December 1 and is subject to availability. Groups of 15 or more also receive discounts of up to 50% and free tickets for group leaders. Contact Edward Budworth, A.C.T.'s group sales representative, at 415.439.2473 for more information about group discounts and to purchase group tickets.

Now in its 35th year at A.C.T., A Christmas Carol is a cornerstone of the A.C.T. repertory and has become a holiday tradition for families from all around the Bay Area. Performed nearly 1,000 times to date to a collective audience of more than 800,000, A Christmas Carol has employed nearly 1,000 actors and 600 backstage staff members. "I adore this play," says director Lozano. "It's a thrill to work on this story, which is about community, with a community of artists for whom it is tailor-made."

Originated in 2004, this version of A Christmas Carol, adapted by Paul Walsh and Carey Perloff, stays true to the heart of Dickens's timeless story of redemption and brings a playful sensibility to his rich language. Each of the four ghosts that haunt the miser Ebenezer Scrooge and lead him to his transformation is theatrically staged: a children's favorite, Scrooge's former business partner, Jacob Marley (Jack Willis), clad in chains, climbs out of Scrooge's bed; the Ghost of Christmas Present (A.C.T. core Acting Company member Omozé Idehenre) is a Bacchic spirit of fecundity and abundance, robed in striated green velvet; the Ghost of Christmas Past (member of the A.C.T. M.F.A. Program class of 2012 Ben Kahre, in his A.C.T. mainstage debut) is inspired by a candle, "lit from within, emanating radiance, descending on a swing," says Perloff; and the Ghost of Christmas Future is a giant black ghost puppet that takes over the entire stage of the American Conservatory Theater. Dickens's lovely descriptions of the abundance of Christmas bounty are staged as "The Waltz of the Opulent Fruit," with six young actors taking on the roles of French plums, Turkish figs, and Spanish onions, to the delight of audiences. Perloff adds: "Dickens believed that triggering the imagination is the key to triggering change in a person's heart. Scrooge's remarkable transformation is brought about by three ghosts. Ghosts! Dickens realized that if Scrooge's imagination could be stimulated, it would be possible for him to wake up on Christmas morning an entirely new man. What an incredible endorsement of the power of art."

A holiday event for audiences of all ages, A.C.T.'s A Christmas Carol features a multigenerational cast of performers led by James Carpenter as Ebenezer Scrooge. Joining Carpenter are Jack Willis as the Ghost of Jacob Marley, Scrooge's nightmarish late-night visitor; A.C.T. core Acting Company member Manoel Felciano as Bob Cratchit; and Delia MacDougall as his wife, Anne Cratchit. Acclaimed Bay Area actors Jarion Monroe and Sharon Lockwood return as the ever-festive Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig, along with A.C.T. core Acting Company member Omozé Idehenre, who takes on the role of the jovial Ghost of Christmas Present for the first time. The adult cast also includes Cindy Goldfield, A.C.T. core Acting Company member Annie Purcell in her A.C.T. debut, Howard Swain, and Liam Vincent.

Rounding out the cast are a record 25 young actors from the A.C.T. Young Conservatory and the entire third-year class of the A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts Program. The M.F.A. Program performers-many of whom traditionally receive their Actors' Equity cards as a result of their participation in A Christmas Carol­-are Matt Bradley, Alexander Crowther, Christina Lorenn Elmore, Jason Frank, Ben Kahre, Jessica Kitchens, Maggie Rastetter, and Courtney Thomas. The YC actors for the 2011 production hail from all around the Bay Area: Elizabeth Abbe, Matthew Avery, Graham Bennett, Samuel Berston, Alexander Bires, Isabella Carlucci, Nathaniel Barrett Correll, Penelope Devlin, Emma Draisin, Maddie Eisler, Dashiell Ferrero, Gabriel Giacoppo, Alexandra Lee, ShAlan Lee, Elsie Lipson, Erin Lockett, Shelby Lyon, Sarah Magen, Caroline Pernick, Quinn Poseley, Rachel Share-Sapolsky, Tony Sinclair, William David Southall, Emily Spears, and Sasha Steiner.
This beautiful production features sets by Tony Award-winning designer John Arnone (The Who's Tommy and The Full Monty on Broadway) and period costumes by Beaver Bauer of Teatro ZinZanni. With original songs and score by composer Karl Lundeberg and choreography by Val Caniparoli of San Francisco Ballet, A Christmas Carol also features lighting design by Nancy Schertler, sound design by Jake Rodriguez, and musical direction by Robert Rutt.
A.C.T.'s A Christmas Carol is made possible by producing sponsor Pacific Gas & Electric Company.

HOW MUCH: $15-$105

VIP tickets for A Christmas Carol are available for all performances and include Premiere seating, a special Carol gift, and delicious intermission treats.

DISCOUNTS: Family Four-Packs: Buy four tickets for the price of two for select performances. Offer ends December 1. Subject to availability.
www.act-sf.org/promotions | 415.749.2228

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