GOODMAN THEATRE’S 37TH ANNUAL A CHRISTMAS CAROL, DIRECTED BY HENRY WISHCAMPER WITH A CAST OF NEW TALENTS AND RETURNING FAVORITES, IS NOW ON STAGE THROUGH DECEMBER 28
Cold weather, heartwarming joy! Goodman Theatre’s 37th annual production of A Christmas Carol, featuring an all-Chicago 28-member cast led by the acclaimed Larry Yando in his seventh turn as Ebenezer Scrooge, opens Sunday, November 23, and runs through December 28 in the Albert Theatre. Director Henry Wishcamper blends new magic with familiar moments in Tom Creamer’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella in a long-running production that has introduced nearly four generations of young people to theater. The Goodman dedicates the 2014 production to Robert Christen (1949-2014), its beloved Resident Lighting Designer who was the only artist to work on all 36 previous productions of A Christmas Carol. Tickets ($31 – $101; subject to change) are available online at GoodmanTheatre.org/Joy, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn). The Goodman is grateful for the generosity of its production sponsors. Fifth Third Bank is the Major Corporate Sponsor, PepsiCo is the Official Beverage Sponsor, Aon Corporation, Johnsonville Sausage, LLC and KPMG LLP are the Corporate Sponsor Partners, andChicago Tribune is the Media Partner for A Christmas Carol. Visit the Press Room—newly integrated onto GoodmanTheatre.org with no login and new features—for production photos and broadcast quality video.
Henry Wishcamper, whose inaugural production of A Christmas Carol last year was praised for “easily blending the story’s serious message with moments of laughter” (Chicago Sun-Times), “simpler story-telling” (Chicago Tribune) and “improvements to an already solid product” (Newcity), is the 10th director to helm the long-running production, and the fourth member of the Goodman’s Artistic Collective—preceded by Producer Steve Scott (1989-1992 and 2011, 2012), Resident Director Chuck Smith (1993-1995) and Resident Artistic Associate Henry Godinez (1996-2001).
“It’s an honor and a joy to return to this production, which has been an important annual tradition for more than a third of the Goodman’s 90-year history,” said Wishcamper, whose recent Chicago directing credits include The Night Alive at Steppenwolf Theatre Company; Ask Aunt Susan at the Goodman; and The Dance of Death at Writers Theatre. “Larry Yando’s commanding performance as Scrooge, a role that is Shakespearean in scope, deepens each year. It’s thrilling to again collaborate with him and involve new actors—including Patrick Andrews and Lisa Gaye Dixon as the Ghosts of Christmas Past and Present, respectively—whose performances add exciting new layers to the beloved story.”
During the run of A Christmas Carol, the Goodman encourages audiences to give back to the community this holiday season through monetary donations to Season of Concern, collected in the lobby following every performance, and donations of new and gently used socks for The Woolgathering Project—a community effort for the homeless inspired by Molly Glynn, the late wife of A Christmas Carol cast member Joe Foust. Season of Concern, a fundraising effort by the Chicagoland theater community, provides care to those living with the effects of catastrophic illness or health emergencies. The Goodman has been soliciting donations for Season of Concern since 1987.
More than 1.2 million theatergoers have attended “the crown jewel of the holiday season” (Daily Herald) since the Goodman established it as an annual offering in the 1977/1978 Season—a time when only a handful of U.S. theaters mounted the production. Dickens’ holiday classic is the iconic tale of greedy British businessman Ebenezer Scrooge, whose sizable bank account is only matched by his hatred of the holidays. One Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by four ghosts who take him on a spectacular adventure through his past, present and future, helping him rediscover the joys of life, love and friendship. Former cast members include stage and screen notables Jessie Mueller, Del Close, Harry J. Lennix, Felicia P. Fields, Raul Esparza, Sally Murphy and Frank Galati.
Events and Appearances
Pre-Show Live Music in the Goodman lobby
Arrive early to enjoy holiday music from Chicago community choirs and bands prior to select performances
Sunday, November 23 at 6:30pm: Chicago Math and Science Academy Band
Sunday, November 30 at 6:30pm: Benet Academy Madrigal Singers
Daley Plaza Tree Lighting
Actors from A Christmas Carol perform live at the City of Chicago’s 101st tree lighting
Tuesday, November 25 beginning at 4:30pm on Daley Plaza│Free; more informationhere
McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Actors from A Christmas Carol perform live at the McDonalds Thanksgiving Day Parade
Thursday, November 27 from 8am – 11am on State Street | Free; more informationhere
Chicago Bears v. Detroit Lions
A Christmas Carol veteran Ron Rains (in his eighth year as Bob Cratchit) sings the national anthem
Sunday, December 21 at 12noon at Soldier Field| Tickets and more information here
Complete Company of A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens, adapted by Tom Creamer, directed by Henry Wishcamper
Artist bios and headshots are now available in the Press Room; unless otherwise noted, performers live in Chicago.
*Denotes an actor new to the production
*Theo Allyn………………………………………………….Miss Ortle/Mrs. Creakle
Justin Amolsch…………………………………………….Mr. French/French Horn
*Patrick Andrews………………………………………..Ghost of Christmas Past/Topper/Young Man
*Kareem Bandealy………………………………………Scrooge as a Young Man/Narrator
*Nathaniel Buescher……………………………………Tiny Tim
*William A. Burke………………………………………..Scrooge as a Boy/Turkey Boy/Old Joe’s Assistant
Andrew Coil…………………………………………………Violin
*Paige Collins……………………………………………..
*Phillip Cusic………………………………………………Peter Cratchit/Ignorance
*Lisa Gaye Dixon…………………………………………Ghost of Christmas Present
Joe Foust……………………………………………………Jacob Marley/Old Joe/Hat Seller
*Allen Gilmore…………………………………………….
Gregory Hirte………………………………………………Violin and Fiddle/Mr. Spinet
Anish Jethmalani (Forest Park) …………………..Fred
*J. Salome Martinez……………………………………Dick Wilkins/Poulterer/Pie Seller/Ghost of Christmas Future
*Ava Morse (Naperville)………………………………Emily Cratchit/Want/Pratt/Child in Doorway
Larry Neumann Jr……………………………………….
Ron Rains…………………………………………………..Bob Cratchit
Malcolm Ruhl (Evanston)…………………………….Musical Director/Accordian/Mr. Keys
Kim Schultz………………………………………………..
*Skye Sparks (Naperville)…………………………..
Brett Tuomi………………………………………………..Mr. Fezziwig/Mr. Crumb
*Kristina Valada-Viars…………………………………Abby/
Penelope Walker…………………………………………Mrs. Cratchit
Larry Yando………………………………………………..
The design team includes Keith Parham (Lighting Designer; based on the original lighting design by Robert Christen); Andrew Hansen (Composer), Heidi Sue McMath(Costume Designer since 2001), Tommy Rapley (Choreographer), Todd Rosenthal(Set Designer), Malcolm Ruhl (Music Director) and Richard Woodbury (Sound Designer). Flying effects are provided by ZFX Inc. Alden Vasquez is the production stage manager.
Tickets to A Christmas Carol ($31 – $101; subject to change) are currently on sale atGoodmanTheatre.org/Joy. Tickets and subscriptions, including the Goodman WILD CARD, can also be purchased at the box office (170 North Dearborn), by phone at312.443.3800 or at GoodmanTheatre.org/Subscribe. Mezztix are half-price mezzanine tickets available at 12 noon at the box office, and at 10am online (promo code MEZZTIX) day of performance; Mezztix are not available by telephone. 10Tix are $10 rear mezzanine tickets for students available at 12 noon at the box office, and at10am online on the day of performance for Albert Theatre productions and in advance for all Owen Theatre productions; 10Tix are not available by telephone; a valid student I.D. must be presented when picking up the tickets;
limit four per student with I.D. All tickets are subject to availability and handling fees apply. Discounted Group Tickets for 10 persons or more are available at312.443.3820. Goodman Theatre offers three ways to give the gift of theater this holiday season: the WILD CARD—four flexible tickets to any production to mix and match for $199, Goodman Gift Certificates available in any amount and exclusive A Christmas Carol merchandise all available online at GoodmanTheatre.org/Gifts.Artis
About Goodman Theatre
The Goodman’s 2014/2015 Season features nine productions on its two stages—six in the 856-seat Albert Theatre and three in the 400-seat flexible Owen Theatre, plus the annual New Stages Festival that includes additional developmental productions, and partner productions with The Second City and Albany Park Theater Project. Still to come: The Second City’s Twist Your Dickens, Or Scrooge You by Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort (December 5 – 28, in the Owen); Rapture, Blister, Burn by Gina Gionfriddo, directed by Kimberly Senior, a Chicago premiere (January 17 – February 22, 2015 in the Albert); Two Trains Running by August Wilson, directed by Chuck Smith, in conjunction with a citywide celebration of August Wilson (March 7 – April 12, 2015 in the Albert); The Upstairs Concierge by Kristoffer Diaz, directed by KJ Sanchez, a world premiere co-commission with Teatro Vista (March 28 – April 26, 2015 in the Owen); The Little Foxes by Lillian Hellman, directed by Henry Wishcamper (May 2 – June 7, 2015in the Albert); stop. reset. written and directed by Regina Taylor, a Chicago premiere (May 23 – June 21, 2015 in the Owen); Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang, directed by Steve Scott, a Chicago premiere (June 20 – July 26, 2015 in the Albert), and Albany Park Theater Project’s Feast (Summer dates TBA in the Owen).
Now celebrating its 90th year as Chicago’s flagship theater, Goodman Theatre is an artistic and community institution dedicated to the art of theater and to civic engagement in the issues of the contemporary world. The Goodman has transformed over the past 35 years into a world class theater and premier Chicago cultural institution distinguished by the quality and scope of its programming and its culturally and aesthetically diverse creative leadership; artistic priorities include new plays, reimagined classics, culturally specific works, musical theater and international collaborations. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, achievements include the Goodman’s state-of-the-art two-theater complex in the heart of the downtown Theatre District. Over the past three decades, the Goodman has generated more than 150 world or American premieres, and nearly 30 new-work commissions. Joan Clifford is Chairman of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Swati Mehta is Women’s Board President and Gordon C.C. Liao is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre.
“A mainstay of Chicago and beyond” (Chicago Sun-Times), the Goodman is internationally acclaimed for its “fresh work of magnitude and ambition (and) bold, risky theatrical choices” (Chicago Tribune). From new plays to “first-class revivals” (The New York Times), the Goodman has earned numerous awards for its productions: two Pulitzer Prizes; 22 Tony Awards, including Outstanding Regional Theatre (1992); and nearly 160 Joseph Jefferson Awards.
The 90th Anniversary “Season to Celebrate” programming is rooted in the same spirit that launched the Goodman in 1925—an array of dramatic fare, from classics to noteworthy contemporary works, innovative and often controversial, embracing genres from farces to searing social dramas—honoring the theater’s past and envisioning its future. The nine-play season begins with an All-New Fall of works fostered and developed in the Goodman’s new play development programs followed by an “August Wilson Celebration” in spring 2015, the 10th anniversary of the playwright’s death and the 70th anniversary of his birth. This city-wide Celebration honors the longstanding collaboration between Wilson and the Goodman, the first theater in the world to produce all 10 works in his “20th Century Cycle.”
Visit the special anniversary website, GoodmanTheatre.org/90, to see famous faceswho’ve worked at the theater, browse photos of classic productions and readinterviews with noted artists.
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