Hartford Stage Announces Youth Ensemble Cast for the 21st Season

Pictured above: Andrew Michaels

Hartford Stage Announces Youth Ensemble Cast for the 21st Season of A Christmas Carol–A Ghost Story of Christmas

Hartford, CT – November 7, 2018 – Hartford Stage today announced the youth ensemble cast for the 21st season of A Christmas Carol–A Ghost Story of Christmas. The beloved holiday family favorite will run Friday, November 23, through Saturday, December 29.

Over the past 20 years, Connecticut families have been thrilled by Charles Dickens’ ghostly, heartwarming tale of redemption, which introduced the exclamation “Bah! Humbug!” and popularized the perennial greeting “Merry Christmas.” Adapted and originally directed by Michael Wilson, A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas is directed by Hartford Stage Artistic Associate Rachel Alderman.

“We are thrilled to welcome 28 children to our youth ensemble this season. They are the heart of our show, bringing much talent, energy and joy to our intergenerational ensemble,” Alderman said. “Also exciting is the geographic diversity of the group, with some cast members participating from as far away as Old Saybrook and Milford, while others are coming from around the corner in Hartford. It truly is Connecticut’s Carol!”

Andrew Michaels, 6, from Wethersfield, and RJ Vercellone, 8, from Milford, will play Tiny Tim in alternating performances.

The youth ensemble cast (in alternating performances) also includes: Isabella Corica, 11, from Ansonia, as Belinda; Ethan DiNello, 7, from Old Saybrook, as Fruit Child and Ignorance; Damien Galvez, 12, from Manchester, as Turkey Boy; Elijah Gibson, 11, from Hartford, as School Boy; Lily Girard, 13, from Longmeadow, Massachusetts, as Fan; Norah Girard, 8, from Longmeadow, Massachusetts, as School Boy; Nicholas Glowacki,12, from West Hartford, as Turkey Boy; Brendan Reilly Harris, 11, from Avon, as Boy Scrooge and Boy at Fred’s Party; MaddieKay Harris, 9, from Avon, as School Boy; Tyra Harris, 12, from Bristol, as Townsperson; Max Kerz, 8, from Rocky Hill, as Fruit Child and Want; Emma Kindl, 13, from Marlborough, as Claire; Michkael Jude McKenzie, 11, from Hartford, as Boy Scrooge and Boy at Fred’s Party; Addison Pancoast, 9, from Rocky Hill, as Spoiled Child and Girl at Fred’s Party; Shannen Penn, 9, from Farmington, as Belinda; Meghan Pratt, 10, from Glastonbury, as School Boy; Messiah Price, 9, from Hartford, as School Boy; Divena Rai, 7, from Old Saybrook, as Fruit Child and Ignorance; Tessa Rosenfield, 13, from Hartford, as Fan; Fred Thornley IV, 13, from Colchester, as Peter Cratchit; Jake Totten, 11, from Granby, as School Boy; Ava Vercellone, 11, from Milford, as Claire; Leela Washington-Crowther, 10, from Windsor, as Spoiled Child and Girl at Fred’s Party; Julia Weston, 12, from Hartford, as Townsperson; Anderson Wilder, 6, from Simsbury, as Fruit Child and Want; and Tilden Wilder, 12, from Simsbury, as Peter Cratchit.

United Technologies serves as the Exclusive Presenting Sponsor of A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas.

Information and Special Events

• Dates & Times – The production runs Friday, November 23, to Saturday, December 29. 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, November 30, at 7:30 p.m.
• Audio Described Performance – Sunday, December 16, at 2 p.m. For patrons who are deaf or have hearing loss — free service with admission.
• Open Captioned Performance – Sunday, December 16, at 2 p.m. For patrons who are blind or have low vision — free service with admission.
• Holiday Market Days –Saturday, December 8, matinee and evening performances; Sunday, December 9, matinee performance; Saturday, December 15, matinee and evening performances; and Sunday, December 16, matinee performance.

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 860-520-7125. Group rates are limited to select performances and based on availability.