Cast and Creative Team for 20th Anniversary of A Christmas Carol

Pictured: Michael Preston

Hartford Stage Announces Cast and Creative Team for the 20th Anniversary Season of A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas

Hartford’s Beloved Holiday Classic Introduces Michael Preston as New Ebenezer Scrooge

Hartford, CT – November 1, 2017 – Hartford Stage Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak and Managing Director Michael Stotts today announced the cast and creative team for the 20th anniversary season of A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas.

Adapted and originally directed by Michael Wilson, A Christmas Carol will be directed by Hartford Stage Artistic Associate Rachel Alderman. Hartford’s beloved family holiday classic will run Friday, November 24, through Saturday, December 30.

United Technologies serves as the Exclusive Presenting Sponsor.

Michael Preston, well known to Hartford audiences from his six seasons with the company playing the larger-than-life Mr. Marvel, will assume the role of Ebenezer Scrooge from Bill Raymond, who retired last Christmas after 17 seasons in the role.

“This holiday season, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Michael Wilson’s gorgeous production of A Christmas Carol; and we are thrilled that Michael Preston, a beloved member of our company, is taking on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge,” said Tresnjak. “Join us for a great Hartford holiday tradition.”

Alderman added, “This season, I am joyfully haunted by Scrooge’s vow at the end of the play to ‘live in the past, the present and the future.’ So, too, do we strive, with this 20thanniversary production, to pay homage to the past two decades of holiday theatre magic, while presently welcoming new cast members into our Hartford family, in anticipation of sweet, future memories yet to come.”

New to the company this year are Kenneth De Abrew as First Solicitor/Undertaker/Fezziwig; Shauna Miles as Mrs. Cratchit/Mrs. Fezziwig; and John-Andrew Morrison as Mr. Marvel.

Buzz Roddy returns to play Scrooge for the student matinee performances. Roddy also portrays the Second Solicitor in all public performances.

Returning cast members in new roles are Vanessa R Butler as Fred's Wife/Belle and Rebecka Jones as Bettye Pidgeon/Spirit of Christmas Past/Old Josie.

Cast members reprising their roles are Robert Hannon Davis as Bob Cratchit; Sarah Killough as Ghostly Apparition/Fred’s Sister-in-Law; Alan Rust as Bert/Spirit of Christmas Present; Noble Shropshire as Mrs. Dilber/Jacob Marley; and Terrell Donnell Sledge as Fred/Scrooge at 30.

Student actors from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford include: Laura Axelrod, Jake Blakeslee,Rebecca Chism, Brittnay DeAngelis, Jamaal Fields-Green, Dan Macke, Alyssa Marino, Evan McReddie, Daniel Owens, Nicholas Rylands, Dawniella Sinder, Austin Tipograph, Alessandro Gian Viviano, and Dominique Rose Waite.

Martin Lechner serves as stage manager for the production, assisted by Kelly Hardy. Shelby Demke is the youth director, assisted by Catherine Michaels. Hartford Stage Artistic Apprentice William Steinberger is the assistant director/dramaturg.

The artistic team also includes scenic designer Tony Straiges; costume designer Alejo Vietti; original costume designer Zack Brown; lighting designer Robert Wierzel; original music and sound designer John Gromada;choreographer Hope Clarke, assisted by Derric Harris; dance captain Sarah Killough; musical director Ken Clark; and vocal coach Ben Furey.

Information and Special Events

• Dates & Times – The production runs Friday, November 24, to Saturday, December 30. Weeknight and evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and select weekday matinees begin at 2 p.m.
• Press and Opening Night – Friday, December 1, at 7:30 p.m.
• Audio Described Performance – Sunday, December 17, at 2 p.m. For patrons who are deaf or have hearing loss — free service with admission.
• Open Captioned Performance – Sunday, December 17, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. For patrons who are blind or have low vision — free service with admission.
• Holiday Market Days – Sunday, December 3, matinee performance; Saturday, December 9, matinee and evening performances; Sunday, December 10, matinee; Saturday, December 16, matinee; and Sunday, December 17, matinee and evening performances.Local vendors will showcase unique items for purchase in our lobby. Doors will open before the show at 12:30 p.m. for matinee performances, and 6:30 p.m. for evening performances. Booths will be open during intermission and after the show.

Tickets start at $25. For show times and tickets, visit www.hartfordstage.org/christmas-carol or contact the Hartford Stage Box Office at 860-527-5151. Student seats are $15 off the full price, excluding SuperSaver tickets. For group discounts (10 or more), contact Group Sales at 860-520-7114. Group rates are limited to select performances and based on availability.