ACT to Stage 40th Anniversary Production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL

ACT - A Contemporary Theatre is proud to present its 40th annual production of Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL, adapted by Gregory A. Falls. A CHRISTMAS CAROL is directed by incoming Artistic Director John Langs with current Artistic Director Kurt Beattie returning to play Ebenezer Scrooge, in alternating performances with Gregory Award-winning actor Charles Leggett who will debut in the role of Scrooge.

A Seattle holiday tradition since 1976, Gregory Falls' highly-celebrated adaptation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL follows the original Dickens tale and takes audiences along on Ebenezer Scrooge's transformational journey as three ghostly visitors lead him on a trip through Christmases past, present and future.

Artistic Director Kurt Beattie has been creating theatre for Puget Sound audiences for over 40 years as an actor, playwright, and director. His productions at ACT include Grey Gardens, Ramayana (with Sheila Daniels), The Pitmen Painters, and Double Indemnity, among others. Charles Leggett is a recipient and three-time nominee of the Theatre Puget Sound Gregory Award and was nominated for The Stranger Genius Award in 2009 and 2015. ACT credits include Gooper in A Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Spirit 2 in A CHRISTMAS CAROL (seven iterations, beginning in 2002), and Victor Franz in The Price, among others.

Bob Cratchit will be played by Matthew Floyd Miller, who has appeared at ACT previously as Katurian in The Pillowman, as the poet Versati in The Underpants, as Jan in Rock 'n' Roll, and as The Cop in Middletown. The role of Marley/Old Joe will be played by G. Valmont Thomas, who returns to ACT after performing in Water By The Spoonful (West Of Lenin), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Tennessee Shakespeare Company), Blue in Party People (Berkeley Repertory Theatre), and Wining Boy in The Piano Lesson (Syracuse Stage and Seattle Repertory Theatre).

CAST:

Kurt Beattie* - Scrooge

Rob Burgess - Mr. Fezziwig/Topper

Hillary Clemens* - Spirit 1/Charwoman

Ava Drummond - Tiny Tim/Ignorance

David Drummond* - Spirit 2/Other

Ariyanna Fernandez - Elizabeth Cratchit/Lil Fezziwig

Sophia Franzella - Martha Cratchit/Miss Fezziwig

Sarah Harlett* - Mrs. Fezziwig/Miss Clackett

Kristoffer Holtan - Charles Cratchit/Young Scrooge

Charles Leggett* - Scrooge

Matthew Floyd Miller* - Bob Cratchit

Derek Mulkins - Peter Cratchit

Heidi Myrick - Belinda Cratchit/Fan/Want

Brandon Oke - Singing Thief/Master Fezziwig/Undertaker's Assistant/Turkey Boy

Matt Schwader* - Fred/Dick Wilkins

G. Valmont Thomas* - Marley/Old Joe

Jen Taylor* - Mrs. Cratchit/Fezziwig Dancer

CREATIVE TEAM:

John Langs - Director

Shelley Henze Schermer - Scenic Designer

Deborah Trout - Costume Designer

Michael Wellborn - Lighting Designer

Dominic CodyKramers - Sound Designer

Chris DiStefano - Music Director

Steven M. Klein - Original Sound Designer

Emily Penick - Choreographer

JR Welden* - Stage Manager

Erin Zatloka* - Assistant Stage Manager

Tori Thompson - Production Assistant

Ann Ciecko - Assistant Lighting Director

Alyssa Keene - Dialect Coach

Wiley Basho Gorn - Kenan Directing Fellow

Thomas Charles Speltz - Directing Intern

*Members of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

John Langs has served as Associate Artistic Director of ACT for three years, and will become ACT's Artistic Director in 2016. Langs' 16-year freelance career has afforded him the opportunity to work with many prestigious theatre companies across the country. He has directed productions at Playwrights Horizons NY, Ensemble Studio Theater NY, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Lookingglass Theater Company in Chicago, Circle X in Los Angeles, The Resident Ensemble, New Century Theatre Company, Washington Ensemble Theatre, and Seattle Shakespeare Company.

Langs received his directing degree from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Some of his favorite directing credits include The Shaggs Philosophy of the World (Los Angeles Drama Critic Circle Award for Best Original Musical), and Brothers Karamazov (seven LADCC Awards including Best Production of the year and Best Direction) and directing Kurt Beattie in King Lear. Langs received the first annual Seattle Gregory Award honoring excellence in direction for The Adding Machine. Recent Seattle credits include NCTC's Mary's Wedding, The Seagull Project's The Three Sisters, and Seattle Shakespeare's Othello. As a dedicated fan of original work, Langs has shepherded over a dozen projects to their premier production.

Charitable Partnerships

ACT is hosting a food drive throughout the run of A CHRISTMAS CAROL to benefit the Pike Market Food Bank. Bring in a donation, and help relieve hunger in our community. Pike Market Food Bank serves around 600 families and individuals every week with needed groceries and food. Located directly in Pike Place Market, they work to relieve hunger in our downtown Seattle community.

Special Events

The Dickens Carolers - The Dickens Carolers will be singing in between shows on Sunday, Nov 29.

Inside A CHRISTMAS CAROL - An exclusive backstage tour of A CHRISTMAS CAROL! You'll visit the Allen Theatre, production rooms, and more to get access behind the scenes of ACT's annual holiday tradition. Cost: $17 per person

Located in Seattle's Downtown Historic Theatre District, ACT is home to five performance spaces under one roof. Since 1965, ACT has been a destination for experiencing new voices, stories, and art. ACT is steadfast in its dedication to producing work with contemporary playwrights and local performing artists through its Mainstage Play series, ACTLab producing partnerships, and Young Playwrights Program. With more than 450 performances a year, ACT is a community hub where artists and the public connect about today's issues and ideas, and celebrate the shared experience.

Pictured: Kurt Beattie as Scrooge. Photo by John Ulman.

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