A Christmas Carol at the Merchant's House Returns Nov 28 - Dec 24

Summoners Ensemble Theatre
In association with the
Merchant’s House Museum

Presents the 11th Holiday Season of
A CHRISTMAS CAROLat the MERCHANT’S HOUSE


Charles Dickens in New York, 1867

November 28 - December 24 only!
Tickets on Sale Now at
www.merchantshouse.org & www.summonersensemble.org

Adapted by John Kevin Jones & Rhonda Dodd from Charles Dickens’ classic tale

Performed by John Kevin Jones Directed by Rhonda Dodd

“Jones easily captivates the audience with his brightly hued voice. Portraying Dickens as narrator, his delight for sharing the story is tangible and intoxicating.”
Out.com, David Clarke

“This is masterful storytelling.”
Theatremania.com, Zachary Stewart

“Jones summons Charles Dickens’ classic characters seamlessly.”
New York Daily News, Joe Dziemianowicz

This holiday season, Summoners Ensemble Theatre and the Merchant’s House Museum celebrate 11 years of A CHRISTMAS CAROL at the MERCHANT’S HOUSE (29 East 4th Street, Manhattan). Surrounded by 19th century holiday decorations, flickering candles, and richly appointed period furnishings, audiences will be transported back 150 years in this captivating 70-minute performance created from Dickens’ own script. Performances run November 28 through December 24.

It's December 1867 and Charles Dickens has arrived in New York City for a month of sold-out performances of his beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Carol. Be transfixed as Mr. Dickens, portrayed by actor John Kevin Jones, tells his timeless Christmas tale in the elegant intact Greek Revival parlor of the landmark 1832 Merchant’s House Museum.

“A Holiday Reception with Mr. Dickens” returns December 8-24. Attend a special performance by Mr. Dickens (John Kevin Jones) of “A Visit from St. Nicholas” as we toast the 200th anniversary of the poem’s original publication with a cup of “Smoking Bishop” (mulled wine) or chilled cider! The 19th century family room, kitchen, and garden (weather permitting) of the Merchant’s House Museum will be open to guests during the reception. If offered on your selected performance, look for the “Reception & Performance” ticketing option. Strictly limited to 20 guests.


“… we shall never have any entertainments more charming, or more full of genuine, legitimate and elevating pleasure …” The New York Times, December 10, 1867

“The Christmas Carol becomes doubly enchanting when one hears it performed by Dickens.” New York Herald, December 10, 1867

A CHRISTMAS CAROL at the MERCHANT’S HOUSE, Charles Dickens in New York, 1867, is presented by Summoners Ensemble Theatre in association with the Merchant’s House Museum. Performances take place in the landmark 1832 Merchant’s House Museum, New York City’s only 19th century family home preserved intact, inside and out.
Not recommended for children under 12.
Health guidelines and protocols: Guests are encouraged to wear masks in the Merchant’s House Museum, but it is no longer required. The Merchant’s House Museum continues to update their health protocols in accordance with federal, state, and local guidelines. Ticket holders agree to comply with current policies on the day of the performance.

To be announced in November 2023: Our virtual offering of A CHRISTMAS CAROL at the MERCHANT’S HOUSE will be available by pay-per-view again this holiday season.

TICKET, PERFORMANCE & RECEPTION INFORMATION
Tickets are available at www.summonersensemble.org and www.merchantshouse.org.

Regular 70-minute performances: $45 - $115. Seating is strictly limited.
Doors to the Merchant’s House open 30 minutes prior to performance.

For Group Sales of 10 or more, email Summoners Ensemble Theatre: summonersensemble@gmail.com
“A Holiday Reception with Mr. Dickens” $25.
Offered at select performances December 8-24.
The reception begins 60 minutes prior to the scheduled performance time.
(Exception: Saturday 6:00PM performance, reception begins immediately following performance.)

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

* “A Holiday Reception with Mr. Dickens” is available only at starred performances. Tuesday, November 28 at 7:30PMThursday, November 30 at 7:00PMFriday, December 1 at 7:00PM Saturday, December 2 at 6:00PMSaturday, December 2 at 8:00PMSunday, December 3 at 6:00PM Tuesday, December 5 at 7:30PMWednesday, December 6, at 7:00PMThursday, December 7 at 7:00PM*Friday, December 8 at 7:00PM*Saturday, December 9 at 6:00PM*Saturday, December 9 at 8:30PMSunday, December 10 at 6:00PM Tuesday, December 12 at 7:30PMWednesday, December 13 at 7:00PM*Thursday, December 14 at 7:00PM*Friday, December 15 at 7:00PM*Saturday, December 16 at 6:00PM*Saturday, December 16 at 8:30PMSunday, December 17 at 6:00PM *Tuesday, December 19 at 7:00PM *Wednesday, December 20 at 7:00PM *Thursday, December 21 at 7:00PM*Friday, December 22 at 7:00PM*Saturday, December 23 at 6:00PM*Saturday, December 23 at 8:30PM *Sunday, December 24 at 4:00PM

This is a strictly limited engagement.

JOHN KEVIN JONES (Actor, Co-Adapter): Kevin is a member of Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, and the Dramatists Guild of America. Kevin launched his new work Whitman in Love this past June at the Merchant’s House Museum. In New York Kevin has been seen in Nothing But Trash, Theater for the New City; Jeffrey (starring Bryan Batt), Lincoln Center; The Winter’s Tale and The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Hipgnosis Theatre. Regional credits include The Pavilion (American Stage), Othello (Arkansas Rep), The Rivals, All My Sons (Kentucky Rep), Angels in America, Gross Indecency (Playhouse on the Square). BA in Theatre Performance from the University of South Florida and MFA in Theatre Directing from the University of Memphis.

RHONDA DODD (Director, Co-Adapter): An award winning actor, technician and director, Rhonda arrived in New York with over 150 shows under her belt. Once here she made her Off-Broadway acting debut with Terese Hayden and Jacqueline Brookes’ Workshop in Tennessee Williams’ Period of Adjustment, finished her Ph.D., and spent 10 years working at Circle in the Square Theatre School. Dr. Dodd is the Artistic Director of Summoners Ensemble Theatre, a member of Actors Equity, and a participant in The Playground Experiment – a forum for theatre artists to explore, test, and showcase new work while finding inspiration and support from the community it creates.

CHARLES DICKENS (1812 – 1870): Considered the greatest English novelist of the Victorian era, Charles Dickens created some of the world's most well-known fictional characters. When destitution landed his family in debtor's prison, young Charles was forced to give up school and work in a blacking warehouse. This era of his life heavily influenced his writing, which later made him a much sought-after orator. After giving a speech to a group of working-class poor, Dickens found himself contemplating the plight of exploited child workers. Taking only six weeks to complete, in 1843, A Christmas Carol stripped away the mask from some of England’s most acute social evils. By speaking up for the poor and oppressed, Dickens directly confronted the apathy and callousness of his countrymen. But more than just a timely political screed, Dickens’ spirit-filled holiday story has become a timeless treatise about love, compassion, and the transformation of the human heart. He impelled his contemporaries then -- and now us today -- to care about everyone and to reach out and help if we see someone in need.

MERCHANT’S HOUSE MUSEUM: Built in 1832, the Merchant’s House is New York City’s only 19th century family home preserved virtually intact, with original family furnishings and personal belongings. A unique survivor of Old New York, the House offers an intimate glimpse of how a prosperous merchant family and their Irish servants lived in mid-19th century New York, as the city grew from a colonial seaport to thriving metropolis.The Merchant’s House is a National Historic Landmark and in New York City is distinguished as one of only 120 buildings that have NYC landmark status for both its exterior and interior.

SUMMONERS ENSEMBLE THEATRE: Founded by a group of actors who studied together at Circle in the Square Theatre School’s Professional Acting Training program, Summoners Ensemble joined the ranks of New York nonprofit theatre companies in 1993. Created as a collaborative to allow the members to share in all of the functions needed in running a theatre company, Summoners remains a collective effort as we jointly produce theatrical events with other nonprofits or as we find ourselves acting and directing, writing and producing.