A CHRISTMAS CAROL,
THE “CROWN JEWEL OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON” (DAILY HERALD), CELEBRATES 40 YEARS AND MORE THAN
1.5 MILLION AUDIENCE MEMBERS
November 18 – December 31
Over four decades, 1.5 million people have delighted in the spectacular storytelling, glorious music and Scrooge’s unforgettable discovery of kindness, generosity and love. Ten directors, eight Ebenezer Scrooges and 29 Tiny Tims later,
Goodman Theatre’s A Christmas Carol celebrates 40 years
LARRY YANDO MARKS 10TH YEAR AS EBENEZER SCROOGE LEADING THE ALL-CHICAGOLAND CAST OF 25—INCLUDING PARIS STRICKLAND AS THE FIRST FEMALE TINY TIM**
ChiIL Mama can't wait to catch Goodman's A Christmas Carol yet again this season. We wouldn't miss it for the largest turkey in the window! Many familiar favorites are cast this year, led by the indomitable Larry Yando who is always a joy to see in action. We're also fond of Molly Brennan, Ghost of Christmas Past and Ariana Burks, Martha Cratchit/Fan. This production is always excellent and a surefire bet for family friendly fun. Tickets are a great holiday gift idea and can become a fun, multigenerational tradition. We'll be out for the press opening on 11/27, so check back soon for our full review.
Now in his fifth year, Artistic Associate Henry Wishcamper directs Charles Dickens’ universal tale of hope and redemption with a cast of 25 featuring Larry Yando in his 10th turn as Ebenezer Scrooge, Paris Strickland in her Goodman debut as the theater’s first female Tiny Tim and a line-up of newcomers and returning favorites; a complete cast list appears below. As part of the milestone production, the Goodman partners with Autism Speaks-Chicago to offer its first-ever sensory-friendly performance on December 30 for families with members who have autism or other social, cognitive and physical challenges that create sensory sensitivities.
***GOODMAN THEATRE’S FIRST-EVER SENSORY-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE TO TAKE PLACE ON DECEMBER 30***
A Christmas Carol appears November 18 – December 31; press/opening is November 27 at 7pm. Tickets ($25 - $112; subject to change) are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Carol, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 N. Dearborn).Tickets (starting at $15, with promo code SENSORY) and resource materials, lobby and seating maps for the December 30 performance are now available at GoodmanTheatre.org/SensoryPerformance. Fifth Third Bank is the Major Corporate Sponsor and Allstate Insurance Company and KPMG LLP are the Corporate Sponsor Partners. Macy’s is a Sensory-friendly Performance Sponsor. Photo/video of previous productions now available here in the Press Room.
“We’re extremely proud to present the 40th annual production of A Christmas Carol. The ability to share this story each year with audiences is an enormous privilege and has unquestionably been the highlight of my life in the theater,” said Executive Director Roche Schulfer, who established the production as an annual offering in 1978—a time when only a handful of U.S. theaters produced it. “For all of us at the Goodman, A Christmas Carol is much more than a holiday entertainment or diversion. In fact, we believe that Charles Dickens’ story promotes values that are universal and true everywhere in the world—compassion, understanding, love, empathy, forgiveness and redemption. I am grateful to all of the countless artists, professionals and patrons who make it possible.”
In addition to Yando, returning cast members include: Kareem Bandealy as Narrator/Young Scrooge/Scrooge Alternate; Ariana D. Burks as Martha Cratchit; Lisa Gaye Dixon as Ghost of Christmas Present; Joe Foust as Jacob Marley; J. Salomé Martinez as Abe; Ron E. Rains as Bob Cratchit; Sadieh Rifai as Belle; Penelope Walker as Mrs. Fezziwig; and Jonah D. Winston as Mr. Fezziwig— and musicians Justin Amolsch, Andrew Coil, Greg Hirte and Malcolm Ruhl. The newcomers include Breon Arzell as Dick Wilkins; Molly Brennan as Ghost of Christmas Past; Ali Burch as Frida; Meighan Gerachis as Schoolteacher; and Michele Vazquez as Mrs. Cratchit.
The young performers in A Christmas Carol, cast from hundreds of Chicagoland children who auditioned, also include Margaret Chong, 10 (Chicago), as Emily Cratchit; Andrea Crisp, 10 (Darien), as Belinda Cratchit; Cameron Goode, 15 (Country Club Hills), as Boy Scrooge; Kei, 9 (Chicago), as Turkey Boy; and Aaron Stone, 14 (Round Beach Lake), returning as Peter Cratchit.
Dickens’ holiday classic is the iconic tale of greedy businessman Ebenezer Scrooge, whose sizable bank account is only matched by his disdain for 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.
Full Company of A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens, Adapted by Tom Creamer, Directed by Henry Wishcamper
Justin Amolsch……………………………………………..Musician, French Horn
Breon Arzell…………………………………………………Dick Wilkins
Kareem Bandealy…………………………………………..Narrator/Young Scrooge/Scrooge Alternate
Molly Brennan………………………………………………Ghost of Christmas Past
Ali Burch……………………………………………………..Frida
Ariana Burks………………………………………………...Martha Cratchit/Fan
Margaret Chong………………………………………….....Emily Cratchit
Andrew Coil………………………………………………….Musician, Fiddler
Andrea Crisp………………………………………………...Belinda Cratchit
Lisa Gaye Dixon…………………………………………….Ghost of Christmas Present
Joe Foust…………………………………………………….Jacob Marley/Young Marley/Old Joe
Meighan Gerachis………………………………………......Schoolteacher/Charwoman
Cameron Goode……………………………………………..Boy Scrooge/Percy
Greg Hirte…………………………………………………….Musician, Fiddler
J. Salomé Martinez……………………………………….....Abe/Mr. Ortle
Ron E. Rains…………………………………………………Bob Cratchit
Kei……………………………………………………………..Turkey Boy
Sadieh Rifai…………………………………………………..Belle
Malcolm Ruhl………………………………………………...Music Director, Accordion
Aaron Stone………………………………………………….Peter Cratchit
Paris Strickland……………………………………………...Tiny Tim
Michele Vazquez …………………………………………....Mrs. Cratchit
Penelope Walker………………………………………….....Mrs. Fezziwig/Mrs. Crumb
Jonah D. Winston…………………………………………....Mr. Fezziwig
Larry Yando…………………………………………………..Ebenezer Scrooge
Creative Team
Todd Rosenthal……………………………………………..Set Designer
Heidi Sue McMath……………………………………….....Costume Designer
Andrew Hansen……………………………………………..Composer
Richard Woodbury………………………………………….Sound Designer
Malcolm Ruhl………………………………………………..Music Director
Keith Parham………………………………………………..Lighting Designer
Tommy Rapley ……………………………………………..Choreographer
Eva Breneman………………………………………………Dialect Coach
Alden Vasquez………………………………………………Production Stage Manager
Jonathan Nook……………………………………………...Stage Manager
Flying effects are provided by ZFX Inc.
ABOUT GOODMAN THEATRE
AMERICA’S “BEST REGIONAL THEATRE” (Time magazine), Goodman Theatre is a premier not-for-profit organization distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and civic engagement. Led by Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the theater’s artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres in the past three decades), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics (celebrated revivals include Falls’ productions of Death of a Salesman and The Iceman Cometh ). Goodman Theatre artists and productions have earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards, over 160 Jeff Awards and many more accolades. In addition, the Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle” and its annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this season, has created a new generation of theatergoers. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production partner with local off-Loop theaters and national and international companies by providing financial support or physical space for a variety of artistic endeavors.
Committed to three core values of Quality, Diversity and Community, the Goodman proactively makes inclusion the fabric of the institution and develops education and community engagement programs that support arts as education. This practice uses the process of artistic creation to inspire and empower youth, lifelong learners and audiences to find and/or enhance their voices, stories and abilities. The Goodman’s Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home of such programming, most offered free of charge, and has vastly expanded the theater’s ability to touch the lives of Chicagoland citizens (with 85% of youth participants coming from underserved communities) since its 2016 opening.
Goodman Theatre was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago’s cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family’s legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth’s family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation of the new Goodman center in 2000.
Today, Goodman Theatre leadership also includes the distinguished members of the Artistic Collective: Brian Dennehy, Rebecca Gilman, Henry Godinez, Dael Orlandersmith, Steve Scott, Chuck Smith, Regina Taylor, Henry Wishcamper and Mary Zimmerman. David W. Fox, Jr. is Chair of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Cynthia K. Scholl is Women’s Board President and Justin A. Kulovsek is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.
Follow @GoodmanTheatre
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